Probably about the best result all things considered. Worst home crowd by far, no Chawinga/Rodman, have played Gotham decently. Still don't think they have an upset in them, but I like this matchup a little better on paper.
(plus, better chance of a home playoff game if shit gets wild!)
We've been a pretty poor matchup to them before now, and Gotham has been kind of on a tear since early September. I'm not sure this squad can reliably beat any top-four team, but of those we've done better against Washington than the other three...
They played Washington really well (in the first half at least) and won during the initial Gale run, but that was before the Spirit hit their stride under Giraldez. If weтАЩre talking recent results, they got absolutely whipped by an undermanned Spirit team in the game where Santos scored that last minute winner- Single game xG isnтАЩt always reliable, but the Spirit did have like 4 xG in that game alone if I remember correctly. I wonтАЩt argue too much if you think WashingtonтАЩs a better matchup especially given their injuries, but IтАЩm more scared of WashingtonтАЩs high press and attacking speed than GothamтАЩs slow build. Gotham also always plays that suicidal high line against Smith, which has given them big trouble in the past.
Ultimately, I donтАЩt really think it matters because itтАЩs unlikely, as you say, that they beat any of them on the road
Gotham are a better version of themselves since the first time we met them, as they have added Berger and Carter. But, we should be better than we were back on August 24, as we were without Smith and Weaver, Obaze didn't play at all, and we were still at the point of starting Spaanstra. We should at least be deeper and back to full health. What we cannot do is fall behind early, as we did on August 24. We have to give ourselves a chance, even if it's just a puncher's chance, to win.
We never do very well against Gotham though, do we? This year we lost to them twice, and I don't remember many happy outcomes in previous years either. Didn't they dump us out of the playoffs last year?
I think theyтАЩve played Gotham a little more closely than the results indicate. Really should have won both the semi last season and the early season game this year.
Again, thereтАЩs not one of the top 4 that I feel even remotely confident about getting a result against, but IтАЩm more scared of the current version of the Spirit because of the matchup issues their attackers create. Plus, as I mentioned below, Gotham insist on playing a super high line and Soph tends to eat on those.
In reality, itтАЩs been a while since weтАЩve been fully healthy. Whether itтАЩs enough to upset Gotham is another story, but itтАЩs no more unrealistic than a Gotham team coming into Portland and winning in 2023 after their struggles.
Tbf I donтАЩt think anyone thought we were beating Gotham in the semi last season after how the regular season ended. Better comp might be when we lost the shield in 2022 by drawing that awful Gotham side away on the last day.
That 2022 final-game loss to Gotham is one of the most painful Thorns memories. Going into the final weekend we were one point ahead of Reign at the top of the standings, so a win would earn us the NWSL Shield. Gotham was a truly terrible team - they'd lost 12 straight, including a 5-0 thumping by the Thorns, and they hadn't scored a single goal in the previous five games. In the game, we were up by two soon after halftime and I was sure we had the Shield in the bag. But Gotham tied it up and Reign pipped us to the Shield. Just painful.
Still the 2016 semi against WNY for me, but 2022 would be right up there if they hadn't won the title for sure. Not having a single trophy to show for four years of Soph would be devastating.
Well we do have the Shield from 2021 (Smith joined us in 2020). But the championship is what gets the most attention, and it's totally apt that we've won it with her.
Oh yeah, we also won the Fall Series. In fact, the Thorns are the reigning champions of the Fall Series! With its all-important Community Shield trophy! There's not many that can claim that honor - in fact, only one.
That was an awesome moment from SincтАЩs final pre-match presser. The topic was silverware sheтАЩd been part of, and after everything else someone mentioned the Fall Series. I wish I could find a way to describe SincтАЩs response in print, but the laugh she added to her тАЬoh, yeah, the Fall SeriesтАжтАЭ was a perfect dismissal of that ridiculous thing.
Thorns are going to Gotham. Sunday Noon Scheduled kickoff, game is on scheduled to be on ABC.
Playoffs are now locked in.
Probably about the best result all things considered. Worst home crowd by far, no Chawinga/Rodman, have played Gotham decently. Still don't think they have an upset in them, but I like this matchup a little better on paper.
