How about that debut?
Jaedyn Shaw scored in her introduction for Gotham FC in the club’s first-ever away win at San Diego on Friday night. The 2-0 win puts the Bats in third place, a long way off from the playoff-position battle they faced a handful of weeks ago.
Gotham FC: 2.04 xG, 12 shots, 6 shots on target, 39% possession, 303 passes, 77% pass accuracy, 12 fouls, 6 corners, 2 saves
San Diego Wave: 0.88 xG, 15 shots, 2 shots on target, 61% possession, 474 passes, 85% pass accuracy, 12 fouls, 6 corners, 4 saves
Goals:
• Gotham FC, Esther González, 45'
• Gotham FC, Jaedyn Shaw, 79'
Attendance: 10,403
Esther González opened the scoring in the first half with her 13th goal of the season – and her 11th scored in the first 45 minutes – which put her back in the lead for the NWSL Golden Boot race. The Spanish striker is now four goals away from tying Sam Kerr’s all-time scoring record for Gotham in a single season.
“This is a very important win for us away from home and another clean sheet,” said Gotham FC head coach Juan Carlos Amorós. “San Diego is a great team, and it’s always a difficult place to play. They control the ball well, and that can be tough for us because we are normally the team that dictates possession. We needed to be resilient and ready for that situation, and I think the team showed it was prepared.”
Gotham enters their third group game in the Concacaf W Champions Cup on Tuesday riding a six-game unbeaten streak.
Oliver Strand
A debut to remember
In what was the NWSL’s biggest intra-league transfer, Shaw joined Gotham earlier this week from the North Carolina Courage for $1.25 million. The 20-year-old is one of the brightest young talents in the USWNT, having scored eight goals in 26 games played.
Jaedyn Shaw's debut goal for Gotham FC | Courtesy Gotham FC
“I’ve just been taking it as it comes,” Shaw said of her transfer this week. “It’s been a lot, but I’m not taking myself too seriously, and I’m enjoying the moments I get here with everyone while getting to know the team. Once you’re out there playing soccer, nothing else really matters. As soon as I got on the pitch, it all felt good.”
Shaw faced a daunting challenge in playing against her first professional club last night; however, she didn’t let that deter her on the pitch. She came on at halftime, subbing in for midfielder Gabi Portilho. A redirected cross from Gotham midfielder Jaelin Howell gave Shaw her first opportunity to score, nailing a header in the 79th minute to guarantee a Gotham win.
Ta-da | Courtesy NWSL
“I’m grateful to get a goal,” Shaw said after the game. “I think we have an even better performance in us, but I’m grateful to make my debut for Gotham. I’m really excited to keep playing with such amazing players and to continue on with the season.”
Hudson River Blue Staff
Esther back on top
Friday night’s win also put another Gotham player on the map with González reclaiming her spot at the top of the Golden Boot Race from the Kansas City Current’s Temwa Chawinga. The striker took advantage of a push from Gotham’s front line towards the end of the first half, when Geyse made a run for goal towards San Diego goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan. A mishit from Sheridan landed right in front of González, who quickly kicked the ball into the back of the net.
“We’ve been working a lot on creating better quality chances, and Geyse worked really hard to set up Esther’s goal,” said Amorós. “If you give her that kind of chance, she’s not going to miss.”
Esther opens the scoring for Gotham FC against San Diego Wave | Courtesy Gotham FC
Indeed, Gotham is doing a much better job of setting up chances to nail shots back on target. Of the 12 shots taken last night, six were on target. In the 3-1 win against Angel City last week, Gotham struck another six attempts on target from 16 shots taken. It’s a long way away from their lack of scoring back in early August, resulting in two disappointing ties and a loss to the Houston Dash.
Despite not retaining possession for a majority of the game, the Bats made use of their limited time with the ball, analyzing the movement of the Wave’s back line before attempting to make a shot. Quality over quantity was the mantra in this match, with Gotham choosing to push for an aggressive approach, taking chances rather than remaining locked in a stalemate when in possession.
“Even in the most difficult moments, they’ve stayed united, kept pushing together, and kept working hard,” said Amorós. “That’s been our key. We’re also a very offensive team that wants to dominate all aspects of the game. Sometimes when you can’t find the goal, or you concede one you shouldn’t, you can lose your way. But this team has never done that, and now the work is paying off.”
