It struck like lightning. Seemingly against the run of play. Left back Ellie Jean blasts a perfectly weighted long ball behind the backline where the keeper had to come out meet it and it was at that point whatever player wanted it more would get there. That player was Midge Purce. After 85 minutes of hard running Midge Purce found a second gear and made a perfectly timed run off the center backs shoulder. She blasts the ball past the keeper and collapses on the grass with a smile.
Gotham gets it's first goal from the run of play of the tournament. It could not come at a more opportune time. Gotham was sitting bottom of the group (4th). Group leader, the Courage had won their first two games and with a win tonight would have been in a great position to take the group. However, tonight Washington forced a tie out of the Courage. Leaving room for a team like Gotham to make up some ground. Gotham seized that opportunity.
Behind strong performances by Ashlyn Harris in goal with two big saves against former teammate and friend Sydney Leroux. Other notable standouts were Mandy Freeman who left with injury and National team call-up left back Imani Dorsey. Both defenders never put a foot wrong and broke up Orlando attacking opportunity after opportunity.
Gotham started the match with only 1 central defensive midfielder when traditionally starting 2. Playing two flat lines of three attackers in hopes of getting their 3 forwards Monaghan, Onumonu and Purce facing goal and running at defenders often.
Gotham was outshot (23,14), out passed (457,395) and out possessed (55,45). But at the end of the day Gotham prevailed on the scoreboard. Ultimately. what good are possession and passing stats if you don't do anything with it?
With that win Gotham moves up to 2nd in the table and in a great position having completed their first half of the group stage on the road. Gotham now has back-to back- to back home games. Good teams draw on the road and win at home. Getting 4 points on the road instead of 2 is a big deal.
Midge Purce's goal could also be the catalyst to opening the floodgates. Gotham has been close on a lot of plays coming off but the tea is just not confidently clicking. This may be the spark the team needs. The belief that a game is never out of their reach.
Gotham returns to action Sunday April 3rd at 3pm at Red Bull Arena. Be there. Be Loud.