Gotham FC vs Angel City FC preview: Inching closer to the Shield | OneFootball

The two best teams in the NWSL over the last two months will meet in the final matchweek before the international break. Top-of-the-table NJ/NY Gotham FC will host an Angel City FC team that, in recent weeks, has vaulted from a potential playoff team to now being in contention for a top-four finish, which would see them have their first home playoff game in club history.

Gotham FC, despite one or two minor stumbles, has found their form in the second half of the season, which now sees them on a three-match winning streak following a three-match winless run. They currently sit six points ahead of second-place San Diego Wave FC, and depending on how results around the league go this weekend, could clinch the first NWSL Shield in club history after the international break against the Washington Spirit.

For Angel City, this could be a midseason turnaround for the ages. After one win in eight matches before the summer break, Head Coach Alex Straus was relieved of his duties, and assistant Leif Gunnar Smerud was elevated to interim head coach. Since then, they have gone 8-2-5, vaulting themselves up to sixth in the league and four points behind a top-four spot.

Angel City is one of Gotham's favorite opponents since the LA-based club entered the league in 2022. They are 7-1-2 in their 10 previous meetings with the California side and can match their record for the longest unbeaten run against a single opponent at nine. This will tie them with their current run against Chicago Stars FC and against the Houston Dash from 2014-2017. Here is a preview of Sunday's match.

Gotham FC vs Angel City FC preview

Date

The game will take place on Sunday, October 4.

The fixture is scheduled to begin at 1:00 PM ET.

Location

The match will be played at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, New Jersey.

The game will be broadcast on ESPN and streamed on the ESPN app.

Weather

Temperatures will be in the mid-60s throughout the match with very cloudy skies. There is an increasing chance of rain as the fixture progresses. Fans should prepare for wet weather. Wind speeds will be less of a factor, only reaching 8 mph.

Injury report

Sofia Cook (lower leg), Jordynn Dudley (foot), Kayla Duran (knee - SEI), and Emily Sonnett (knee - SEI) are unavailable for Sunday's game.

Players to watch

Jaedyn Shaw is starting to establish herself as team MVP this season, making her one to watch. She has five goal contributions in her last five matches, including the first brace of her career last week against Chicago. This puts her at 14 goal contributions for the season, which is not only a new career high but also places her in a tie for the ninth-most in the league with Temwa Chawinga, Mina Tanaka, and Croix Bethune.

Fresh off her first-ever USWNT call-up, Evelyn Shores is having a breakout season, making her another to watch. She has already set the single-season assists record for a fullback with seven and is a mainstay in an Angel City team with the fourth-best defensive record and the best goal differential in the league this season.

This should be a very competitive game with both teams in really good form heading into this weekend. A 2-1 win for Gotham FC is the prediction. Goal scorers will include Shaw and Sam Kerr, who is also in very good form, while Angel City's lone goal will be scored by Ally Sentnor, whose five-game goal-contribution streak came to an end last week against Washington.