Gotham FC Earns Point at Home vs. Angel City FC in 0-0 Draw on Evening of Momentous Celebrations

HARRISON, NJ(July 2, 2023)– In a clash of the coasts, Gotham FC played to a scoreless tie against Angel City FC on Sunday night at Red Bull Arena, with close chances from both clubs and several incredible saves made by each team to preserve the 0-0 scoreline. The theme of tonight’s match was Women’s Empowerment Night presented by Johnnie Walker, which featured Gotham FC owner Sue Bird serving as honorary captain and providing the coin toss, warm-up tops for both clubs designed by Monica Ahanonu, and actress Hannah Waddingham lighting the torch, among the pregame highlights.



The occasion also celebrated Gotham FC midfielder McCall Zerboni’s accomplishment of becoming only the second player in NWSL history to reach 200 appearances. Additionally, midfielder Mana Shim continued her comeback to professional soccer, when she came on as a substitute for captain Ali Krieger in the 62nd minute.



Early in the match, goalkeepers on both sides came up with major saves. In the 25th minute, Angel City defender Megan Reid played a long ball over the top to Savannah McCaskill who took a touch into the box and shot from near-range. However, Gotham FC goalkeeper Abby Smith went to the ground, making the save with her left leg. That was followed by Gotham FC forward Yazmeen Ryan dribbling in behind the defense on the left side in the 29th minute to strike a shot across goal, but ACFC goalkeeper Didi Haracic made the diving save.



In the closing moments of the first half, Gotham FC rookie Jenna Nighswonger combined for a one-two with Zerboni before she served up a shot from the left side that forced Haracic to make a's leaping save to push the chance over the crossbar.



Gotham FC’s Ryan – a forward – tracked back to save a breakaway in the 80th minute stretching to block Claire Emslie shot.



Midge Purce entered the match at halftime and worked the right sideline, beating defenders on the dribble on multiple occasions. In the 66th minute, she cut back on the endline and shot for the near post with her left to force a goalkeeper save.



In second half stoppage time, Purce turned two defenders and sent a dangerous low, driven ball from the left side across the box, as forward Delanie Sheehan was striding in for the strike, but just missed the connection.



The anticipation heightened in the final moments of the match, when also in stoppage time, Sheehan sent a lofted diagonal ball from the right corner of the 18-yard box into the path of Nighswonger, whose header glanced just wide.



STARTING LINEUP (SUBSTITUTIONS)

Abby Smith, Jenna Nighswonger, Ali Krieger (Mana Shim 2’), Ellie Jean, Mandy Freeman, Nealy Martin, Allie Long, McCall Zerboni (Nahomi Kawasumi), Yazmeen Ryan, Delanie Sheehan, Svava Rós Guðmundsdóttir (Midge Purce 45’),



POSTGAME QUOTES

Mana Shim

On what it meant to get back on the field in a game today

“Honestly, I just had so much fun,” said Shim. I really missed this game and all those amazing women. I am so proud of how much the league has grown, and I’m honored to be a small part of it.”



Mandy Freeman

About the team performance

"What's so great about this team is that it's a lot of emphasis on just filling in roles and every player should be able to understand and know any position and be able to float seamlessly through. I think that's one of our big strengths."



"We emphasize a lot of interchanging positionson the field so I feel like we justhave that chemistry to be able to know what each role needs in that moment on the field. I think that's one of our strengths as a team."



About Angel City

"I think we have a little [cross-country] rivalry, East Coastversus West Coast. I think it's always going to be intense between both of our teams."





McCall Zerboni

On 200 appearances in her NWSL career

"I look at my job from a service mentality. I want to service those around me. I want to service the supporter, I want to service my city, service my team and I'm just grateful for the opportunity to do that 200 times."



On Mana

"That is the epitome of strength for me. To go through such an extreme experience attached to your workplace and to have the bravery to come back and do that work."



Head Coach Juan CarlosAmorós

On the defensive performance

"I think we were fantastic in the box defending so defensively I couldn't see us conceding."



On McCall's performance today

"In the second half, she was outstanding. She was helping us around the pressure. She was winning key moments, key challenges."



On Midge Purce’s performance today

"Midge is important. She's a player that can make a difference. She needs to earn her place and she's doing that at training by showing us what she can do."