Centennial, Colo. – Gotham FC’s club record 10-game unbeaten streak is over. On Saturday afternoon, Denver Summit hosted the NWSL leaders at Centennial Stadium. Summit were coming off their biggest win of the season. After a level first half, Summit “put their foot on the gas” and got their biggest win in club history.
Nick Cushing kept his lineup unchanged from the squad that scored six in the Chicago game. Megan Reid started in a back four with Eva Gaetino on the bench. Emma Regan was in midfield. Yuzuki Yamamoto and Melissa Kössler were in attack.
Sam Kerr started up top for a Gotham in a 4-3-3. Rose Lavelle and Emily Sonnett were injured and unavailable for the visitors.
The first half was back-and-forth. Summit tried a few shots from the top of the box. Yaz Ryan could have scored two minutes in, played forward by Janine Sonis. Summit scored on the corner that play led to, but the play was called offside. Delanie Sheehan also had a look from outside of the box that was close.
Asman came up big on more than one occasion, coming off her line to deal with crosses and shots in transition. Maybe the most dangerous chance wasn’t even a shot attempt. In the 29th minute they had a short free kick. Heaps ended up knocking down the cross for Asman to collect.
Summit turned up the heat in the second half.
In the 50th minute, Kössler won the ball back at the top of the box. She found Ayo Oke in a wide position. She delivered a weighted ball to Yamamoto who finished right in front of goal with a volley. After opening her NWSL account last week, she now had two goals in two games. It was two assists in two games for Oke as well.
The game hung in the balance in the final 10 minutes. The teams were trading half chances. Kerr had trouble combining with teammates. Asman had a good save on her. On 82 minutes, Yuna McCormack won the ball at midfield. Ryan got it quickly to substitute Olivia Thomas. Thomas made a patient solo run and buried her shot with composure. A month ago, she would have rushed and shot wide. It was 2-0 to the home side and two in two for Thomas.
Yaz Ryan was unfortunate to miss out on the goal fest last week. She would not be denied in this game. The south stands was chanting “One More Goal!” Ryan got the ball at the top of the box. She dribbled centrally to create and angle and buried it bottom corner.
Summit won the match 3-0.
Two in two for so many players:
In the last two games, Thomas and Yamamoto have two goals each. Oke has two assists, having one prior to this stretch. So many players are coming into their own. It’s showing in team performances and results. So many players had a long awaited payoff moment last week against Chicago. Everyone then kept that going in this game.
“Olivia Thomas is a great example of that,” Cushing told Burgundy Wave.
“Two weeks ago she was in the office. ‘What do I need to do to score my first goal?’ My advice to Olivia Thomas was ‘Just keep doing what you’re doing.’ You invest, it pays back. Liv’s got talent. She’s got real potential. The only way you achieve that is with hard work.”
One could say this about eight players.
“We’re really just trusting each other. Our forward line felt that pressure. I feel like we’re playing free and trying to get after it. It’s showing in the game,” Oke said of the collective.
Kat Asman does her best Abby Smith impression:
Asman has started all three games since Smith’s knee injury. She’s done great, having gotten here two months ago. This was her first clean sheet. It’s the club’s first shutout since April.
“Today’s result was hours of film and work. It starts with our No. 9 up top all the way back to me. That clean sheet isn’t just the back four plus me plus a holding No. 6. We’ve known that we haven’t had a shutout for awhile. That’s not a result for a lack of effort. It’s all starting to come together. You’re seeing goals. You’re seeing low goals against,” Asman said of the team earning the clean sheet.
Asman did her best Abby Smith impression in this game. Or rather, she’s playing the way Cushing’s goalkeeper needs to play.
Safe and reliable with the ball at her feet. Aggressive off her line in transition. No mistakes on set pieces. Another performance like this, and the coaching staff might contemplate starting her over Smith even with Smith healthy.
Rounding into form for the playoff push:
Three wins in their last five. Three straight wins at home. Nine goals in their last two matches. Heaps back healthy. They’re scoring goals. The young talented players are starting to click. Does Nick Cushing thing this team is finally achieving their potential?
“We’re just getting started in the step forward out of the ‘building phase.’ You can see the team pushing. I can’t fault the determination and desire. What the team’s done is gotten fed up of making that step (forward). You can see that now. It’s a big win today,” said Cushing.
Their final eight games are four home, four away. They play three of the bottom four teams in the NWSL and two others on the bubble. Ten points from eight games might be enough. Win out your home games, you’re probably in.
“We never take for granted playing at home. Playing here at this stadium, it’s ours. I don’t think (the fans) understand how much their presence matters to us, and brings energy. It makes it such an advantage. They go into this result,” Asman said of the fan support.
Batwoman’s Kryptonite, second half surge:
Gotham have four losses all season. Two of them are to Denver Summit. Shutout in both games. Against one of the best counter attacking teams, Summit were at their best. And normally it’s transition defense that’s a weakness. It’s just another way this game was a statement.
“This is a top five win for us, maybe top three. These next eight games up. Keeping our goal differential up, we really stress that in the locker room,” said Oke.
This match was won in the second half. Cushing asked them to put the foot on the gas and not be scared because of the opponent. It worked:
“I don’t think our fullbacks were as offensive. We had a bit of apprehension. Playing top of the league and they (Gotham) are good in transition. The second half, they took the foot of the (brake) pedal, put their foot on the gas,” he said.
Denver Summit play Friday, September 11 at Angel City. It’s the first match between the clubs. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. MT.
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Katherine Ammon 
John Babiak 