Gotham stopped by Naeher, Stars in 0-0 draw

Gotham FC 0-0 Chicago Stars FC

HARRISON, NJ–Gotham FC and Chicago Stars played to a goalless draw at Sports Illustrated Stadium on Sunday. It is the first clean sheet of the season for the Stars who remain bottom of the NWSL while Gotham drop to fourth with San Diego’s win over Bay FC. It was also the first match in charge for Stars interim coach Masaki Hemmi after the sacking of Lorne Donaldson on Monday.

The first flash point of the match came at the 31st minute. The Stars were initially awarded a penalty after Lilly Reale had tripped Jameese Joseph. However, VAR determined that Reale got the ball in the challenge before making contact with Joseph negating the penalty.

Gotham would outshoot the Stars, 14-5, on Sunday, but the accuracy wasn’t here on nine of those shots and Alyssa Naeher stopped the other five–including one in stoppage time against McKenna Whitham. Joseph had the only shot on target for the Stars forcing Ann Berger to parry a shot from the edge of the area over the bar.

Gotham’s next match is Friday at Racing Louisville (8pm ET, Prime Video). The Stars host Washington Spirit on Saturday at 11:50am CT (ABC/ESPN+).

For more of Alyssa Carr’s photos from the day at Sports Illustrated Stadium, please click on the link to her gallery.

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