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UNCHANGED: Gotham FC’s Familiar XI Set for Houston Rematch
Gotham FC Takes Same Winning Team to Houston for Rematch Against the Dash
What’s Happening Tonight?
Gotham FC is heading to Texas to play the Houston Dash again—this is a rematch! They just beat Bay FC 1-0 on Wednesday, and the coach liked the team so much that not a single player is being changed. Think of it like keeping the same winning lineup for your kickball game at recess because it worked perfectly last time.
Key details:
- When: 8:00 PM Eastern Time
- Where: Shell Energy Stadium in Houston
- How to watch: Free on NWSL+ (that’s the league’s streaming service)
- Current standings: Gotham FC is in 2nd place with 34 points (10 wins, 3 losses, 4 ties)
Important Points
- Gotham FC uses the exact same starting 11 players from their Wednesday win
- A win tonight could move them into 1st place temporarily (until Washington plays Sunday)
- The game is free to stream on NWSL+ via website, Apple TV, Fire TV, or Roku
Why This Lineup Matters
The team has a record of 10 wins, 3 losses, and 4 ties. In soccer, that’s written as 10-3-4. They have 34 points (3 points for a win, 1 for a tie). They’re 4 points ahead of 3rd place Utah Royals. If they win tonight, they jump to the top of the table—at least until the 1st-place Washington Spirit play their game on Sunday.
Meet the Starting Eleven
Here are the 11 players taking the field from the start, listed by their jersey numbers:
| Number | Player | Position | Fun Fact |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shelby Hogan | Goalkeeper | Going for her 3rd shutout in a row (that’s called a "clean sheet"—when the other team scores zero) |
| 23 | Midge Purce | Right Back | Scored the winning goal Wednesday; 1 goal away from 20 career goals for Gotham—only 2 other players ever did that! |
| 27 | Jess Carter | Center Back | English national team player; top 3 on team in tackles (25) and interceptions (22) |
| 15 | Tierna Davidson (c) | Center Back | Team captain—the leader on the field |
| 18 | Guro Reiten | Left Back | Norwegian international; 12th start since joining the club |
| 7 | Jaelin Howell | Defensive Midfielder | Just played her 100th NWSL game; leads team in minutes played (1,489!) |
| 13 | Savannah McCaskill | Midfielder | 17th start this season in the middle of the field |
| 16 | Rose Lavelle | Attacking Midfielder | US Women’s National Team star—creates chances and scores |
| 2 | Jordynn Dudley | Right Wing | 21 years old; starting her 3rd straight game |
| 20 | Sam Kerr | Striker | Australian superstar; club’s all-time leading scorer |
| 10 | Jaedyn Shaw | Left Wing | 21 years old; flanks Kerr on the left side |
Players to Watch
Midge Purce — Chasing History
Purce scored the game-winner Wednesday. One more goal puts her at 20 career regular-season goals for Gotham FC. Only Esther González and Sam Kerr have ever done that. She plays right back (defender), which makes scoring this much even more impressive!
Shelby Hogan — The Wall
Starting goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger is resting tonight. Hogan steps in and has kept clean sheets in her last two games. A third would be a huge confidence boost.
The Young Attack
Kerr (the veteran superstar) is flanked by two 21-year-olds: Jaedyn Shaw on the left and Jordynn Dudley on the right. Speed, energy, and fearlessness—this could be the future of the team!
Guro Reiten — Steady Presence
The Norwegian international has started 12 games since joining. She brings experience and calm to the left side of defense.
How to Watch the Game
NWSL+ is completely free! No subscription needed. You can watch:
- Online: plus.nwslsoccer.com
- Apple TV (download the NWSL+ app)
- Fire TV (download the NWSL+ app)
- Roku TV (download the NWSL+ app)
Kickoff: 8:00 PM ET
Who’s on the Bench (Substitutes)
If the coach needs fresh legs or a tactical change, here are the players ready to come in:
Goalkeeper:
- 31 – Teagan Wy
Defenders:
- 3 – Bruninha
- 22 – Mandy Freeman
Midfielders:
- 8 – Taryn Torres
- 11 – Sarah Schupansky
- 14 – Talia Sommer
- 21 – Sofia Cook
Forward:
- 24 – Andrea Kitahata
Injury Report — Who’s Out
| Player | Injury | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Denise O’Sullivan | Knee | Out (recent signing) |
| Emily Sonnett | Not specified | Out |
| Kayla Duran | Knee | Season-ending (won’t play again this year) |
Important Points
- O’Sullivan is a recent signing but hurt her knee
- Sonnett is a defender unavailable for selection
- Duran is done for the season with a knee injury
Summary
Gotham FC is riding high in 2nd place and keeping a good thing going. The coach trusts the exact same 11 players who won Wednesday to get the job done in Houston. Midge Purce is hunting history (20 goals), Shelby Hogan wants a 3rd straight shutout, and Sam Kerr leads a youthful attack. The game is free to watch at 8 PM ET on NWSL+. A win puts Gotham on top of the table—at least for one night!
FAQ
What does "unchanged starting XI" mean?
"XI" is Roman numerals for 11. It means the coach picked the exact same 11 starters as the last game. No changes at all.
What’s a "clean sheet"?
Soccer slang for when a goalkeeper doesn’t let in any goals. Zero goals allowed = clean sheet. Hogan has two in a row and wants a third.
How do NWSL standings work?
- Win = 3 points
- Tie = 1 point
- Loss = 0 points
Gotham has 10 wins, 3 losses, 4 ties = (10×3) + (4×1) = 34 points.
Why is Ann-Katrin Berger not playing?
She’s the regular starter but is resting tonight. Coaches often rotate goalkeepers during busy schedules to keep them fresh and prevent injury.
What happens if Gotham wins tonight?
They move to 37 points and jump into 1st place temporarily. But Washington Spirit (currently 1st) play Sunday, so they could retake the top spot.
