Ifeoma Onumonu saved Gotham from defeat in the 85th minute. (Photo courtesy of Gotham FC)

HARRISON, N.J. – Ifeoma Onumonu scored a late goal to lift NJ/NY Gotham FC to a 1-1 draw with the North Carolina Courage in the NWSL Challenge Cup at Red Bull Arena on Sunday.

Onumonu headed in a corner kick in the 85th minute.

For the second match in a row, Debinha opened the scoring for North Carolina, this time getting things started on a set piece. In the 24th minute, Gotham’s Paige Monaghan was booked for a foul just outside the 18. One minute later, Debinha stepped up to take the free kick and converted with an easy right-footed shot past Michelle Betos’ hands and into the bottom left corner.

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.