Gotham FC knows that if they can take care of business by winning their four remaining regular-season matches, the No. 1 playoff seed and a first-ever NWSL Shield will be theirs.
But on Sunday afternoon, seventh-place Angel City FC will present a difficult test when the sides meet at Sports Illustrated Stadium.
Gotham Ready To Tame Streaking Angel City FC
“We’re definitely expecting a really challenging game,” Gotham FC midfielder Taryn Torres said during Saturday’s press conference. “I think at this point in the season, our destiny is in our hands, so if we win out, we win the Shield. That’s what we have our eyes set out on, so right now we’re taking it one game at a time.”
Since late August, Angel City has been on a roll. Interim head coach Leif Gunnar Smerud has led the Los Angeles-based club to a six-game undefeated streak and Angel City has won five of six matches over that span.
“Angel City is undefeated in the past six games, so it’s gonna be challenging,” Torres said. “But I think we’re focused on our game plan, focused on our training from this past week and confident. It’ll be challenging, but good.”
Torres: Gotham ‘Has Its Eyes Set On’ NWSL Shield
Capturing the NWSL Shield would add an elusive piece of silverware to the Gotham FC trophy cabinet and put the Bats in position to target a treble ahead of the NWSL playoffs.
“Definitely that has been the one thing that we’ve had our eyes set on,” Torres said. “Obviously, we’ve won a lot of trophies in the past few years, but I think the main one, and I would argue the most prestigious one, is the Shield because it shows what team is the most consistent throughout the league.
“With the NWSL, the parity in our league, it just is really impressive to be able to bring that home. When I’m in the locker room and I look around at our teammates, that is something that we’re striving for. We’re taking things one game at a time, and we can hopefully bring that home.”
Juan Carlos Amorós: ‘Winning Everything, That’s What We Try To Do’
Gotham FC head coach Juan Carlos Amorós repeated his and the club’s ambition to win every possible trophy. Though winning the NWSL Shield is one of the club’s goals, the 42-year-old head coach is ensuring that the focus remains on game-to-game improvements.
“It’s the target of every club when you start the season,” he said. “Winning everything, that’s what we try to do, but it’s obviously so difficult. So far, there has been one trophy in and it’s ours, the Challenge Cup, and it’s something we take a lot of pride in.
“We’re gonna do everything we can to get that second trophy. But for us at the moment, it’s not about the trophy, it’s about the game. All our attention is on the game.
“We’re able to be in the position that we are in because of the way we work every day. From January 2, when the players report to Spain to preseason, that’s been the target. Create some processes and keep evolving the way we play and getting to this moment in the position that we are in. But there is nothing guaranteed. We have to go tomorrow and earn it on the pitch, and I really trust this group of players to go out there and execute.”
Latest Lineup and Injury News Ahead of Sunday’s Gotham-Angel City Match
Amorós revealed on Saturday that forward Jordynn Dudley is dealing with a foot injury. Dudley will miss Sunday’s meeting with Angel City.
The 21-year-old NWSL Rookie of the Year candidate suffered the injury in training and she was removed from the United States women’s under-23 training camp roster on Thursday.
“She got a little bit hurt on her foot and we have to wait and see where that takes her,” Amorós said. “She’s not going to be ready to play on the weekend. So I think that’s why, obviously, as well for the U.S., we were still assessing and we will see how that goes. We’ll obviously miss her in the game, but hopefully she’s back with us soon.”
Gotham FC will also be without midfielder Sofia Cook who continues to be limited by an ankle injury. Cook most recently played when Gotham last met Angel City in a scoreless draw on August 23.
Defenders Kayla Duran and Emily Sonnett are both considered long-term absences due to their season-ending knee injuries.
UPDATE: 12:30 PM ET:
Gotham FC has named the following starting XI and substitutes vs. Angel City FC:
Starting XI: Berger, O’Sullivan, Howell, Shaw, Davidson (C), Lavelle, Reiten, Kerr, Freeman, Purce, Carter
Subs: Hogan, Wy, Boade, Bruninha, Kitahata, McCaskill, Sommer, Speck, Torres.
OUT: Sofia Cook (lower leg), Jordynn Dudley (foot), Kayla Duran (knee – SEI), Emily Sonnett (knee – SEI)
Angel City will be limited by two absences. Forward Jun Endo and midfielder Hina Sugita have both been ruled out for the remainder of the season.
UPDATE: 12:20 PM ET:
Angel City FC named the following starting XI and substitutes vs. Gotham FC:
Starting XI: Anderson, Shores, Sams, King, Gorden (C), Thompson, Sentnor, Lageyre, Borges, Jonsdottir, Chilufya,
Subs: Cherry, Emslie, Immethun, Martin, Mattice, Niehues, Seabert, Suarez, Tiernan
OUT: Jun Endo (knee – SEI), Hina Sugita (knee – SEI)
Sunday’s match is scheduled to kick off at 1 p.m. Eastern Time. The match will be broadcast nationally on ESPN and is available to stream on ESPN.
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