**HARRISON, N.J.** – An enthralling 2-2 draw between Gotham FC and the Kansas City Current saw the visiting Current come back from a two-goal deficit to secure a point on the road, though Gotham was still able to sneak into the playoff places with the result. Gotham will now look ahead to a road match against North Carolina next Sunday night in the first round of the playoffs.
Gotham opened the scoring after just six minutes as forward Midge Purce was able to convert an opportunity inside the box as the hosts looked to jump out to a quick start. A miscued pass in the Kansas City defense allowed Gotham to recover the ball, and Purce’s run into the box was fed perfectly as she latched onto a pass and rolled a poised finish to the far post past Kansas City goalkeeper A.D. Franch and in.
The night got even better for Gotham in the 15 ^th minute when attacker Yazmeen Ryan produced a brilliant solo run and finish past Franch to give her side a two-goal lead and, for at least the moment, help them feel like a playoff place was nearly concrete. Ryan took a pass on the edge of the penalty area and made a slalomed run through the Kansas City defense that eventually led to a narrow angle between her, Franch, and the goal just a few yards from the endline. Ryan then gave it her all as she whipped a powerful drive into the top left corner and in to put her side two in front.
However, the Current would not go out quietly by any means and an equally stunning goal from midfielder Alexa Spaanstra pulled one back for her side in the 26 ^th minute to breathe life back into the match. Spaanstra had made a run down the right side of the field when she cut in, and unchallenged by a Gotham defender, found herself on the edge of the penalty area with a chance to shoot. Spaanstra then lifted a looping shot over the head of Gotham goalkeeper Mandy Haught and in, cutting the lead in half.
In the 34 ^th minute, Kansas City forward Kristen Hamilton caused a problem for Haught as she caught the goalkeeper out and nearly made her pay if not for a goalline clearance by defender Ali Krieger, who was playing her last regular season home match in front of the Gotham fans.
That scare was not enough to straighten out the Gotham defense, though, and an own goal from Jenna Nighswonger in the 36 ^th minute equalized the match. Kansas City had again threatened the goal as attacker Debinha got around the defense and slid a pass across the face of goal that Nighswonger was unfortunate to knock into her own net.
Into the second half, Franch made good saves on both forward Lynn Williams and Nighswonger, and Haught on the other end against Debinha, but neither team would ultimately be able to break through as they settled for a point each.

Match Highlights

Match Highlights