Gotham FC vs Angel City FC preview: An East Coast and West Coast battle | OneFootball

NJ/NY Gotham FC will continue their charge towards the club's first NWSL Shield as they visit Angel City FC. The Bats have won four in a row and have gone eight in a row without a loss, with the seven wins only broken up by a 2-2 draw with Portland Thorns FC.

Gotham FC will enter this match with a six-point buffer at the top of the table over the second-placed Washington Spirit. And historically, the NJ/NY team has gotten the better of Angel City, winning seven of the nine all-time matchups, including all four matches at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles. A win on Sunday would tie the NWSL record of five, which has been achieved on five other occasions.

Meanwhile, Angel City surprisingly has the third-best defensive record in the NSWL, behind only Gotham and Washington. Yes, they have played fewer games than every other team, but it is impressive considering they sit outside of the playoffs in 10th. Perhaps the NJ/NY side can take advantage of the fact that they are winless in their last four fixtures.

However, it will not be an easy time for the Bats since they will play four of their next five matches away from home. After returning home to face Portland next week, they have a first-ever visit to Denver Summit FC, followed by a trip to a resurgent Racing Louisville FC, and then wrap up the road run by visiting a dangerous but inconsistent North Carolina Courage side. While this isn't the most difficult run of away matches, they are teams that will be desperate for three points either for seeding purposes or even just to get into the playoffs. Here is a preview of Sunday's matchup.

Gotham FC vs Angel City FC

Date

The game will take place on Sunday, August 23.

Time

The fixture is scheduled to begin at 8:00 PM ET, 5:00 PM local time.

Location

The match will be played at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, California.

How to watch

The game will be broadcast on ION.

Weather

Temperatures will be at 92 degrees at kickoff before dropping to 85 by the end of the match. Humidity will be low, staying in the 30-40% range. Wind will be a non-factor, with speeds barely reaching 5 mph during the game. There is a 0% chance of rain. Sunset is scheduled for 7:30 PM local time, which should come well after the game has finished.

Injury report

The NJ/NY side will be without Kayla Duran (knee - SEI), Denise O'Sullivan (knee), and Emily Sonnett (knee - SEI).

Players to watch

Jaedyn Shaw may have found her scoring boots again for Gotham. After a great start that saw her go into the summer break with four goal contributions in five games, Shaw had gone quiet since then, managing just two assists in eight matches. She remained productive in other areas in those games, but in the last two matches, she has managed a goal and an assist and may finally be finding her fine form from the first half of the season. Hence, she is someone to watch.

It's rare that a fullback gets picked for this section, but Evelyn Shores is also one to watch. She is very quietly putting together an excellent season. The 21-year-old has managed three assists in her last six matches and is making a late push for a spot on Emma Hayes' 2027 USWNT World Cup roster, as the left-back spot is pretty wide open.

Prediction

Angel City's strong backline won't make things easy for Gotham FC, but the talent that the league leaders possess should be enough to earn the victory. A 2-0 win is the prediction, with goals coming from Shaw and Sam Kerr, who will be looking for her fourth goal in six games.