Gotham have finished third in the inaugural FIFA Women’s Champions Cup with a 4-0 victory over African champions AS FAR.
Goals from Kyah Harper, Savannah MaCaskill, Jaedyn Shaw and Midge Purce ensured a comfortable victory at Arsenal Stadium. The match flew in the face of the common misconception of third placed play off matches that they are boring, uneventful affairs. With AS FAR giving as good as they got in the first 45 minutes. As it proved often these matches see two sides face off, freed from the pressure of making a final. Gotham had a point to prove, after unexpectedly being defeated in the semi final by Brazilian side Corinthians 1-0 on Wednesday.
The New Jersey side made four changes with Rose Lavelle ruled out due to a head injury. Gabi Portilho, Jess Carter and Bruninha were rested. Mandy Freeman and Kayla Duran who came off the bench for Gotham in the semi final started on Sunday. Youngsters Kyah Harper and Sofia Cook were also given the chance from the start.
As for AS FAR, they were also looking to bounce back from chastening defeat to Arsenal 6-0 in West London earlier this week. The Moroccan champions made three changes, captain Aziza Rabbah was dropped to the bench as was former PSG midfielder Anissa Lahmari and Ouahina Boukhami. Safa Banouk started up front with Mahouna Michou and Sofia Bouftini started as AS FAR switched to a back four instead of a back five as they had against Arsenal.
The Lineups
ASF: Er-Rmichi; Benzina, Aït El Haj, Redouani; Michou, Boukhami, Hajar, Mssoudy, Erroudany; Banouk, Tagnaout
GOT:Â Berger; Reale, Sonnett, Duran, Freeman; Howell, Cook, McCaskill; Shaw, Purce, Harper
The Action
AS FAR did much of the early running in the first five minutes with a couple of pot shots from distance showing Gotham their teeth. However Gotham had bite of their own and were growing in confidence after Midge Purce found a bit of space in behind Said Hajar who took her down with a cynical challenge. From the resulting free kick Harper flashed her header over the bar.
Gotham were probing the AS FAR backline and Jaedyn Shaw found space in behind and cut the ball back but it was intercepted by Bezina who put it out for a corner after an important touch from Khadija Er-Rmichi. Gotham would break the deadlock before half time with an excellent slice of individual dribbling from Harper, winding her run inside and out before hammering the ball home for 1-0. An infectious celebration followed much to the delight of the travelling Gotham fans. AS FAR almost had an immediate reply through Sanaâ Mssoudy after a lobbed through ball set her clean through on goal but her effort was excellently saved by Ann-Katrin Berger. Fatima Tagnaout came close to levelling the scores but skied her effort over.
The African champions were made to pay for their profligacy in front of goal. Gotham came forward and after unsteady defending, that left Savannah McCaskill with space in the box. McCaskill rattled her shot into the back of the net, 2-0. Gotham were given the chance to extend the lead yet further after Shaw was brought down sprinting into the box. Shaw made no mistake from the penalty spot, securing their third of the afternoon. Gotham made it 4-0 almost immediately after the half time break, Shaw’s ball into the box found the head of Harper whose effort was well saved by Er-Rmichi but the ball bounced for Purce who did the necessary far yards out.
Gotham controlled the game well for the remaining minutes ensuring a clean sheet and a comfortable victory.
AS FAR
It was an improved performance from the African Continental champions against Gotham. In the first half the Moroccan side had a couple of excellent chances and they should have converted them, when they failed to Gotham took advantage. This will have been a good learning opportunity for AS FAR who will only improve after two matches against top class opposition.
The bright side for AS FAR is that their rivals in the Moroccan league, Wydad Casablanca who sit a place above them in the table were hammered 4-1 on the same day, putting the title race firmly back in AS FAR’s hands.
Gotham save face
Gotham were confident of their chances of winning this competition having been in camp since January 2nd in Europe. However a stern test against Corinthians proved too much. This was a vastly improved showing from Gotham against AS FAR with a combination of young talent and established stars pushing them through.
The team might feel disappointment now, but this experience is likely to help the side when the NWSL starts. Competitive action is rare in a pre-season schedule something now other NWSL side will have. At times Gotham looked like they were enjoying themselves on the Arsenal Stadium turf, something that was much needed after a disappointing start to the week.
