It's one down and four more to go for Angel City as stop two of this extensive late-season road trip rolls into Red Bull Arena Sunday night.
While it’s felt like a disappointing run of results – a fair criticism of a side chasing a playoff berth from the outside – Angel City has only lost once since the calendar turned to July.
They’ll meet a Gotham team this Sunday that has only managed a single win in that same time span. Well within striking distance, with matches in hand, the weekend is a golden opportunity to bank points before the grueling, late stages of this month-long stretch away from the Banc.
Kickoff
2 p.m. PT at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, N.J.
How to watch
The match will air live nationally on CBS Sports Network and locally on Bally Sports SoCal.
How to listen
Tune into the NWSL station on iHeartRadio for live coverage of the game and for other NWSL coverage.
Records
Gotham FC: 4W-11L-0D (12 points, 12th in NWSL), Angel City: 6W-5L-4D (22 points, seventh in NWSL)
Last time out
Gotham FC dropped its sixth consecutive match with a 2-1 defeat to Orlando; Angel City conceded a late penalty in Kansas City, surrendering its third lead in four games en route to a 1-1 draw with the Current.
PROJECTED LINEUPS:
Gotham FC
(4-2-3-1, right to left): Michelle Betos, Ellie Jean, Estelle Johnson, Mandy Freeman, Imani Dorsey, McCall Zerboni, Ali Krieger, Margaret Purce, Kristie Mewis, Paige Monaghan, Ifeoma Onumonu
Angel City
(4-4-2, right to left): Dijana Haračić, Tyler Lussi, Megan Reid, Paige Nielsen, Ali Riley, Claire Emslie, Dani Weatherholt, Cari Rocarro, Jun Endo, Savannah McCaskill, Simone Charley
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
Gotham FC: Midge Purce, midfielder
Coming off a red card suspension, Purce will provide a pair of desperately-needed fresh legs to Gotham’s attacking group.
Ifeoma Onumonu and Taylor Smith have split the lion’s share of the minutes up top, and their lack of depth often forces the other to take an extra shift out wide. Rotation has scarcely meant rest for the Goths, and Purce will enter the weekend with just that.
A well-rested Purce has proven to be a productive one this season. She leads Gotham with three goals this season, two of which have come at least two weeks removed from her last full 90.
Her last 90-minute shift prior to this upcoming contest on Aug. 28? Two weeks prior on Aug. 14.
Angel City: Claire Emslie, forward
One of the most noticeable, though technically unnoticed, aspects of this Angel City side, is a lack of players who are individually dangerous.
Since joining back in July, Emslie has brought some previously absent creativity to this front group. Her ability to play in dangerous balls from wide areas encourages the likes of McCaskill and Roccaro to push forward from the middle of the park.
The lack of individual creativity means this Angel City attack has to create advantages with numbers, and Emslie’s combination of quality service and security on the ball allows for just that.
Key matchup: Ali Krieger vs. Cari Roccaro
As previously stated, Angel City needs numbers to create chances when they’re not hitting on the break. While Emslie can aid those efforts out wide, Roccaro has to win her battles first.
Krieger has been poor of late, but she’ll have to hold her own in defensive midfield for the Goths to have a fighting chance. If Roccaro feels emboldened to drift forward, Angel City will not struggle to find the back of the net. Their plethora of first-half goals of late is proof enough.
Plainly said, these teams do not score goals. And if Krieger can win her battles and keep Roccaro deep, it might be a long 90 minutes in New Jersey – music to Gotham’s ears.
FOR THE WIN: Play like the committee is watching
Let’s pretend, for the sake of exercise, that the playoff spots are determined via committee rather than objective results. I’ve already discussed Angel City’s goal-scoring woes ad nauseum, but as postseason chasers, they can not be overstated.
Angel City still has not won a game by more than a goal, which has left it vulnerable to struggling sides – like Gotham – in the past. If Angel City won’t relentlessly commit numbers forward against the worst team in the league, then the postseason was always a pipe dream.
The Reign and the Red Stars, fifth and sixth ahead of ACFC respectively, have combined to take nine of nine points of the basement dwellers from New Jersey. Angel City already let three slip away earlier this season at home, and can’t afford to come away with less than three on the return trip.
The “committee” is watching. It’s time for Angel City to turn in a statement performance.