NC Courage fall to Gotham FC 1-0 Saturday

The North Carolina Courage fell to NJ/NY Gotham FC, 1-0, Saturday night at Red Bull Arena. The Courage remain on 12 points through eight matches with a 4-4-0 record, splitting the season series with Gotham.

The match started with some end-to-end play with Casey Murphy making an early save in the 2’ before Ashley Sanchez got a good look on frame in the 4’ that was saved. Gotham got a takeaway at the edge of the attacking third in the 11’ and the insert deflected perfectly to Lynn Williams, who picked out the top right corner to put the home side in front early.

Narumi had a one-time chance from the top of the box after a build up the right channel in the 27’ that forced a diving save. Sanchez stole a build up pass in the 42’ as the Courage had the better of the chances down the stretch of the opening period but went into the locker room down a goal at half.

The Courage kept the pressure on out of the break, with Sanchez playing a great through ball for halftime substitute Tyler Lussi to track down in the right corner and send an insert back, but Sanchez’s highlight reel one-timer was denied.

Victoria Pickett drew a foul just outside the box at the hour-mark but the ensuing insert was pawed away. Moments later, Haley Hopkins earned a deflection for a corner but the ball was caught. Another great give-and-go between Sanchez and Lussi saw Sanchez drill the right post in the 67’ to narrowly miss bringing the Courage level.

Match Notes:

Brianna Pinto made her 50th NWSL regular season appearance

The Courage were held scoreless for the first time this season

Up Next:

The Courage wrap up their three-match road swing as they head to Kansas City, Missouri for the first meeting of the season with the Kansas City Current at CPKC Stadium on Sunday, May 12, at 6 p.m. ET. The match will be streamed live on NWSL+.