Wave forward Alex Morgan (13) and Gotham FC midfielder Allie Long (6) go up for a header. (Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports)
HARRISON, N.J. – NJ/NY Gotham FC dropped a 1-0 decision to the San Diego Wave, before a club-record crowd of 15,058 at Red Bull Arena in National Women’s Soccer League action on Sunday night.
Gotham FC (5-3-2, 17 points) dropped to fourth place while San Diego (6-3-1, 19) moved into a tie for first place.
Makenzy Doniak the lone goal of the match 44 seconds into the second half.
For Gotham FC, however, the big story was the record record.
“Thanks to the fantastic work the club has done, we were able to play in front of 15,000 people today,” Gotham head coach Juan Carlos Amoros said. “Again, thanks to the club. They are doing a fantastic job behind the scenes, and especially, the players are doing a fantastic job on the pitch. It’s engaging a lot of fans in a moment of pride.
“We’re trying to create something special, something different, and people want to watch it live. I’ve said it before that we don’t get too high when we win or too low when we lose. It’s a process and a team building who we are, and everyone can see that. But I think we are on the right path for sure.”
Gotham FC controlled play in the first half after an early chance by Wave forward Alex Morgan went wide in the third minute. The hosts maintained more than 61 percent of possession with four shots in the first half while holding the Wave to one shot and drawing seven offside calls with no corners conceded.
After Gotham FC midfielder Allie Long drew a foul in the 23rd minute, midfielder Jenna Nighswonger took the free kick from 35 yards, delivering a ball to Sinead Farrelly at the top of San Diego’s box. Farrelly played it out wide to Yazmeen Ryan, who sent a dangerous cross for a near chance that was controlled by Wave goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan.
Doniak scored in the opening minute of the second half. The sequence started when second-half substitute Jaedyn Shaw played a through ball past Gotham’s backline to an onrushing Doniak. Doniak raced towards goal and took a touch past goalkeeper Abby Smith and hit a low left-footed shot.
Gotham FC pushed to answer quickly with Long earning a set piece for Gotham FC from 20 yards out. The kick was taken by Kristie Mewis, who played a dangerous ball into the box that was eventually cleared by San Diego’s backline.
The tightly contested match was a back-and-forth affair. Gotham FC defender Bruninha blocked a point-blank shot by the Wave’s Jaedyn Shaw in the 72nd minute to keep Gotham FC in the match. The shot deflected back to Shaw, but her second attempt could not get past a diving Smith for her second save of the match. Smith had three saves.
