Gotham & ASFAR
Due to my ineptness on the PC we pick this game up at 13’. Watched a few minutes as the PC warmed up. Gotham had 2 good looks off a McCkaskill headed attempt was just high. Shaw deftly turned on a ball with her back to the goal, a good turn, bit of a poke to change her position, but the shot was off the mark. Shaw grabs some jersey, puts the Moroccan side’s captain to the ground, DFK. Shaw into the 6, the defender knocks it out for a corner before it goes to Harper. Corner taken short and away, ASFAR have it from very far, the go on goal from 40 yards goes to Berger, what speed shown by Duran to get back on that ball. ASFAR recover in the Gotham half and now they have a throw at about 25 yards. It goes short then back, into the area. headed out and another long distance easy stop for Brick Wall Berger at 19’. ASFAR have taken their domestic title in 12 of the last 13 years. McCkaskill takes a blow as she releases and it is blown down, she is down for a bit now up McCkaskill. ASFAR looking to change sides, off the defender, Purce in the area, looks in, denied she gets it 2x, now to Howell and outside again, Purce to a covered teammate, the ball is lost, to Shaw and her quick release is well wide. Stolen in the neutral Zone, Harper endline behind her attacker and not followed up, it is lost, taken back then ASFAR with a foul just below the center circle. Gotham with open players are forcing the ball to covered players and keep losing it. Gotham cover a throw well and steal it straight away. A player comes to the ball to get the pass in a better position and Gotham for the wing to Purce, headed down and in bounds out to McCkaskill. ASFAR has a player down in the 18. Before McCkaskill got to it Harper swung at the ball, it was toe poked away, she got the defender. Reale feeds Harper on the wing she motors to goal and blasts it past the GK at 28’, and they do a dance. From the touchline and 25 yards out she beat one, turns away from another and nets near post. They had oh so many shots last time out and nothing to show for it, this their first goal of these games. A long ball in, great go on goal and Berger is up to the task. A 40 yard ball taken on the short hop, said to be a first touch shot, no, it was brought down, then shot, but both plays high level at 30’. Purce with a run down the wing, offside gets called after she looks inside, turned away into the foot of a defender, shot, then called, Purce was off for the word go, people do get hurt on these plays, make the call. Gotham looking top of the area it goes endline and out with Purce running it down. Sonnett to Purce, dropped to Freeman and now inside and Gotham foul in the circle. Toe poked to McCkaskill and then another foul, this by McCkaskill from behind and again in the circle. ASFAR has but 1 player not from Morocco, that will help grow the game there in a big way. Gotham pressing in the ASFAR defensive end, giving up a throw. Lead ball Duran to Berger out then to Duran who again goes to goal, Freeman on the other side, plays to a covered player, it is lost and ASFAR into the area a shot is skied as she leaned back, did not follow through well. It is suggested she take another strike, the defender was far too close. Quickly to near midfield and Gotham with a throw. Back to Sonnett in the middle, back to her, now Berger with some pressure, Duran looking for a target finds it in Howell, a 20 yard run a lofted ball to Purce, she goes to Harper covered from behind and the GK has it. Gotham with a throat at the bottom of the circle into the area ASFAR on it to the GK McCkaskill it is played out, taken away Cook into the area, Shaw cannot control it but to the foot of McCkaskill and goes from one foot to the other then goes through a player with it for a 2-0 lead at 39’. Shaw in the area, from behind is tripped, PK. She was kicked, tripped and held. Howell with the ball and another player is on the mark, McCkaskill there as well, but it goes to Shaw, a great reward. She is set, her effort goes lower right, the GK fully commits left and in the rain the NWSL champs lead by a trio of goals, this PK, oh so well taken. This goal must have made the rain a bit less wet, the breath we see, a bit less cold. Harper to Shaw who goes across the area for Purce, but too far and GK has it with ease. Gotham being to press but with 30 seconds save that energy and she stops. ASFAR throw near midfield. Gotham foul with 3’ of added time, Purce got her from behind, showing a torn sock to the ref she is helped up. Down the line and into the 6 goes the 6, Sonnett plays it out for the first corner of ASFAR on the day. Purce encroches to avert a quick restart. They go short, a second feint is over the byline, wasted late chance. McCkaskill over the midfield to Reale, into the area, cleared to the wing and ASFAR too many passes before beyond the area and lost, Cook gets off a quick shot, covered up and halftime.
