NJ/NY Gotham FC played its first away game of the regular season against the Chicago Red Stars at SeatGeek Stadium. The match ended in a 0-0 draw with both teams going away with a point on Saturday night.
 
The match started with the home team getting two early looks on goal, immediately testing goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan. Gotham FC’s best chance came in the 14th minute when forward Carli Lloyd volleyed a loose ball in the box that struck the crossbar.
 
After both teams got an early taste on the attack, the match became a midfield battle. Rachel Hill from the Chicago Red Stars found Kealia Watt at the top of the 18, where she took a right-footed shot that forced Sheridan to make a brilliant diving save to keep the score 0-0.
 
In a second close opportunity for Gotham FC, Paige Monaghan and Lloyd connected down the left-flank where Monaghan made an overlapping run receiving the ball on a crafty backheel from Lloyd. Monaghan’s service into the box was headed on by forward Evelyne Viens and hit the crossbar, once again denying Gotham FC a goal. Despite both teams’ chances and possession favoring Gotham FC, they headed into the half scoreless.
 
For most of the second half, Gotham FC’s backline was tested by Chicago’s high press, leading to multiple chances for the home team. Defender Sarah Gorden made a run down the left flank to put a ball in, forcing Sheridan to come up with another save. Mallory Pugh made a long run down the right sideline and played a ball into Watt, but Midge Purce came up with a huge save to deny Chicago’s continued attacks.
 
As the half progressed, frustration mounted for both teams as neither were able to find the back of the net. Three yellow cards were issued inside the final 20 minutes of the match. Gotham FC continued to show more control when it came to possession and the well-organized backline was able to weather Chicago’s high press and see the game out to a 0-0 draw.

Head Coach Freya Coombe on the match:
 
“We knew it was going to be a tough game after the performance last week. We knew that Chicago would want to rectify that with a good performance and come out really hard. Credit to them, that’s what they did. Unfortunately, we didn’t quite find our stride in terms of our possession as we normally do and that’s a credit to them and the pressure they put us under. At some point, I think it’s still good we came out of here with a clean sheet.”
 
Gotham FC will be back home next week for a 2021 Challenge Cup rematch against the Portland Thorns on Sunday, May 30, at 3:00 p.m. ET at Red Bull Arena. The team will stay at home at Red Bull Arena for the following week to take on OL Reign on Saturday, June 5, at 7 p.m. ET. Single, group and season ticket memberships are now on sale and pricing details can be found here.
 
MATCH REPORT
 
Match: Chicago Red Stars vs. NJ/NY Gotham FC
Date: May 22, 2021
Venue: SeatGeek Stadium; Bridgeview, Ill.
Kickoff: 8:00 p.m. ET
Weather: Low 80s; partly cloudy
 
Scoring Summary:              1      2       F
Chicago Red Stars                  0      0       0
NJ/NY Gotham FC                  0      0       0
 
Lineups:
 
NJY: 13-Kailen Sheridan; 8-Erica Skroski (11-Sodam Lee, 61’), 24-Estelle Johnson, 22-Mandy Freeman, 3-Caprice Dydasco (15-Sabrina Flores, 77’); 6-Jennifer Cudjoe, 10-Carli Lloyd ©; 16-Allie Long; 23-Midge Purce, 20-Evelyne Viens (25-Ifeoma Onumonu, 60’); 4-Paige Monaghan (9-Nahomi Kawasumi, 77’)
Substitutes not used: 5-Nicole Baxter, 12-Gina Lewandowski, 13-DiDi Haracic, 17-Domi Richardson, 19-Elizabeth Eddy
 
CHI: 1-Alyssa Naeher; 28-Kayla Sharples; 11-Sarah Gorden; 26-Tierna Davidson; 6-Casey Krueger; 13-Morgan Gautrat; 24-Danielle Colaprico; 10-Vanessa DiBernando ©; 2-Kealia Watt; 5-Rachel Hill (33-Katie Johnson, 82’); 9-Mallory Pugh
Substitutes not used: 3-Arin Wright; 7-Nikki Staton; 15-Makenzy Doniak; 16-Sarah Woldmoe; 18-Ella Stevens; 23-Tatumn Milazzo; 32-Zoey Goralski; 38-Cassie Miller
 
Stats Summary: CHI / NJY
Shots: 13 / 7
Shots on Goal: 5 / 0
Saves: 0 / 5
Corner Kicks: 6 / 2
Fouls: 14 / 17
Offside: 3 / 1
 
Misconduct Summary:
NJY–  Evelyne Viens (caution) 43’
CHI–  Kayla Sharples (caution) 70’
NJY– Midge Purce (caution) 74’
CHI– Danielle Colaprico (caution) 86’
 
Officials:
Referee: Adorae Monroy
Assistant Referee 1:  Deleana Quan
Assistant Referee 2: Ben Pilgrim
4th Official: Erin Patterson
 
Budweiser Player of the Match: Allie Long