Another day, another injury, another toothless result for Gotham FC.
Defensive anchor Tierna Davidson exited in the first half due to an apparent hamstring injury, and Gotham’s patchy start to a much-hyped NWSL title defense continued Saturday in a 2-0 road loss to the Washington Spirit.
“So surprised we didn’t play to our potential this game,” Gotham forward Lynn Williams said. “I think that we can go back to the drawing boards and see where everything went wrong.”
Gotham (1-2-1) has scored just two goals in four matches (five if you include the Challenge Cup), both from forward Esther González.
The Spirit (4-1-0) tallied on a world-class strike from rookie Croix Bethune in the first half and a penalty from Ashley Hatch in the second half after Davidson’s replacement, Sam Hiatt, committed a handball in the box. Spirit star Trinity Rodman bedeviled Gotham all afternoon with her runs in behind the back line. Davidson came up lame tracking one of those runs.
In addition to the ramifications for Gotham of a potential absence, Davidson is a first-choice center back for the United States women’s national team, which begins play in the Olympics in roughly three months.
“It was really difficult and I feel that Tierna’s injury affected us a little bit,” Gotham defender Maitane López said, “but I feel that we as a team have to come together this week.”