For those who are unaware of the history of Soccer in the USA, a quick primer just on this game of KC v NC called by our friend Lori Lindsey who we last saw at the MLS playoff game for NYCFC at Citifield. Vanessa Dibernardo for KC, her father, Angelo, famously played for the NY Cosmos and the USMNT as her uncle, Paul was with my last team, Louisville Thunder, both starred at the legendary Indiana University under coach Jerry Yeagley. NC has Briana Pinto, her father, Hassan a local product out of the Brentwood Soccer Club, who then played pro in the Carolinas, one brother is with FCC another stopped playing at college and remained in grad school. Locally also featured on the rosters are the GK for NC, Casey Murphy with many call ups to the USWNT to her credit already, from NJ and Estelle Johnson who had played with Gotham, they play tomorrow. Sean Nahas of Long Island, his brother coaches at the college level is out of LI, of late inducted into his HS Hall of Fame. Past Gotham HC Coombs is on the bench of past UWSNT HC Vlatko with KC. A cousin of NC and Irish international, Denise O’Sullivan has played in Europe. This game is being contested in the first soccer specific stadium built for a women’s team.
Cooper with a physical tackle leads to Debhina but too long and to the feet of Murphy. Tremendous pressure for KC and they win the ball in their defensive third. Debhina again fed but she was offside. Maybe not as we see the replay. Dibo with a hard tackle though also brought to ground, gets the call on her challenge. NC over the top to Karoline looks for Sanchez, partially cleared and now NC with a throw from about 25 yards out. Sanchez a younger player and one of the better players on the field today. Dibo gets to a loose ball at the top of the arc, but her shot was a bit weak and easily covered up by Murphy. Save but Now off the off the post, defender blocks one shot, but to clean up her own rebound is the league leader in goals and the talking heads have said from the first 30 seconds that the first goal is key, they key was just presented by Chawinga and her HC, Vlatko is on his feet. Just down the next wing is Cooper, seeking the goal getter but too long for her. A ball lost in their defensive third has NC under pressure again. Their 57 goals on the year, a graphics shows KC holding the record for that, 37 tucked away at home, overall with 18 different women finding the back of the net. Murphy stretches for a wide long distance shot by Hutton. NC into the area just too long for the streaking Karoline. Cooper for Chawinga, Murphy well out of the area, goes down does suffer a kick from the forward and is now holding the toe of her foot. First commercial is with Gotham owner and basketball star Sue Bird, she was in town of late getting together with a number of players for her youth soccer team out of my hometown of Syosset, a boys team she left at U-13? Who I then coached the first season without her. Quick shot by KC is easliy blocked by the defense and Chawinga gets it. Debhina for DIbo and her shot is blocked out for a throw. Through ball to Chawinga parried over the bar by Murphy. Dibo on the corner it goes short. Dibo on the wing, she is everywhere, it is crossed and out of the area, Mace reels it in. What skill by Chawinga a high ball one touch perfect pass to her teammate. Karoline lays it off but too weak taken away, played long, NC gets it at the half and now pass it around, Williams looks for Mace, knocked away but NC tracks it down. O’Sullivan to Alina and her shot is just wide. From beyond the area, a NC shot sails way above the goal, leaning back striking across the body will do that. Cooper with a pass in as she picked it off, a poor pass then on the way out Arline takes the shoulder of Labonta to her face and both are down. Labonta carded, I must disagree with that she was going for the ball from my perspective. Due to injury delay both players were tended to so both must go off for a bit and the KC bench seems puzzled? NC now handlling the press better. At the half hour mark the game has settled down a lot. Labonta finds Cooper she goes way back and it is at midfield, too long for KC and NC has a throw in from their defensive third. NC breaks the press but too much of a touch and it is lost at the half. What skill as a ball taken out of the air is passed right down the line a good 20 yards. This call I agree with, a ball under control of the GK with one hand and the ball is still as Manaka kicked it free into the net. No movement on the ball and fully held by the GK, no goal the only call here. Commentators who disputed it now quote the Laws of the Game, guess they keep a book handy or did a quick internet search. Another shot by NC off the steal Manaka gets the ball, goes to ground recovers and unleashes, winning a corner. High kick into the 6, grabbed by the keeper who gets fouled by O’Sullivan, the Irish international grabbed her by the arm from behind, causing the ball to come loose, good call by the ref. Labonta skies on from the top of the area, again leaning back, no follow through as she also shot the ball on the way up. NC wins a ball and look into the area for a lead ball, sent up and out by the defense. Throw in from about 18 yards out. A fully foul throw, not called, the NC coach has his hands up in despair, though his team kept possession. Chawinga deftly sends a first time head ball back then off to the races, she runs out of field. Facing Gotham it was clear she is faster than most, even with the ball, it was astounding. Over the first 40’, KC has almost 2x the possession than NC. Cooper has her cross go right through the area. NC just misses a challenge on the GK as she clears it away. Chawinga has Kertz go to ground and wins the tackle, KC throw. Chawinga again on goal a ball into the area just past the penalty mark and it is just wide right. Cooper with a foul at the end of regulation now 5’ of injury time. Karoline holds too long and loses it to a tackle from behind. There have been a number of unforced errors and times where both teams have just not done the right thing with the ball. Debhina with a steal for Labonta, she finds Cooper into the area and Kertz knocks it away. As the commentators make note of NC going high inside to a 5’1” player, just that happens but a corner for NC with 90 seconds to go. Berkley to take it, she goes to the top of the 6, GK gets it. Dibo plays it onto the 6, gets a ‘meg out of it then cleared out at the whistle.
