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NJ/NY Gotham FC Draws 0-0 Against Washington Spirit as Carli Lloyd Bids Farewell in Front of Hometown Crowd

By Gotham FC, 10/06/21, 11:45PM EDT

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NJ/NY Gotham FC returned to action after a 10-day break to take on the Washington Spirit in a special hometown farewell game at Subaru Park, celebrating Carli Lloyd’s legendary Gotham FC and U.S. Women’s National Team career. The match was presented by Avaya, the official cloud, collaboration, and customer experience partner of Gotham FC. The first-ever NWSL game in the Philadelphia area ended in a 0-0 draw. The stalemate leaves Gotham FC with 26 points, occupying seventh place in the overall NWSL standings.

The match opened with a strong back and forth battle in the midfield between the two teams. At the six-minute mark, players from both sides paused to come together and lock arms at midfield in a show of solidarity. Shortly after the break, Gotham FC’s first corner ended in a McCall Zerboni shot being narrowly blocked. Minutes later, Lloyd picked off a pass out of the back from Spirit goalkeeper Aubrey Bledsoe and found Margaret Purce, who was unable to convert the right footed shot. Gotham FC ended the first half with heavy possession and pressure on the Washington backline, but was unable to create a solid chance in front of the net.

After the half, Gotham FC continued to test the Washington defense. Lloyd, Purce, and Ifeoma Onumonu all saw chances go just wide of the goal. Momentum kept building, but the home side was unable to convert any of its 14 shots on the night. Both squads fought hard for a game-winner as the minutes wound down, but Bledsoe and Gotham FC keeper Kailen Sheridan came up big with late-game saves to keep the match tied at zero.

Gotham FC will continue its playoff push later this week, traveling to face the Orlando Pride on Saturday, before continuing the road campaign at North Carolina, Kansas City, and Louisville later this month. Gotham FC will cap off its 2021 regular season at Red Bull Arena on Oct. 31, this time hosting Racing Louisville FC. Tickets can be purchased here.

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MATCH REPORT

Match: NJ/NY Gotham FC vs. Washington Spirit
Date: October 6, 2021
Venue: Subaru Park; Chester, Penn.
Kickoff: 7:00 p.m. ET
Weather: Low 70s; cloudy

Scoring Summary:               1       2       F
NJ/NY Gotham FC                 0       0       0
Washington Spirit                   0       0       0

Lineups:

NJY: 1-Kailen Sheridan, 28-Imani Dorsey, 24-Estelle Johnson, 12-Gina Lewandowski, 3-Caprice Dydasco, 4-Paige Monaghan (9-Nahomi Kawasumi, 45’), 16-Allie Long, 7-McCall Zerboni, 25-Ifeoma Onumonu (20-Evelyne Viens, 73’), 10-Carli Lloyd, 23-Margaret Purce (2-Brianna Pinto, 88’)
Substitutes not used: 19-Elizabeth Eddy, 13-DiDi Haracic, 11-So-Dam Lee, 17-Domi Richardson, 8-Erica Skroski, 27-Gaëtane Thiney

WAS: 1-Aubrey Bledsoe, 2-Trinity Rodman (27-Tara McKeown, 82’), 3-Sam Staab, 5-Kelley O’Hara, 6-Emily Sonnett, 10-Ashley Sanchez (17-Kumi Yokoyama, 88’), 12-Andi Sullivan, 14-Paige Nielson (16-Julia Roddar, 65’), 19-Dorian Bailey, 23-Tori Huster (9-Tegan McGrady, 65’), 33-Ashley Hatch (21-Anna Heilferty, 82’)
Substitutes not used: 26-Taylor Aylmer, 18-Devon Kerr, 25-Karina Rodriguez, 7-Saori Takarada

Stats Summary: NJY / WAS
Shots: 14 / 11
Shots on Goal: 3 / 3
Saves: 3 / 3
Corner Kicks: 4 / 1
Fouls: 8 / 12
Offside: 3 / 1

Misconduct Summary:
WAS -- Andi Sullivan (caution) 77’
NJY -- Allie Long (caution) 79’

Officials:
Referee: Ismir Pekmic
Assistant Referee 1: Kevin Lock
Assistant Referee 2: Ashlee Varnson
4th Official: Anya Voigt

Budweiser Player of the Match: Imani Dorsey

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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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