Points are shared after C.F. Monterrey Femenil holds Gotham FC to scoreless draw

The busy week continued on Thursday when NJ/NY Gotham FC welcomed C.F. Monterrey Femenil for a CONCACAF W Champions Cup match at Red Bull Arena.  This was the second of three games within seven days.  The Bats had a dominating performance against Seattle Reign FC on Monday and will then play the Utah Royals on Sunday.

Therefore, the Bats were aiming to have a perfect week in all competitions.  Monterrey was believed to be a tough match though, for they are one of the top sides in Liga MX Femenil.

Since this is a busy week, Juan Carlos Amorós rotated six players in the Starting XI from the Seattle fixture.  Esther González was the only forward who started in the Champions Cup match.  Meanwhile, half of the defense remained in the lineup, with Ann-Katrin Berger, Tierna Davidson, and Jenna Nighswonger getting the call against the Mexican side.

Gotham FC played well but failed to find the back of the net.  The Bats and Monterrey ended the night in a 0-0 draw, earning a point in the standings.

Gotham FC and C.F. Monterrey share the points

As expected, Monterrey was a difficult opponent.  They defended well against Gotham FC and grew into the match as time went on.  The Liga MX Femenil team had a stronger second half and was even intimidating in the attack.

Gotham was still the better side, but the game was not a dominating performance.  Perhaps there were some tired legs, but the rotation should have helped.  Thankfully, the defense remained compact and composed even when changes were made.  It did not matter that Davidson came off at halftime and Jess Carter started the second half.  Nighswonger’s substitution just moved Taryn Torres and later Crystal Dunn to the left-back spot.

What hurt the Bats was the lack of threatening shots on target.  They had numerous attacking sequences, especially during the first 45 minutes.  However, the team struggled to find the clinical finish.  In addition, there were missed chances on goal.  One great example was when Cece Kizer had an opening in the 77th minute.  The ball fell to her in front of the goal, but Gotham’s newest player mishit the ball.

One of the best opportunities during the match was Rose Lavelle’s long-distance shot in the 88th minute.  She forced Monterrey’s goalkeeper, Pamela Tajonar, to react and make the save.  Again, there were not too many threatening shots, so the Bats likely ended the game with some disappointment.

The 0-0 result was slightly shocking.  Gotham knew this would be challenging, but there was the expectation they would win.  Credit must be given when due, for Monterrey played well enough to steal a point.

This means the Bats sit in second place in the Group A Champions Cup standings.  They are still in a good position, but Gotham FC wanted perfection this week.  A draw is not the end of the world, but it does prove that their group is not an easy road.  The next two games will surely be interesting to watch.