Gotham FC split opening games of 2024 season

Featured, NJ/NY Gotham FC, Professional, Soccer

April 1, 2024

After a win last weekend, Gotham FC was looking to add another three points to the NWSL table.

Last weekend, Gotham beat the Portland Thorns 1-0 in Portland. Off the back of an Esther goal in the 72nd minute, the Bats took home all three points. Now, the team was looking to continue their winning ways. The Bats played the North Carolina Courage on Saturday, the team they beat in the quarterfinals on their way to the NWSL Championship. They could not repeat the feat as the Courage beat the Bats 1-0.

In their win last weekend, Gotham had its chances, but none were as good as the ones the Thorns had. The Thorns had two goals scored by Sophia Smith, both ruled offside with the use of VAR. This is troubling for Gotham, as they needed VAR to not have those goals counted, especially since it was the second game they would have lost in a row. When it did matter, however, the Bats were able to make it count.

Gotham also looked to continue building chemistry with new players, as four starters on Sunday made their starting debuts for Gotham in the NWSL. Sam Hiatt started in place of the injured Maitane Lopez. Emily Sonnett and Crystal Dunn, as well as goalkeeper Cassie Miller, were also given the nod to start in their Gotham season debuts. Once everyone starts to gel, the play should come together more.

The questions that linger this early in the season are when the chemistry finally builds and what this team's ceiling is. Can Esther Gonzalez keep up the form she ended last season with? The second answer is looking pretty good right now, as she scored two goals in the final of the Women's Cup Colombia against Racing Louisville and the only goal last weekend.

With this being the last game before another international break, the first question must wait until next month to be answered. After having played two full games, there should be signs of how the team is getting on, but the product on the pitch will have to show sooner rather than later as the Bats look to get to the top of the table before this summer's Olympic break.

The Courage have played one more game in the season than Gotham has, having played their season opener the weekend Gotham played in the Challenge Cup. North Carolina goes into the game with one win and one loss.