Gotham v Racing Preview
Courtesy Connor Cunningham
Racing will be looking for its first road victory on Sunday vs Gotham. The team’s improving performances have resulted in points taken in each of the last 3 matches, and Racing will be looking keep up the momentum of its first victory of the league season this past Wednesday. Racing faced Gotham last year 3 times and drew all three. CeCe Kizer scored both goals for Racing in a pair of late-season 1-1 draws that were played within 4 days of each other. Kizer’s goal in the away fixture last year was Racing’s only in-match penalty taken and converted to date.
It’s still too early in the season in my opinion to read too much into the numbers but taking into account the Challenge Cup and the 2 league matches played by Gotham this season the team is averaging 9.3 shots taken and a SHOCKING 20.9 shots allowed in 2022. If Racing get off 21 shots, I expect a few to go in. Racing on the other hand are giving up 13.2 shots/match, which isn’t great either but tell me I get to shoot 8 more times in a match and I will like my chances.
The big question mark for Racing is who will be available to start. It’s not too hard to imagine both Fox and Howell getting a break since they were both carrying knocks into the match on Wednesday. Here’s hoping that Bonner, Holloway, and Olofsson are available. Lester is an almost certain inclusion due to her involvement on Wednesday. Typically the teams release availability around 24 hours prior to a match, but Racing had to be a bit cagey on Wednesday, and I think everyone in the league knew and sympathized with the situation. I think Kizer will fancy her chances to scores again and will be pushing for another start, but Jess McDonald has played a full match twice this week and may be given the afternoon off. Here is my best guess at a lineup for Sunday (which as always is sure to be wrong): Lund-Holloway-Lester-Bonner-Martin-Olofsson-Chidiac-DeMelo-Kizer-Ekic-Salmon. Gordon could get an opportunity based on her very good, but brief shift on Wednesday. DeMelo probably isn’t good for another 90 minutes, so if she starts expect her to be subbed off around the 60th minute. Davis might get a start over Ekic or Salmon as well. In a prediction that I hope doesn’t come true, maybe Milliet gets her first ever full day off.
I an unrelated note, if you happen to listen to Soccer City Radio or the newly released Vamos Morados podcast from this week, you know that I am working on a kit ranking piece. I have a decent number of responses so far, but might open my survey up wider after the original article posts. You can let me know on Twitter via DM if you might be interested.
