March 29, 2024 – National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL)
NJ/NY Gotham FC News Release
HARRISON, NJ – After a season-opening win over the Portland Thorns, NJ/NY Gotham FC continues its road swing for the second-straight week. The club will take on the North Carolina Courage on Saturday, March 20 at WakeMed Soccer Park (7 p.m. ET, NWSL+). This will be the first match between the two clubs since Gotham FC defeated North Carolina 2-0 in the 2023 NWSL Playoff quarterfinals.
In the club’s first match of the 2024 regular season last week, Gotham FC defeated the Portland Thorns 1-0. Gotham FC forward Esther netted the game winner in the 72nd minute to hand Portland’s first ever loss in its home opener. The goal marked Esther’s second consecutive game-winning goal for the club after scoring the NWSL Championship game-winner on Nov. 11, 2023. Esther also scored the game-winning goal in Gotham FC’s preseason tournament final to win the Women’s Cup Colombia tournament.
The Courage are coming off its first loss of the season against the Utah Royals 2-1. This will be North Carolina’s third game of the season, while this will be Gotham FC’s second game of the season.
Key Notes to Watch For
Gotham FC went unbeaten in all five meetings with North Carolina in all competitions last season (W3 D2 in League, Challenge Cup and Playoffs), including recording a 2- 0 win in Cary in last year’s playoffs. Prior to recording three wins and two draws in five meetings last year, Gotham had recorded three wins and two draws in 15 meetings with North Carolina from 2018 to 2022 (L10).
In the 2023 NWSL quarterfinal versus North Carolina, Gotham FC midfielder Delanie Sheehan scored her first professional goal.
Gotham FC opened its regular season with a 1- 0 win at Portland on Sunday and is looking to win its first two matches of a season for the first time since the league’s inaugural 2013 campaign. Including last year’s playoffs, Gotham has recorded three straight shutout wins on the road, something no team has ever done in four straight matches in all competitions in league history.
All four of Gotham FC forward Esther’s attempts on Sunday against the Thorns, including her goal, came from inside the box. In fact, 22 of the 26 shots Esther has attempted in all NWSL competitions have been taken inside the box, including each of the last nine.
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