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In Dramatic Comeback, Gotham FC Ends Season with Thrilling Draw with Portland Thorns FC

By Gotham FC, 10/01/22, 10:00PM EDT

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Gotham FC assistant coach Becki Tweed was defiant earlier this week when declaring the importance of the club’s season finale and showdown with first-place Portland Thorns FC at Red Bull Arena. 

“No one wants to have somebody else win the league in their own home stadium,” said Tweed. 

Demonstrating resilience and tenacity to the very end and backing up Tweed’s statement, Gotham FC overcame a 3-1 lead on second half goals by Ifeoma Onumonu and McCall Zerboni to earn a 3-3 draw Saturday on Fan Appreciation Night presented by Algorand. 

After the match – and after a final round of autographs and photos with the faithful in the stadium – every Gotham FC player who met with the media took the time to salute the fans for their commitment all season and their inspiration during the dramatic comeback. 

“We felt their energy,” said Zerboni, who scored the tying goal in the 74thminute. “They understood when we needed them. I wanted to reward the fans and my teammates. I feel really humbled and grateful.” 

Added Onumonu, who brought Gotham FC to within 3-2 in the 56th minute after Morgan Weaver gave Portland a two-goal lead three minutes earlier: “We wanted to give the fans something to cheer about. It was a great feeling. Hopefully there will be more in the future.” 

Nahomi Kawasumi opened the scoring for Gotham FC in the 38thminute, but the Thorns took the lead at the half courtesy of a brace by Sophia Smith. Midge Purce said after the game that her club had faced so much adversity this season, trailing 2-1 was nothing Gotham FC hadn’t seen before – and wasn’t anything they couldn’t overcome. 

The comeback would not have been possible without the brilliance and diligence of Purce, who interim head coach Hue Menzies called “The Player of the Match.” 

“I felt like myself today,” said Purce. 

Thirty minutes after the match, Gotham FC goalkeeper Michelle Betos walked into the press conference area wearing shorts and a t-shirt. Everything else – jersey, gloves, all footwear and other layers of equipment – were given to fans. It was the perfect illustration of Gotham FC’s dedication to the supporters. 

“I’m so proud to be from New York and this area,” said Betos. “Playing for this club is a dream come true. We appreciate our fans so much and we want them to keep coming back. You saw our fight tonight. The season did not go how we wanted, but we will be back.” 

The work begins immediately for Gotham FC. As General Manager and Director of Soccer Operations Yael Averbuch candidly said Thursday, “We have a lot of work ahead of us. The work that needs to be done is not, ‘Is there a top player we can bring in?’ This is foundational work, structure. What is the identity of our club? Who should be the leader as head coach? What resources do we need to bring in to support the coach and players, and what players should be on the journey with us? There is not one aspect that hasn’t been scrutinized by myself and others. It is a really complicated, holistic look we’re taking at all of us.” 

As the club embarks on the journey of building a powerful club for 2023, Gotham FC ended 2022 with a performance against Portland the team and supporters could be proud of. 

“This is a team of resilience and a team that’s been through a lot,” said assistant coach Tweed. “Credit to the NWSL: as much as this season has been difficult, we still believe every game that anyone can beat anyone. Every player and coach is going to go through ups and downs. The key for this season for us is, how do we take all our experiences and make us better for next season? We have to learn and move forward from it. I know this group and I know they’re not happy. It can drive us and these experiences can only make us better. “ 

When asked if the players managed to stick together despite the turbulence of a challenging season, captain Zerboni provided an emphatic response. 

“We are all very close,” said Zerboni. “We all love each other. We have good chemistry off the field and in the locker room. We all really want to win. The effort and intention was there. It may look like a disconnect to the fans, supporters and media, and they are not wrong. But it’s not a disconnection in our emotions and in our hearts and in our minds.”  

On a memorable final night of the season, Gotham FC proved Zerboni’s point.