Karoline with a double step over then lets it go too far ahead and the GK grabs it up. It was just asked if you have ever met a Japan player who is not clever and technical, hello Tom Byer! Chawinga in on goal, a slide tackle takes her down in the area, no call and crowd calling out for VAR but nothing doing. Wheeler on the throw, Williams can’t catch the ball, defends a pass for a corner, taken by Dibo. At the top center of the 6, Murphy has it. Nice set piece off a throw by KC lead the throw to Dibo, across to Chawinga, but too much on it as it goes over the endline. Sanchez has gotten the ball a bit this game, but is continually losing it as was just demonstrated. Cook fouls Manaka and as the ball is placed in front of the ref, Dibo pushes it back but nothing done about it. NC moving the ball under a lesser form of pressure get a long ball to Karloine but shielded as the GK comes up for it, here they are again, O’Sullivan to Karloine and it is lost. Chawinga carries a good 40 yards, beats a pair lays it off and cleared out for Manaka. Back to Murphy as NC has a number of players warming up. O’Sullivan to Sanchez, strikes it with the inside of her foot , less power more accuracy but to the GK. Wheeler can’t keep the ball, goal kick NC. Williams plays it into the 6, just beyond the reach of a pair cleared. Green a past Chiefs QB is at the game, of a team part owned by the present day one, Patrick Mahomes and wife. Wingate in for Sanchez. Running a commercial and muting the game without subtitles an even worse idea. From a distance NC gets a good shot but just too far, out of reach. Chawing, Debhina and Dibo combine as it bounces around it the area getting to the able hands of Murphy. KC read a pass then off to goal, the ball to Chawinga is played away. KC with a restart some 40 yards out. Dibo to take it. Too long for Cook near the edge of the 6 yard box. Wingate makes her presence felt but can’t tuck it away. Murphy just able to toe poke it from Chawinga, is Casey showing signs of injury from that kick to the foot earlier? Dibo seeking Debhina from about 30 yards to the far corner of the 6, but too strong maybe wind aided? Williams to Wingate into the 6, one player past it none following cleared out for a throw. Williams from the wing, she looks to the top of 18 then to center, back to the middle, Wingate looks goal ward in the area and it’s a goal kick, I thought it was defended out, off a block? Manaka has to turn it back out to O’Sullivan, blocked from the top of the area, she gets it back feeds another and it is wide. KC subs, as does NC, St Georges and Prince each for Canada and Kerolin is out. Vine for Rauch. Debhina gets a nutmeg and a corner as her shot is wide right. Dibo wins a challenge finds Chawinga who loses her feet in the area, NC has it going the other way. Manaka for O’Sullivan now for Vine. Berkley now at the bottom of the circle. Again into the circle and again. Once more to the circle then to Alina and now the edge of the area, a ball in is headed a bit clear recovered by NC, lost and Dibo for Chawinga, sent back by NC. The last 10’ will be active. Manaka, in on goal cleared away and the GK grabs it. NC string passes together and covering ground not much forward as most are done to avoid their opponent’s pressure. O’Sullivan wins a tackle on Wheeler but gives up a throw. Debhina out for the KC side, Scott on. Chawinga just eating up yardage with the ball, into the area Berkley gets it away but remains down. Berkley is off but up. Hopkins in at 5’ 10’’ in center forward maybe a bit late with but 5’ to go a few minutes at least of stoppage time due to injury stoppages. Speck in, Hopkins as well Mura out and Gomes for Hopkins. Hopkins at the edge of the 18 has no help now to Chawinga a go on goal from a poor angle well wide. Manaka down, stretching, her team gets a throw and play continues. 7’ of stoppage time, that will already be added to as Manaka gets treatment, it is behind her knee that is getting treatment, not a good sign. Now back on for a bit Ballasaga in for Dibo. Manaka at first was not moving to well, now is far more fluid. She holding her knee again. Wingate suffers a hard tackle but a throw for NC. Williams mishits a ball, it goes over the endline. Berkley has her first touch betray her high this time. Williams into the 6, cleared out then out of touch by KC at 30 yards. Chawinga fouled by St Georges She is pushed to the floor. Again Chawinga down. The 7’ is now over 11.
Orlando should be ready, seems stop Chawinga, you win. I can only hope that the Gotham game is as good as this from noon on Sunday.