Denise Duffy and Jonathon Hagger team up to provide an in-depth preview of this weekend’s NWSL match between Gotham FC and Racing Louisville (15/6/23).
Above: Racing Louisville’s Thembi Kgatlana in action. Photo: Chris Hunphey/Louisville City FC.
Welcome to halfway through the NWSL season where literally anything can happen. All twelve teams boast an array of talent, and on their day, can beat all other teams.
This weekend, Racing Louisville are playing host to Gotham FC. With a two-wins, six draws and three losses record this season, Louisville have been unlucky not to close out matches that could have been wins. They are five points below the playoff line and just six away from Gotham. They will be looking to close the gap this Sunday.
Gotham FC slipped back to fifth position this week in the team standings after a hard-fought draw against the Houston Dash. Lynn Williams was able to slot home her 76th career goal from a penalty midway through the second half. Truly a wild time in the NWSL regular season play.
TEAM COMPARISONS
All eyes are on the physical and emotional energy of these two teams. They need goals. Gotham hopes to keep the scoring going for them to be in top contention. They will be coming up against Racing Louisville’s Katie Lund between the sticks. Lund might be out of the World Cup picture for this cycle, but she could be on Vlatko’s list post tournament.
Looking the other way, Savannah Demello was the NWSL player of the month. Abby Smith and crew will have to close in space to keep out the screamers from her. Overplay it too much and Demello is highly capable of dropping it off to fellow teammates angling in.
Key Players:
Gotham FC
- Lynn Williams – Forward. Looking to keep the winning ways going, Williams will be sharpening her focus on both sides of the ball. This was an unbelievable close in by a forward.
- Jenna Nighswonger – Gotham FC Forward. Nighswonger is a key contributor on the ball. With 25% more touches on the ball than the next two players in their last match, Racing will have to work hard to shut her down. Not only does she contribute volume but her passing accuracy in the final third makes her an absolute threat.
- Ellie Jean – Defender. Jean has predominantly been used so far this season as cover for players on rotation. When Jean is on form she is an absolute force. She stands her ground and all opposition teams give her full respect. In the future, Ellie Jean could be a contender for the USNWT.
Racing Louisville
Abby Erceg – Racing FC Defender. Former NWSL Defender of the Year will be up against former Golden Boot winner and previous teammate Lynn Williams. If anyone understands Williams and her runs it’s Erceg, though stopping her won’t be easy. Look for Erceg to use her physical presence on defence and also score from her head on a Carson Pickett corner..
Alex Chidiac – Racing FC Forward / Midfield. Chidiac had an absolute blinder of a season playing the A-League competition in Australia, and was the joint winner of the Impetus A-League Women Player of the Year. She has yet to get a start for Racing as she plays back up to the dynamic pairing of Kirsten Davis and Savannah Demelo. Look for her as a game changing substitute.
Savannah Demelo – Forward. Demelo is leading the team with four goals scored. Demelo was the fourth pick overall in the 2022 player draft and she is repaying the favour with mind numbing performances.
What to expect in this match
Gotham FC looked a bit out of sorts against the Dash and didn’t appear to find the rhythm they have been playing with in earlier matches. If Racing can disrupt the ball flowing through the midfield and look forward to the likes of South African National teammer Thembi Kgatlana, they will have an excellent chance of toppling the Bats. On the other hand, the Bats players have a lot to prove with so many players playing in the World Cup next month. All will be looking to put in strong performances as a way to ensure they are not overlooked. Racing Louisville will put up a strong challenge. We are split on which team will come out ahead.
THE EDGE
Keeper – Abby Smith vs Katie Lund. Smith is the unchallenged number one keeper for Gotham following Michelle Betos breaking her hand and is playing some of the best football of her career. Lund is a rising star in this league. Checkmarks in both boxes.
Backlines – Advantage Racing Louisville. Abby Erceg, Carson Pickett and Lauren Milliet are some of the stars that Racing will be leaning on to keep goals out of the net and momentum going forward. For opposition teams to score they have to work extremely hard to get through. We both agree, Louisville has the advantage.
Midfield – Gotham will need to defend by committee to keep Demelo away from the top of the box. It starts by controlling the midfield. We are split on this, and this will probably be where the game is won or lost. Jaelin Howell could prove to be the difference is topping Gotham’s attack. Gotham FC are recording below-average results in goal assists so the midfield will need to find some chemistry to break through.
Front Line – It’s a matter of which team will work together and achieve the chemistry necessary for that final pass. In front of their home crowd, Racing might just make that happen.
Coaching – Kim Björkegren v Juan Carlos Amorós. Native of Sweden, Kim is looking to put his name on the map of top coaches in the NWSL. A few more wins on his side will only help his cause. Coach Amorós will look to prove he knows how to put a winning roster together during the middle stretch of this season.
Front and Back Office – As someone who worked with the USWNT for the past two cycles, General Manager Ryan Dell knows how to run a team’s logistics. Shoutout to him and Caitlyn Milby who keep the drum beating. Also, Racing Louisville is a gorgeous stadium conducive to professional play in the NWSL. The care they take with their pitch is top notch.
Fans, Stadium and Social Media – Both teams should be proud of their supporters groups. Given the trauma of the past two years, these are fans who persevered and have unquestionably made their clubs better. Both teams have quality venues, and their social media presence is hilarious. Check marks in each box because we can’t choose.
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