Gotham FC kick off their Concacaf W Champions Cup title defense with a 2-1 win over CF Monterrey during a rainy night in Icahn Stadium.
Bruninha opened the scoring less than ten minutes into the game, followed shortly by a goal from forward Khyah Harper. Monterrey attempted to launch a comeback in the first half after midfielder Marcela Restrepo scored in the 32nd minute. However, it wasn't enough as Gotham outlasted Monterrey in the second half, disrupting transitions and launching a more aggressive offensive line.
"It's a very special tournament for us as champions and champions of the continent," said Gotham head coach Juan Carlos Amorós. "I know the reward that it has. We want to retain that trophy."
Gotham are one of five teams in the tournament's Group B. The Washington Spirit currently lead the group on goal differential after winning their first match 7-0 against Alianza on Tuesday. Vancouver Whitecaps FC are the only team left in the group yet to play their first match.
Gotham FC: 1.41 xG, 13 shots, 4 shots on target, 53% possession, 453 passes, 75% pass accuracy, 10 fouls, 6 corners, 1 save
C.F. Monterrey: 0.25 xG, 5 shots, 1 shot on target, 47% possession, 413 passes, 70% pass accuracy, 12 fouls, 1 corner, 2 saves
Goals:
• Gotham FC, Bruninha, 6'
• Gotham FC, Khyah Harper, 24'
• C. F. Monterrey, Marcela Restrepo, 32'
Attendance: 858
Title defense underway
Gotham were on their A-game from the get-go.
A pass from Harper gave Gotham midfielder Josefine Hasbo a chance to score; however, Monterrey's Tanna Sanchez outran her to block her shot. Hasbo fought off Monterrey goalkeeper Ana Paz to win the ball back and send a quick pass to Bruninha, who easily sent the ball into the top center of the net for Gotham's first goal of the tournament.
Gotham's second goal came from a quick cross from defender Emily Sonnett after a scramble at the net following a corner kick awarded to Gotham. Sonnett took advantage of the chaos, slotting a ball past several Monterrey defenders for Harper to score Gotham's second goal.
Courtesy of @NWSL
Restrepo put the pressure on Gotham after knocking a goal back for Monterrey off her mishit against the crossbar. Gotham did well to hold it together throughout the rest of the first half, although it was clear they needed a redirect in the second half to prevent a tie.
They came onto the pitch after halftime with more attacks and fewer defensive tactics, taking more control of the game to regain possession and attempt more shots on target. It wasn't easy, given Monterrey were unrelentless in their pursuit of a second goal. There was a moment at the 58th minute where it looked like Restrepo's free kick might have been enough to force a second goal; however, none of the Monterrey players were able to reach it in time.
"I think it was a very positive performance," said Gotham head coach Juan Carlos Amorós. "We started the game really, really well taking obviously that early lead and then another goal. Obviously, they came back into the game, and I think from that moment, we needed to be calm and relaxed."
Harriet Mullins
Stormy weather
Needless to say, the weather has not been on Gotham's side this week. After enduring over two hours of delay at a home game at Sports Illustrated Stadium on Sunday due to lightning, Gotham faced nonstop rain for the entirety of their match against Monterrey. As if the rain wasn't enough, fast winds joined forces with the shower for less-than-ideal match conditions.
While speaking with the press following the game, Amorós mentioned how the weather may have played a factor in many of Gotham's missed chances to extend their lead to 3-1. It might be the case. Once again, Gotham's finishing skills became the topic of debate after last night's game saw the club take 13 shots with only four on target.
Courtesy of @NWSL
"They were coming from behind, so we needed to make sure we controlled the game in that aspect, and we definitely did that," said Amorós. "I think probably the thing to improve: we had four very clear chances around the penalty spot. We need to score one of them so we don't suffer at the end."
Despite holding the lead for nearly the entirety of the match, Gotham came close to losing that lead multiple times. A third goal in the second half would have solidified the club's win, according to Amorós, and put Gotham in a more comfortable position to hold off Monterrey. Alas, that wasn't the case, with several players missing routine shots that should have been goals.
Harsh winds and a slippery pitch most definitely affect scoring abilities, making it much more difficult for a player to score on target. However, this isn't the first game where Gotham took multiple chances to shoot but struggled to reach their target. It remains up for debate whether or not rain was the deciding factor last night.
Megha Gupta
