Summer Cup
Angel City was part owned by one out of my hometown of Syosset, Natalie Portman, sold of late, Sue Bird a great soccer player as well, owns a piece of the reigning NWSL Champs, NJ/NY Gotham FC, also hails from Syosset. With 8 points, Gotham sits atop their Group D. With so many players in the Olympics, including the GK facing the US today, it is amazing they are in so lofty of a position. It has just been mentioned that Gotham overall are down 13 players, Purce , Farrelly, Freeman etc. This game is being contested in the new home of Northport naïve, Allie Long, the first stadium built for women. A quick look at the talent on the bench for Angel City with Raqui Rodriguez and Press Bay Shore player Jasmyne Spencer features for Angel City.
A great ball in from Angel City but it runs a bit long, unable to get a shot off. Now just beyond the area Angel City moves it around, finally getting whistled for offside. Cater has shown her quality early as she deftly danced on the touchline and played a ball off. Some great ball movement, then too much and Spencer to take the throw. Stengel for Torres who brings it up the wing, then Torres gets called for a foul. Miller reels in a cross from Elmslie. Spencer offside as she is in the area and bumped from behind. Gordon goes for Curry now Thompson, Angel City is holding the ball well and immediate pressure upon losing it, generates a turnover in the Gotham defensive third. Hiatt shields the ball over the endline for a goalkick. Carter with a deft cutback then a cross is lofted short, Gotham recovers, then lose it in the center circle. Hiatt sends one high and over the endline defending Bright. Boxed out by the Gotham netminder. Torres put on Spencer, blocks her crossing effort out for a corner. Angel City. Spencer goes endline, Torres gives up the corner. Emslie finds Bright headed out then out. Emslie gets her head on it Hiatt plays it over the endline. Yet another corner for Angel City, they have been dominating play in the early going. This 5th corner is behind the goal. A ball from Carter a bit much and it lost, Angel City moves the ball about. Torres trips up Spencer who has seen a lot of the ball thus far. Miller is down for Gotham, showing her right shin. Betos of NYC is up as the coaches get some more time with their team and Miller gets treatment. Miller remains between the sticks. Martin well too strong for Ryan and it is an Angel City goal kick. Spencer tries to clear, Torres sends it back over their endline for a goal kick. Press is up for Angel City. Stolen by Torres her winger did not cut in for the pass, the run determines the pass not vice versa. Spencer gets around Torres this time. Stengel wins the duel, gets her shot off, blocked by the defense. Ryan over the ball. Far post finds Bell. She heads it down, out again by Angel City for a throw. Stengel the target, Torres gets a few moves, some space and the ex Gotham backstop Didi grabs it and covers as Stengel is there for the rebound. Carter feed Stengel, then for Torres, too much on it she cannot catch up to it. Sheehan with a foul from behind. Hiatt clears to the bottom of the circle now near side with Spencer. Neely Martin again off her for a corner. Miller gets in a punch to knock the ball away. Thompson carries, Angel City recovers into the area and another corner. Ryan and Fuller get an ear full from the ref due to some rough play. Nodded clear, Bright to Thompson, now the GK. Short corner by Thompson she gets it back and Torres blocks her shot. Ryan fouled at maybe 30 yards out. I expect this to go on goal, Ryan and Torres are at the ball. Ryan into the wall. Five minutes of stoppage time coming and now a caution to Bruninha as she stepped on a player’s foot, seemingly turning her body to do so. Torres for Stengel on the wing into the area for Bruninha but defended away, their GK grabs it. Thompson cautioned for embellishment. diving just beyond the area for Alyssa. Spencer back 40 yards to the center to Gordon she finds Elmslie and Bruninha has it. Lost and Gotham traps them offside.
