Credit Katelin Severino
By Marilia Macedo
Onumonu scored in the first half and helped Gotham to reach the victory. Angelina stands out.
The game at Red Bull Arena started with both teams trying to find chances from the very beginning, with Fishlock failing to put her shot on target and Dydasco being stopped by the keeper Ella Dederick.
In the 6th minute, Rose Lavelle’s through pass found Megan Rapinoe on the left side of the box and she took a first-time shot. Luckily for the home team, the ball hit Haracic’s left hand and then dramatically hit the crossbar. Leah Pruitt tried to reach the ball, but it went back to the keeper’s hands.
In minute 13, Dydasco – who also made a great match, taking good and dangerous set-pieces – took a perfect corner that neither the defenders nor Dederick could clear the ball out of danger, and Ifeoma Onumonu headed it into the back of the net, 1-0.
Two minutes later, she had the chance to double the score, but her shot went narrowly wide of the far post.
After that, Freya Coombe’s squad kept the ball possession, making things difficult for the visitors until the break.
In the second half, Farid Benstiti changed the team and Angelina – who was recently called up by Pia Sundhage to the Brazil national team – came off the bench to electrify the game.
She participated in most of the plays and made a difference on the pitch, both individually and collectively. Defensively, she helped the defenders to neutralize Carli Lloyd’s attempts.
While attacking, Angelina – named the Player of the Match – created very good opportunities with Bethany Balcer, Rapinoe, and Lavelle. She also tried to score her first goal wearing Reign’s jersey.
NJ/NY Gotham, however, denied the equalizer by trying to slow down the game in the final minutes and ended up taking the three points.
After the international break, OL Reign will play against the Courage on June 19th, at 4 pm ET. NJ/NY Gotham FC will face Orlando Pride on June 20th at 8 pm ET.