Gotham FC enter Saturday’s road meeting against the rival Washington Spirit with an opportunity to clinch the first NWSL Shield in the club’s history.
For that to happen, Gotham will need to defeat the Spirit in the afternoon, combined with a North Carolina Courage victory over San Diego Wave FC later in the night.
Saturday will be the 45th meeting between the District vs. Empire in all NWSL competitions.
Gotham FC head coach Juan Carlos Amorós is expecting Saturday’s first-place vs. third-place showdown to go down as another memorable match in the rivalry’s history.
“With Washington, it’s a team that we know really well,” Amorós said during Friday’s press conference. “They know us really well. We’ve had a lot of games, not only in this competition, but in playoffs, in the championship, in Concacaf. It’s probably the team that we’ve played the most in the last few years, but it’s always beautiful.
“It’s a great game. It’s a great atmosphere and environment to come in and play. We’re going to do everything in our hands to make sure that our fans are the ones that are happy at the end of the game for sure.”
Ouahabi, Wingate in Line To Make Gotham FC Debuts
Recent acquisitions Leila Ouahabi and Olivia Wingate could debut for Gotham FC on Saturday.
UPDATE: 11:56 AM:
Ouahabi was included in the starting XI against Washington, while Wingate was named as a substitute.
Amorós described the 33-year-old Ouahabi as “one of the best left backs in the world.” Ouahabi was recently signed by Gotham after she and Chicago Stars FC agreed to a mutual contract termination.
“She’s a fantastic player, one of the best left backs in the world,” Amorós said. “She’s also been playing on the wing and doing a really good job there. I think in terms of what she brings, she obviously brings the experience, understanding of the game. It’s easy for her to fit in the style that we play. Obviously, [Saturday] is early for her to be able to start games, but I think she’s going to be in the long run a player that’s going to be important for the team.”
The veteran defender, who previously won six league titles combined with FC Barcelona and Manchester City, is excited to make her mark at Gotham FC.
“I love the winning mentality,” Ouahabi said on Friday. “I love always trying to be better every day and this is the mentality here, and that’s why Gotham FC is, in my opinion, the best team in the league. I’m so happy to be part of this group, being part of this mentality like mine.”
Wingate’s arrival could be particularly helpful to Gotham after rookie forward Jordynn Dudley suffered a season-ending foot fracture.
“She’s a player that is very versatile, works really hard off the ball, is quick, can gain spaces, can be an effective player for us,” Amorós explained. “We have a very thorough plan of adaptation for every player that comes new in the team. She’s a player that can play the 11, the 9, the 7 in those forward positions. She can be effective in all of them.”
Jaedyn Shaw Named as Sub Against Washington
UPDATE: 11:56 AM:
Gotham FC forward Jaedyn Shaw faced a late fitness test ahead of Saturday’s nationally televised match. She was named as a substitute.
The 21-year-old recently dealt with a minor injury that ruled her out of the United States women’s under-23 training camp earlier this month.
“I think we’re going to have to wait and see,” Amorós said of Shaw’s availability for Saturday’s contest. “Obviously, she came back from camp and we need to still see she’s doing everything she can to be ready to help the team, but it’s still difficult for me to confirm.”
Latest Lineup and Injury News Ahead of Saturday’s Gotham-Spirit Match
UPDATE 11:56 AM:
Gotham FC announced the following starting XI and substitutes against the Washington Spirit:
Berger, Ouahabi, O’Sullivan, Howell, Davidson (C), Lavelle, Reiten, Kerr, Freeman, Purce, Carter
Subs: Hogan, Boade, Kitahata, McCaskill, Shaw, Sommer, Speck, Torres, Wingate
Defenders Kayla Duran, Emily Sonnett and Bruninha as well as Dudley are considered long-term absences due to their season-ending injuries, though Duran spent a portion of Friday’s practice on the field.
Amorós explained that Duran still will need plenty of time to recover from a right knee ACL injury that she sustained in Kansas City on April 4.
“It’s still early, but she’s already starting to step on the pitch,” Amorós said. “She’s step by step going back into it, but we’re still definitely some time away from seeing her back in the team now.”
Midfielder Sofia Cook has yet to fully recover from an ankle injury.
OUT: Bruninha (knee – SEI), Sofia Cook (ankle), Jordynn Dudley (foot – SEI), Kayla Duran (knee – SEI), Emily Sonnett (knee – SEI)
UPDATE 11:50 AM:
The Washington Spirit named the following starting XI and substitutes against Gotham FC:
MacIver, Rudd, Di Guglielmo, Carle, Morgan, Rodman, Santos, Sullivan, Hershfelt, Luvanga, Cantore
Subs: Bethi, Bolt, Hatch, Kouassi, Martinez, Metayer, Ngock, Tse, Wojdelko
Four Spirit players are confirmed to miss Saturday’s game.
OUT: Deborah Abiodun (hip – SEI), Aubrey Kingsbury (maternity leave), Casey Krueger (maternity leave), Kate Wiesner (ankle – SEI)
Saturday’s match at Audi Field is scheduled to kick off at 12:30 p.m. Eastern Time and will be broadcast on CBS.
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