Rose Lavelle’s return helps Gotham FC to draw with Racing Louisville FC

It turned out that all Gotham FC needed to ignite its offense was a Rose Lavelle spark.

Lavelle, the USWNT midfielder who hadn’t played this season while recovering from a leg injury, subbed in for the first time in the 74th minute Sunday. In the final stretch of added time, two minutes after Racing Louisville FC took a one-goal lead, Lavelle deposited a ball off the post and into the net to secure a 1-1 draw — and score Gotham’s first goal since the 51st minute on April 14.

“You never want to fall behind in stoppage,” Lavelle said, “but I think our reaction to that was really great and to get the goal immediately after was good.”

Gotham (1-2-2) spent most of Sunday controlling possession.

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A dormant offense had a jolt, even before Lavelle entered. It strung together shot attempts, and though Louisville’s defenders managed to block some, the chances were progress for a group with just two goals through the first four games of the NWSL season.

Sixteen of its 19 attempts turned into shots on goal, with Louisville managing just five, but in the 95th minute, as Gotham pressed for the first tally, rookie Emma Sears collected possession in her own end and sprinted down the left sideline.

She maneuvered around two Gotham players and broke toward the goal. And after a centering pass was followed by one final touch, Louisville’s Reilyn Turner converted.

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In the moment, that made Sunday’s match appear as if it would end with a similar result for Gotham. Nothing could produce a goal. There were plenty of possible sparks for the reigning champs.

Lavelle made her team debut. Ann-Katrin Berger, acquired from Chelsea FC Women this month, made her Gotham debut at goalkeeper. Even a shot near the net by Crystal Dunn — with Louisville keeper Katie Lund out of position after diving — was blocked by a defender at the goal line.

So that kept the game scoreless until Turner’s tally. That kept Gotham scoreless until Lavelle equalized, when a high, arching ball was misplayed by Lund and eventually resulted in an open shot.

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“I think sometimes in those moments, it’s tempting to just want to smash it,” Lavelle said. “So I tried to place it, but … I didn’t get the best contact on it. But thankfully, it still went in.”

And in a campaign defined by injuries and a struggling offense, Lavelle’s goal — and her sheer presence — was a start.

“We know what she can do,” Gotham head coach Juan Carlos Amorós said. “She brings something different. She’s a special talent.”

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