Gotham FC earned the big road win with a 2-0 victory over Racing Louisville FC
- Gotham FC beat Racing Louisville FC 2-0 on the road
- They ended the regular season series going unbeaten
- The NWSL unbeaten run extended to eight with the winning streak extended to four
![Ella Stevens of Gotham FC Ella Stevens of Gotham FC](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_3336,h_1876,x_0,y_225/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/336/01j0ekpd0rxwzqwgt8m9.jpg)
For just the second time in ten previous competitive meetings, NJ/NY Gotham FC managed to win against Racing Louisville FC 2-0 on the road in Kentucky. This win continues Gotham's incredible run of form extending their winning streak to four and unbeaten streak to eight. This started with a 1-1 draw against Louisville back on April 28.
This win sees them, at least temporarily, jump up to fourth in the standings ahead of Portland Thorns FC who play their Cascadia rival Seattle Reign FC on Sunday afternoon. A win from the Thorns will see them jump back ahead of Gotham by just one point.
The goal scoring was thought to have started early on when in the 12th minute Katie Stengel scored a very well-headed goal but was ultimately disallowed due to an offside call. This did not deter Gotham FC, as they continued to control play throughout the first half, hardly ever allowing Louisville past the midfield.
Another multi-goal performance sees Gotham continue their great form
The first goal that counted came in the 21st minute when Gotham FC capitalized on an advantage played by the referee, who spotted a foul on Ella Stevens. Crystal Dunn picked up the ball near the midfield and drove forward before finding Yazmeen Ryan. Ryan then used a Louisville defender as a screen and was able to wrongfoot goalkeeper Katie Lund and slot the ball into the bottom left corner.
From then on Gotham had the majority of the offensive pressure for the rest of the first half until the end when Louisville managed their first real chances of the game.
That momentum carried into the beginning of the second half with Ann-Katrin Berger called into action multiple times. Gotham took the momentum back shortly thereafter with their second goal of the game. Mandy Freeman found the in-form Stevens at the back post with a beautiful cross from the right-hand side that the forward was able to then volley back across the goal.
Louisville had a few more chances later in the second half but they could not find the back of the net. As a result, Gotham FC came away with all three points.
The Player of the Match honors must go to Freeman who after not starting a game all season, has put in two consecutive stellar performances at the unfamiliar position of right-back. She provided the assist for Stevens' goal and had plenty of dangerous balls that caused the Louisville backline headaches throughout the game.
Other standout performers include the goal scorers Ryan and Stevens, assist provider and leader in tackles Dunn, and Emily Sonnett who led both teams in accurate passes with 75.
This is also the first game of Gotham's second three-game week of the season. They head back home for matches against San Diego Wave FC on Wednesday and the Washington Spirit next Sunday. Gotham's last match against San Diego FC was a 1-1 draw on the road, while their 2-0 loss the last time they played Washington was the last time Gotham had lost this season.
There are only four games left before the Olympic break and subsequent NWSL x Liga MX Summer Cup starts. Gotham FC will be doing everything they can to maintain this unbeaten run into this part-way break in the season.
manual