There has been less holding of the ball today compared with facing Corinthians for Gotham. ASFAR is out of their element but still putting out a great effort, they are taking the ball often, not getting forward quick enough to do anything with it, their defending is on as soon as the ball is lost.
ASFAR with the opening kick of the second stanza. Both teams open up with their starters. Over the top for Reale way too far. Handball on ASFAR near midfield. ASFAR take it at midfield now into the area just eludes defenders a backheel at the line in desperation now Gotham unable to clear it due to pressure get it maybe 30 yards up then back to the GK, and again to her. Open on the wing and Harper off her side of foot to Shaw she gets the defender to leap, Harper has her shot saved to the foot of Midge at 48’ it is 4-0. Over the top off the outside of the foot, Shaw pulls it back gets a headed effort by Harper off the defender for the first time tuck away in the 6 off the inside of the foot of Midge, no need to hit the cover of the ball, place it and done. Into traffic for McCkaskill, she turns but too many opponents. Shaw gets it at midfield ahead to Harper she passed it back, maybe a short call as top she turned into the other player, now a reverse angle shows she was held, a good call. McCkaskill from between the area and touchline 5 yards in the field. Top of the 6, past a trio of Bats, ASFAR change a pair. Across their defensive end go Gotham, now forward McCKaskill goes outside now Harper and a Gotham corner at 53’. McCkaskill being kept busy today. She sends high to the top of the 6 miscommunication as a pair of Bats are in the same space, one stays still to avoid a collision. Gotha m with a throw at the top of the area, now a drop ball. From the circle Sonnett looks around now lays it back to Freeman to Berger, long ball headed on then lost, Gotham recovers, springs Shaw, her 2nd move is out for a goal kick. Gotham presses and win a throw as a number of players await entry at 56’ a bit earlier than the typical 60, it is early, there is a good lead and bad weather. Sonnett fouled at the far touchline, the defender is not 10’ forget about yards. To Berger from Freeman now to Berger again. Purce puts far too much on it and goal kick. Freeman on the throw at about 20 yards, and another. Sonnett beats a pair, now too much for the forward to run down. Pressure from all sides by Gotham, ASFAR with a throw. Great first time ball outside and then into the area and out, offside Gotham. Reale steps up steals the ball then it is lost and ASFAR getting forward with speed. Subs coming now Stengel, Chupansky, Brunhina, Reale out Brunhina in, Purce out, Shaw and Howell out Kitahana in. I have no idea on sub rules in this competition, will there be more at say 75 or so?, saving one in the event of an injury is of course wise. Freeman with a long ball, headed down and Gotham foul. To the foot of Gotham, with a long run plays it off to Harper, she looks in and wins a corner. McCkaskill ready, delivers side of the 6, hits, rolls then cleared. Berger at the center circle has it now to McCkaskill for Cook she looks for Stengle but not open and back for AASFAR. Taken by Gotham unable to hold, give it up due to pressure and now ASFAR hold. Gotham complain of a call, want to hold up the quick restart, getting forward into the area a skillful step over in traffic and lost over the endline, Gotham goal kick. Over the top, Harper caught in the face by an errant arm, she is up. The in air impact at the shoulder was not so bad, the arm swing was. Stengel for Purce, looking for the time to send it inside, delays, the ball is out for a goal kick, play it, maybe it goes in, maybe a corner, maybe the same result. She was offside. Duran wins a ball, it is lost and ASFAR throw just in their offensive half. Gotham with a throw from the same spot more or less. They go back toward the top of the goal, Stengel worked herself free, pushes the defender away twice, ref gives the defender a talking to as a player was taken down from behind. Good pass to the circle for Gotham and a foul at 72’. Great pressure by Gotham has a long ball across the field then they steal the ball getting forward only to give it away in the ASFAR half. ASAF gets forward, turns away