Gotham FC's Crystal Dunn scores and Rose Lavelle marks 100 caps in 3-0 USWNT win
- Gotham FC was on full display for the USWNT
- Crystal Dunn scored her first goal since 2018 while Rose Lavelle earned her 100th cap
The NJ/NY Gotham FC ladies who were with the USWNT played again on Tuesday. The ladies played against South Korea for the second time in a row, aiming to get their second win under Emma Hayes after beating the Asian side 4-0 over the weekend. And, as one would expect, they did win. This time the match ended with a score of 3-0.
This time around, four Gotham players started the match: Crystal Dunn, Rose Lavelle, Jenna Nighswonger, and Emily Sonnett. Dunn started as the right-winger, which meant Hayes kept to her word to utilize the versatile player as an attacker. The veteran usually plays as a left-back with the USWNT, so this was a nice change.
Gotham players Dunn and Lavelle shine for the USWNT
Dunn rewarded the head coach's faith in utilizing her as an attacker by scoring the first goal of the evening in the 13th minute. She made herself available right in front of the goal, tapping the ball in after Nighswonger put the ball into the box. Nobody was in front of Dunn, so it was the perfect opportunity to score her first goal for the USWNT since 2018.
This showed the connection Dunn can have with Nighswonger. When she plays on the left side for Gotham, the two players tend to work well with one another. Passes are smooth, and they help move the ball up the pitch. While Dunn was on the right side, the connection was still in play for Tuesday's match.
Meanwhile, Lavelle had another stellar game. Her ability to control the ball in the midfield was on display. She also continued to make impactful plays by maintaining possession for the USWNT and picking out teammates with her passes. More importantly, this match marked her 100th cap for the team. She played a little over 60 minutes before coming off due to her minutes restrictions.
In addition, Nighswonger came off at the same time, ending her night early after playing the entire fixture on Saturday. Dunn and Sonnett played the full 90 minutes, with Dunn moving to the left-back position. Davidson remained on the bench and did not make an appearance. Perhaps the center-back did enough to prove her worth for the Olympic team after her performance on Saturday.
Nevertheless, questions remain about who will make the Olympic squad from Gotham FC. While Dunn is versatile and proved she can still play as an attacker, the depth in the attack is vast. Then, Nighswonger appears to have locked down the left-back role. Lavelle will be called up unless she suffers an injury, while Sonnett and Davidson have a chance to make the team. Fans can assume that Lynn Williams is out of the picture for now since she was not called up for these past two friendlies.