Zerboni in for Torres, McCall is more dynamic but she was not having a bad game by any means as Bruninha gets pushed up to midfield. Stengel for Zerboni never gets there. Sheehan for Ryan and the GK gets it off her defender. Sheehan from Ryan gets it as she enters the area one touch and bang it is 1-0 great shot terrific follow through the GK did not stand a chance. Ella Stevens does a happy dance for the goal. This is how to open the 2nd half. Stengel is down, holding her ankle it got caught under her body as she tangled with Spencer. She is up walking well. Alyssa Thompson into the area is alone doubles back and loses the ball. Gotham is now passing the ball around back to the GK from their offensive third now over the end line for an Angel City goal kick. Martin called for the foul. Gotham win a throw at the half. Zerboni getting the fouls very quick and she has 100 more committed over the 2nd place person overall in the NWSL. The #2 position is held by team owner Carli Lloyd. The restart kept out by a great effort by Miller in the Gotham goal. Off a defender to Wright who just did not get enough on it. Thompson for Wright, offside, some speed Thompson has just put on full display, faster than her adversary with the ball no less. Gotham presses, Angel City holds until the half and Bright puts a player to the ground with her arm without a whistle. Fuller defended by Bell she wins a disputed corner, Angel City leads in those 11-1, Gordon with a bomb off it and it is high, may not have had enough on it anyway. Again pressure from Gotham, not successful, Thompson goes on goal her shot is blocked for you guessed it another corner. This one headed out a good 40 yards, back in and back out. To the corner for Spencer, it is right to a black shirt. Angel City going over the top, I am sure to exploit their speed advantage. Thompsom for Bright or Spencer who does get off the shot just wide. Her view obstructed to by Bright she may have expected her to have gotten to that ball. Again the pressure on this time a long ball gets to the Gotham GK. Gotham with a corner off Bruninha and her ball into Stengel. Ryan short to Zerboni headed out they recover it and Zerboini up forward again and it’s another corner for Gotham. The ball into the 6, moves around taken away and a foul in the area for a DFK of Angel City. Rodriguez of Costa Rica coming on as it Viginola for Bright and Spencer. Edmonds in and Bruninha out. Hiatt, Sheehan to Zerboni, her shot just high, last game she went off the cross bar, she is in range. This off a deep turnover. Bell dragged down by Fuller. The kick from just in the Gotham half. Right to the GK. Nice piece of skill from Bell to keep the ball moving Stengel has a shot but directly at the GK. Gotham with the lead are pressing it gets them a throw past the hydration break. Another corner at 78’. Martin gets it away and Zerboni clears it. Press is up getting some words from coach. Great lead ball by Rodriguez the defense cleans it up. CP23 is back 2 long years she gets a loud welcome back. Into the area for Press not quite. What form she was in upon her injury a hand in was it 13 of 17 goals for the USWNT? Bell holds of Viginlola and they get up with smiles and shake hands. Zerboni jumps in front of Fuller winds up on the ground as she gets forward. Another ball in is right at Miller. The 61% of possession by Angel City is mentioned and it may be frustrating to then get shut out, that is for me a useless stat. Maitane is down, Press landed on her near the endline she is holding her mouth, a glancing elbow caught her there pretty well. Her jaw is being examined There is a raccoon in the stands, with it being daytime that is a concern. Juan Carlos calling the player over and is now speaking Spanish. Alyssa Thompson with a decent ball in but defended out. Flores coming in she has been doing well in NJ training young women players as she is a NT replacement player after being on the roster last year. Stengel forward drops to Sheehan who finds Ryan Sheehan again. Angel City has it now, there will be 8’ of stoppage time, injuries and water break. Over the top and shielded out by Angel City. Corner Angel City, #14 they go short then in and the GK boxes it out, Rodriguez gets it near the corner mark and it is played out. Zerboni has had a number of fouls called on her is shot time and the raccoon is caught. 2v2 Gotham now 3v 5 and they slow it down then pull it back in too strong to the GK. 3.5 minutes I is a bit soon to go to the corner, get a goal. Zerboni sends it to nowhere, back out Hiatt finds her again and called for a handball. Sheehan dumps it ahead for Stengle, she holds then loses Sheehan gets it the return to Fuller gives up a throw to Stengel. Game over 1-0 Gotham .