from Freeman and now the overlap heeled back and out of touch deep throw for Gotham and they go to the GK with many defenders all over it, Gotham win a throw and then go back with it, there was so much pressure, I saw get forward. A late whistle on a ASFAR foul. Cook from Stengel beat a a few now outside to Stengel again to Chupansky, she looks to the 6 and now the assist leader of last year, as a rookie now wins a corner. McCkaskill again pressed into duty high to the center top of the 6, no blue shirts and a foul, not the place to have them, Freeman out for Sommer, her first minutes for Gotham at 77’, she gets a warm welcome. Across and upfield go AMFAR into the area knocked down and Gotham not good enough on a crossing ball and ASFAR take it only to lose it about 10 yards later to Stengle. Across the backline go Gotham not to the circle, a pass denied, then recovered, to Harper it goes and offside from that long ball, this time delay is too much. A ball over the top not high enough and now McCkaskill is down holding her head. As she went up for the ball her head collided with a defender. ASFAR with a sub Jaj for Moudani at 80” as the rains continue. Lead ball over the top for Brunhina and she passes to a player who does a dummy to nobody, back outside ASFAR grab it. McCkaskill the beneficiary of the defense as she reels in a deflected ball which is then lost and ASFAR hold as they get out then back to their defense in these last 10’ Sonnett takes it, Gotham holds and knock it around in their backfield, Stengel head up finds her mark, it is defended out. Harper with a throw back and into midfield for Gotham, a poor pass to the feet of a defender has them getting forward, below the 18 into the area to the foot of Gotham. No pressure on Gotham as they are at the bottom of the circle, here it comes but they have space to move it around and do getting forward it’s lost, a through ball taken and to the touchline go Gotham. Chupansky across to a defender she feeds Cook on the line and she is fouled near the touchline maybe 15 yards onto play a dangerous area with a great angle for the restart by Bruninha. To the top of the 6, partially cleared by the GK and again by the defense into the Gotham defensive half. A trip in the area not called. Gotham are still hustling after the ball. McCkaskill getting in passing lanes since the word go. Stengel with an errant pass, a heavy pass back out of a deep throw by Gotham. Brunhina with great defense but it goes off her just forward of the endline. Gotham now finding the open player again. Lead ball by Brunhina and the pass in is sent out, a late offside call, this one hurt as ASFAR was getting forward. What a well weighted 40 yard cross field pass by Sonnett, the target then fouled. Stengel outside with a lead ball, lost, recovered and again taken back near the area. Taken away as ASFAR got forward, not to midfield and back again by Gotham. Asfar with a player down in the circle, holding her head, torso and neck, bringing up her legs, could have been anywhere as she collided with Stengel, no foul. Amoroso must be getting cold as the rain picks up in this the last 3 minutes and he dons a coat. Across the 18, Gotham are ahead and behind it, yet recover it. Cook passes on a shot and it is lost. Chupansky with a shot near the arc, to the GK with no difficulty. Stengel getting a lead ball but the GK off her line and goes wide with her outlet. Game over.
Yes, Gotham looked good, but this was a far weaker team than was Corinthians. That the offense did not seem to suffer for the missing Lavelle or Esther was a good sign but again consider the opposition. Shots were not as plentiful, but of far better quality, with it being early in the year with a number of new players, it is encouraging. Hearing O’Hara explaining she is due some credit for the win here and being in the games was interesting. She is right, as stated, she was with the team when they qualified for this the first FIFA game of its sort as her team took the Concacaf games that led to it. Concacaf does include of course Guyana, part of South America, it has been widely stated that these games were the first intercontinental games for women, how is that possible if one team had to come out of an area that spans a pair of continents?