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NJ/NY Gotham FC Battles to 1-1 Draw at Home Against Racing Louisville FC

By Gotham FC, 08/15/21, 11:15PM EDT

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HARRISON, N.J. (August 15, 2021) – NJ/NY Gotham FC closed out a two-game home stand at Red Bull Arena against Racing Louisville FC on Sunday evening. The match was presented to Gotham FC fans by NJM. The teams battled to a 1-1 draw after an early goal from Nadia Nadim and another late equalizer from Ifeoma Onumonu. With the draw, Gotham FC remains in third place with 21 points.

Racing Louisville FC got off to a quick start against a Gotham FC side debuting a new formation. The visitors were able to capitalize early when Ebony Salmon put a cross in and found Nadia Nadim unmarked on the back post who easily tapped home the goal to give Louisville the early 1-0 lead. Later in the half, Salmon had another opportunity that put her one-on-one against Kailen Sheridan, who, in her first game back since returning from the delayed 2020 Olympic Games, came off her line to make a brilliant save.

Gotham FC’s best chance came in the 38th minute when Ifeoma Onumonu battled down the right flank past Emily Fox and found Elizabeth Eddy on the back post for a diving header that was cleared by Louisville’s defense. Despite the late efforts, Gotham FC was unable to find an equalizer.

The second half saw play open up and Gotham FC begin to settle into the match. In the 83rd minute, Nahomi Kawasumi found Onumonu at the top of the box who made a skillful turn and curled a right-footed shot into the corner for the late equalizer. With her fifth goal of the season, Onumonu now becomes Gotham FC’s leading scorer. The equalizer led to a frenzied remainder of the game with both teams searching for a game winner that neither were able to find.


Gotham FC Head Coach Freya Coombe on the match:

“I think we had a little bit of a slow start, just playing a different formation today. It took us a while to just get into the groove. I thought our ball pace and movement was bit slow through trying to figure things out, but certainly after the goal we improved and started to play at the level and intensity that we desire. I think we did well to create opportunities, but we still need to create more chances, but obviously happy to get on the scoresheet at the end.

Following Sunday’s match, Gotham FC will head to the Pacific Northwest for a two game road stretch. The team will first travel to Cheney Stadium to take on OL Reign on Saturday, August 21, at 10:00 p.m. ET and then head south to the Rose City for a midweek match up against the Portland Thorns on Wednesday, August 25 at 10:30 p.m. ET. Single and group tickets are now on sale and pricing details can be found here.

MATCH REPORT

Match: NJ/NY Gotham FC vs. Racing Louisville
Date: August 15, 2021
Venue: Red Bull Arena; Harrison, N.J.
Kickoff: 5:00 p.m. ET 
Weather: Mid 80s; partly cloudy

Scoring Summary:               1       2       F
NJ/NY Gotham FC                 0       1       1
Racing Louisville FC               1       0       1

LOU – Nadia Nadim 13’
NJY – Ifeoma Onumonu (Nahomi Kawasumi) 83’


Lineups:

NJY: 1-Kailen Sheridan; 8-Erica Skroski, 12-Gina Lewandowski, 24-Estelle Johnson; 3-Caprice Dydasco, 7 McCall Zerboni (capt.) (6-Jennifer Cudjoe, 66’), 16-Allie Long, 27-Gaëtane Thiney (11-Sodam Lee, 45’), 19-Elizabeth Eddy (9-Nahomi Kawasumi, 77’); 25-Ifeoma Onumonu, 18-Delanie Sheehan (2-Brianna Pinto, 66’)
Substitutes not used: 5-Nicole Baxter,13-DiDi Haracic,14-Kenie Wright, 15-Sabrina Flores,17-Domi Richardson

LOU: 1-Michelle Betos (capt.); 4-Gemma Bonner, 3-Erin Simon (12-Sinclaire Miramontez, 61’), 11-Emily Fox; 7-Savannah McCaskill, 8-Freja Olofsson, 17-Yuiki Nagasato (2-Lauren Milliet, 73’), 5-Cece Kizer (13-Emina Ekic, 86’), 10-Nadia Nadim; 9-Ebony Salmon (20-Cheyna Matthews, 61’)
Substitutes not used: 23-Katie Lund, 16-Julia Asher, 14-Nealy Martin, 19-Taylor Otto, 22-Katie McClure

Stats Summary: NJY / LOU
Shots: 11 / 10
Shots on Goal: 2 / 4
Saves: 3 / 2
Corner Kicks: 4 / 0
Fouls: 6 / 10
Offside: 5 / 3


Misconduct Summary:
LOU – Gemma Bonner (caution) 67’
LOU – Kaleigh Riehl (caution) 90+6’


Officials:
Referee: Brad Jensen
Assistant Referee 1: Tyler Wyrostek
Assistant Referee 2: Ian Mangione
4th Official: Jennifer Dumaine


Budweiser Player of the Match: Allie Long

 

 

About NJ/NY Gotham FC:

Originally named Sky Blue FC, the Club underwent a major rebrand in April 2021 and officially changed its name to NJ/NY Gotham FC. Representing New Jersey and New York, the Club plays its National Women’s Soccer League home matches at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, NJ. The Club has been part of the NWSL since the league launched in 2013. Founded in 2007, Gotham FC originally debuted as Jersey Sky Blue in the W-League of United Soccer Leagues. The Club won its first trophy as Sky Blue FC in 2009 after winning the inaugural Women’s Professional Soccer championship. Most recently, Gotham FC played in the 2021 Challenge Cup Final against the Portland Thorns, the Club’s first ever championship appearance in NWSL competition.

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