It turns out all Gotham FC needed to ignite their offense was a spark from Rose LaBelle.
USWNT midfielder Lavelle, who hasn’t played this season while recovering from a foot injury, came on as a substitute for the first time in the 74th minute on Sunday. In the final development of stoppage time, two minutes after Racing Louisville FC took a one-goal lead, Lovell hit the post and slotted the ball into the net, securing a 1-1 tie and 51 minutes into the game for Gotham. He scored his first goal since then. April 14th.
“You never want to fall behind in stoppage time, but our reaction to that was really great and I think it was good to score the goal right after that,” Lavelle said.
Gotham (1-2-2) spent much of Sunday controlling possession.
Even before LaBelle came in, there was a shockwave to the dormant offense. Although the shot attempts continued and Louisville defenders blocked a few, the chances were a step forward for a group that had only two goals through the first four games of the NWSL season.
16 of 19 shots were on target, holding Louisville to just five, but in the 95th minute, rookie Emma Sears stole the ball in her own half and ran down the left sideline as Gotham looked for its first goal. Ta.
She deftly evaded two Gotham players and broke through toward the goal. Then, after adding the final touch to a centering pass, Louisville’s Raelynn Turner made the score.
At that moment, it looked like Sunday’s game would end with a similar outcome for Gotham. Nothing could produce a goal. There were plenty of potential sparks for the reigning champions.
Lovell made his team debut. Ann-Katrin Berger, acquired from Chelsea FC Women this month, made her Gotham debut as a goalkeeper. Crystal Dunn’s shot at the net was blocked by a defender at the goal line after Louisville keeper Katie Rand jumped out of position.
As a result, the game remained scoreless until Turner scored. This kept Gotham scoreless until LaBelle tied it, but a high, arching ball misplayed Lund and ultimately resulted in an open shot.
“I think in those moments, sometimes it’s tempting to just knock it out,” Lovell said. “So I tried to place it and…I didn’t get the best contact. But thankfully, it still worked.”
And in a season marred by injuries and offensive struggles, LaBelle’s goal, and her presence, was the start.
“We know what she’s capable of,” Gotham head coach Juan Carlos Amoros said. “She brings something different. She has a special talent.”