(plus, better chance of a home playoff game if shit gets wild!)
We've been a pretty poor matchup to them before now, and Gotham has been kind of on a tear since early September. I'm not sure this squad can reliably beat any top-four team, but of those we've done better against Washington than the other three...
They played Washington really well (in the first half at least) and won during the initial Gale run, but that was before the Spirit hit their stride under Giraldez. If weтАЩre talking recent results, they got absolutely whipped by an undermanned Spirit team in the game where Santos scored that last minute winner- Single game xG isnтАЩt always reliable, but the Spirit did have like 4 xG in that game alone if I remember correctly. I wonтАЩt argue too much if you think WashingtonтАЩs a better matchup especially given their injuries, but IтАЩm more scared of WashingtonтАЩs high press and attacking speed than GothamтАЩs slow build. Gotham also always plays that suicidal high line against Smith, which has given them big trouble in the past.
Ultimately, I donтАЩt really think it matters because itтАЩs unlikely, as you say, that they beat any of them on the road
Gotham are a better version of themselves since the first time we met them, as they have added Berger and Carter. But, we should be better than we were back on August 24, as we were without Smith and Weaver, Obaze didn't play at all, and we were still at the point of starting Spaanstra. We should at least be deeper and back to full health. What we cannot do is fall behind early, as we did on August 24. We have to give ourselves a chance, even if it's just a puncher's chance, to win.
I thought that Carter and Berger played the last time we played them though I will acknowledge I have been watching more casually than in past years.
They did. Gotham are stronger than they were at the start of the season. We're stronger than we were when we faced Gotham on Aug 24.
We never do very well against Gotham though, do we? This year we lost to them twice, and I don't remember many happy outcomes in previous years either. Didn't they dump us out of the playoffs last year?
I think theyтАЩve played Gotham a little more closely than the results indicate. Really should have won both the semi last season and the early season game this year.
Again, thereтАЩs not one of the top 4 that I feel even remotely confident about getting a result against, but IтАЩm more scared of the current version of the Spirit because of the matchup issues their attackers create. Plus, as I mentioned below, Gotham insist on playing a super high line and Soph tends to eat on those.
In reality, itтАЩs been a while since weтАЩve been fully healthy. Whether itтАЩs enough to upset Gotham is another story, but itтАЩs no more unrealistic than a Gotham team coming into Portland and winning in 2023 after their struggles.
Tbf I donтАЩt think anyone thought we were beating Gotham in the semi last season after how the regular season ended. Better comp might be when we lost the shield in 2022 by drawing that awful Gotham side away on the last day.
That 2022 final-game loss to Gotham is one of the most painful Thorns memories. Going into the final weekend we were one point ahead of Reign at the top of the standings, so a win would earn us the NWSL Shield. Gotham was a truly terrible team - they'd lost 12 straight, including a 5-0 thumping by the Thorns, and they hadn't scored a single goal in the previous five games. In the game, we were up by two soon after halftime and I was sure we had the Shield in the bag. But Gotham tied it up and Reign pipped us to the Shield. Just painful.
Winning the championship was a nice salve though!
Still the 2016 semi against WNY for me, but 2022 would be right up there if they hadn't won the title for sure. Not having a single trophy to show for four years of Soph would be devastating.
Well we do have the Shield from 2021 (Smith joined us in 2020). But the championship is what gets the most attention, and it's totally apt that we've won it with her.
True, forgot they actually won the shield in that last Parsons season- Felt like the soccer was not good lol
Oh yeah, we also won the Fall Series. In fact, the Thorns are the reigning champions of the Fall Series! With its all-important Community Shield trophy! There's not many that can claim that honor - in fact, only one.
That was an awesome moment from SincтАЩs final pre-match presser. The topic was silverware sheтАЩd been part of, and after everything else someone mentioned the Fall Series. I wish I could find a way to describe SincтАЩs response in print, but the laugh she added to her тАЬoh, yeah, the Fall SeriesтАжтАЭ was a perfect dismissal of that ridiculous thing.