Gotham FC returns to action Friday night looking to respond from its first league defeat in more than three months when it visits Utah Royals FC at America First Field, with kickoff is scheduled for 10 p.m. ET.
Gotham (6-3-3, 21 points) saw its six-match unbeaten run in NWSL play come to an end with a 2-0 loss to the San Diego Wave last weekend. Despite the setback, the Bats remain firmly in the playoff race, sitting seventh in the league standings with 21 points, level with sixth-place North Carolina and just three points behind third-place Washington.
Utah (7-3-3, 24 points) is also looking to rebound after falling 3-2 to the Chicago Stars on Sunday. The defeat snapped the Royals’ 10-match unbeaten streak, though they remain fourth in the standings, tied on points with Washington and Kansas City.
Gotham head coach Juan Carlos Amorós said the focus is on returning to the team’s identity after the loss in San Diego.
“We want to make sure that when we go onto the pitch we are ourselves on both sides of the ball. We came off a very good performance against Kansas City and lifted the [NWSL Challenge Cup] in Columbus away from home. It’s important for us to find the best version of ourselves on both sides of the ball.”
Midfielder Sarah Schupansky said the team has spent the week making adjustments while preparing for another difficult opponent.
“There’s a lot of problem solving going on. We have so many capable staff members who help us with different aspects of the game. Utah is an incredible opponent. They’re having a great season, so it’s going to be a challenging game. We’re taking a lot from San Diego but also trying to implement those changes into our game plan against Utah. There are a lot of specific nuances that we’re focusing on.”
Friday’s matchup gives Gotham an opportunity to quickly move past last weekend’s defeat while picking up a valuable result against one of the NWSL’s top teams. With only three points separating third and seventh place entering the weekend, a victory could provide a significant boost in the tightly contested playoff race.
