OL Reign vs. NJ/NY Gotham FC
Tacoma, Washington – NJ/NY Gotham FC (5-3-6, 21 points) jumped out to an early lead but OL Reign (7-7-1, 22 points) scored three goals in the second-half to earn the hard fought 3-2 win. OL Reign has now won four consecutive home games, having scored a combined 12 goals and conceding just three in those matches.
Ifeoma Onumonu continued her hot streak for Gotham as she recorded a brace within the fist 15' of play. She scored the games opening goal in the 9' when Carli Lloyd sent a cross to the back post where Onumonu let it bounce once and knocked it into the net.
Onumonu then scored again in the 15' as she got behind the defenders and sent a shot from the left side to the back right of the net to give Gotham the 2-0 lead. Nahomi Kawasumi earned the assist on the play. She has now scored seven goals in her last 11 matches. It felt like a matter of time before OL Reign would find a goal as they kept the attacking pressure up throughout the second half and they were able to strike in the 57'. Megan Rapinoe sent a corner kick into the near post that found a leaping Kristen McNabb who headed in the goal to bring it to 2-1. The goal snaps a four-game streak that Gotham held OL Reign scoreless. Rapinoe then stepped up confidently like she has many times before and converted on two penalty kicks in the 77' and the 90+1' to tie the game and then give them the win. Gotham FC drops their first road contest of the year as they were unbeaten in all six road contests this season (2-0-4). Up next for NJ/NY will be a quick turn around as the club is set to take on the Thorns in Portland on Wednesday, August 25th at 10:30 PM ET. The Reign will also take on Portland in their next contest as they will host the Thorns at 7:00 PM ET on Sunday, August 29.
