Preview: Shorthanded KC NWSL hosts Gotham FC

Who: Kansas City vs. NJ/NY Gotham FC

When: Friday, October 22 at 7 PM CT

Where: Legends Field | Kansas City, Kansas

Watch: Twitch

Kansas City returns home to host Gotham FC. This is the second meeting of the two teams with the previous match resulting in a 1-1 draw back in July.

KC NWSL (3-13-6, 15 pts) will be looking to continue a good run of form at home where they have three wins and three draws in their last six. Even the last road game was a strong performance that came up short in Chicago.

NJ/NY Gotham FC (8-5-8, 32 pts) are on a roll as well and looking to move up the standings, currently in a three-way tie for fifth but with two games in hand on both opponents. They are undefeated in their last five with three wins. They have been strong on the road as well with two wins and draw in their last three matches away form home.

Both side will be missing some players for international duty. Gotham FC will be missing four while Kansas City will be missing seven (and an equipment manager).

“It’s the nature of this time of year during international breaks,” manager Huw Williams stated. “We are happy for the players that have been called up, especially happy for Victoria Pickett. She’s been called up a couple of times but not in this official status, so we are happy for her.”

Victoria Pickett had missed the last couple games for Kansas City with an ankle injury. “She was very close for the Chicago game, we didn’t clear her to play for us but we cleared her to travel,” Williams explained.

Reinforcements

Kansas City has added two local players on short term contracts; Abby Small played at UMKC and Courtney Claassen at Nebraska. Williams was familiar with both players and even coached them with the with GSI Pride (a WPSL team) in their second year. Both players also played for the KC Courage in UWS League One.

Thad Bell

“We will get the job done with the players that are available for us, they practiced well this week,” Williams added.

Availability:

Kansas City

OUT: Jordyn Listro (excused absence), Chloe Logarzo (right knee-SEI), Arielle Ship (right lower leg-SEI)

INTERNATIONAL DUTY: Katie Bowen (NZL), Rachel Corsie (SCO), Adrianna Franch (USA), Mariana Larroquette (ARG), Victoria Pickett (CAN), Desiree Scott (CAN), Jessica Silva (POR)

NJ/NY Gotham FC

INTERNATIONAL DUTY: Estelle Johnson (CMR), Carli Lloyd (USA), Kailen Sheridan (CAN), Evelyne Viens (CAN)