Gotham FC heads to Colorado on Sunday looking to continue its historic run of form when it faces Denver Summit FC for the first time on the road.
The NWSL leaders will play at Centennial Stadium for the first time, beginning a three-match road stretch against the expansion side that handed Gotham its first loss of the season back in March.
Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. ET.
Sunday will also mark Juan Carlos Amorós’ first match back on the sideline after spending five weeks away from the team on paternity leave. During his absence, assistant coach Shaun Harris guided Gotham through a stretch that extended the club’s unbeaten run to a record 10 matches.
Amorós returned to an environment he felt had continued to grow in his absence, crediting Harris, Sean Nahas, Zoë Mattheson and the rest of the technical staff for keeping the team moving in the right direction.
“Being back in the environment, it’s been fantastic,” Amorós said. “The players have really responded well. The way they’ve performed on the pitch, the environment keeps getting better, and for me, something I’m incredibly proud of.”
Gotham (13-3-6, 45 points) enters Sunday following a 1-1 draw against the Portland Thorns last Friday at Sports Illustrated Stadium. Jaedyn Shaw gave the Bats the lead in the 60th minute with a long-range strike for her team-leading sixth goal of the season before Sophia Smith equalized from the penalty spot 15 minutes later.
The result kept Gotham unbeaten since July 4, and five points clear at the top of the NWSL standings.
Amorós sees the current run as the product of a team that has gradually become more confident throughout the season rather than one that suddenly found its form.
“It’s been a progression,” Amorós said. “The team has been growing since the beginning, with results since April.”
That progression will be tested by a Denver side Gotham has already seen once this season.
The Summit defeated Gotham 2-0 on March 25 at Sports Illustrated Stadium, with Melissa Kössler and Tash Flint scoring in the second half. It was Denver’s first win in franchise history.
The rematch comes with the Summit still fighting for a place in the postseason. Denver (7-8-6, 27 points) sits 10th in the standings, four points behind eighth-place Seattle for the final playoff spot.
The Summit enter the match with momentum of their own after beating Chicago Stars FC 6-1 at Centennial Stadium. Kössler scored twice, while Janine Sonis, Yuzuki Yamamoto, Flint and Olivia Thomas also found the net.
For Jaelin Howell, Gotham’s ability to control possession will be especially important against a Denver team that has shown it can create problems.
“We think Denver is a very good team, and being on the road away from home is also different,” Howell said. “We’re a very different team now than earlier this year.”
Howell believes controlling the ball can limit Denver’s opportunities while allowing Gotham to play to its own strengths.
“Our ability to have possession and control the game is going to be huge,” Howell said. “Denver has a lot of threats and so minimizing that by having the ball and staying true to our defense that has been so good this year is going to be really important.”
Amorós has also seen Denver evolve since the teams met in March, particularly with the addition of Lindsey Heaps. He believes her arrival has given the Summit another presence in the midfield and added leadership throughout the group.
“The addition of Lindsey is a big plus for them,” Amorós said. “It gives them that extra dimension in midfield and in the leadership all around.”
That is part of what makes Sunday’s matchup different from the first meeting. Denver is no longer simply an expansion team finding its footing.
“They are a very dangerous team now, not only individually, but also collectively,” Amorós said. “They defend together, they work together.”
Gotham will also have to deal with a home atmosphere it has yet to experience, with Sunday marking the club’s first trip to Centennial Stadium.
Amorós expects the crowd to add another layer to the challenge, but he wants his team to remain focused on handling Denver collectively.
“They play at home in a stadium that they get a lot of support,” Amorós said. “It’s going to be a game where we’re going to have to be the best version of ourselves and be ready to work together without the ball and try to be dominant with the ball.”
For Gotham, Sunday is an opportunity to continue its record-setting run while beginning a difficult three-match road stretch. For Amorós, it marks his return to the sideline as he looks to lead Gotham to its first NWSL Shield.
