Red Bull Arena hosted the 2024 Challenge Cup yesterday between Gotham FC and San Diego Wave Fc as they had their second ever highest attendance in the arena with 14,241. Both teams had their stars playing with Alex Morgan, Crystal Dunn, Kelly O'Hara, Midge Purce, Emily Sonnett, Rose Lavelle, Kailen Sheridan and Jaedyn Shaw. The NWSL and commissioner Jessica Berman does a great job of organizing this Challenge Cup with their regular season approaching soon. Gotham FC did a pregame ceremony lighting up the torch, had a flag in midfleid with fireworks going off and legendary soccer player Tim Howard was in attendance also.
The NWSL Challenge Cup is an annual supercup competition organized by the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), the top-tier women's league in the United States soccer league system. In the newly reformatted 2024 NWSL Challenge Cup, featuring a single-match showdown between the league’s most accomplished stars from the previous season. The match, to be hosted by Gotham FC at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey, kicks off at 8 p.m. ET, streaming live on Prime Video. In addition, the NWSL Challenge Cup marks the start of Prime Video’s coverage of the NWSL as part of historic media rights agreements announced last season. More information regarding Prime Video’s coverage of the NWSL, including the platform’s match schedule and talent lineup, will be released in the coming weeks.
Details regarding the full 2024 NWSL regular season schedule are forthcoming (https://www.nwslsoccer.com/news/nj-ny-gotham-fc-san-diego-wave-fc-to-raise-curtain-on-2024-season-with-nwsl-challenge-cup).
Gotham FC looks to defend their title this season after winning the championship in 2023 but they were focused on this challenge cup against San Diego Wave FC. Alex Morgan didn't play in first half as both teams did a great job on defense early. Gotham FC had flow to their offense with great passing on the field and had a couple of opportunities to score with wide open shots but just missed. Goalie Cassie Miller of Gotham FC was outstanding preventing shots going in from San Diego along with Kailen Sheridan of the Wave. Both teams were tied up at 0-0 going into the second half with confidence.
The second half started off slow but with more intensity with both teams putting pressure and up tempo to find better looks at the goal. Gotham FC had multiple chances in this game but couldn't take advantage of it and finish thru. Time of possession, passes, fouls, yellow cards and offsides didn't really go in Gotham's favor as San Diego made the adjustments and switched it on them. Finally at the 88th minute no other then Alex Morgan coming up clutch for the Wave getting her 11th career goal against Gotham FC which helped them win the 2024 Challenge Cup live at Red Bull Arena.
Alex Morgan was named MVP after the game, congrats to the San Diego Wave, both teams will now get ready for the season which starts today for most teams and welcome back NWSL.
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