KC NWSL breaks skid, gains a point on Larroquette goal from distance that tied Gotham 1-1

Good things come to those who wait. Even, apparently, through 3 hour, 20 minute weather delays.

KC NWSL (0-6-3) finally broke a six-game losing streak and earned a point with a 1-1 tie against NJ/NY Gotham FC (3-1-3) Friday night at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey.

“I’ve been preaching the mentality of this group, it’s fantastic,” KC coach Huw Williams said. “We went out to warm up and there was just energy out there ... Those players were ready to go, they were antsy, they wanted to play and they’re on a mission ... They don’t want to come all the way here, catch a plane tomorrow and go home. It was important for us to get this game in and they were ready to play.”

Kansas City had to fight from behind after the 31st minute. That’s when Gotham’s Ifeoma Onumonu received the ball at her feet at the top of the box with her back to goal. It took her one excellent touch to immediately turn and then bend a shot around two KC defenders and into the lower corner of the goal.

But Kansas City didn’t go away or let up, pushing for chances all game and getting painfully close.

Painfully close that is, until the 84th minute.

KC’s Mariana Larroquette’s consistent efforts to pressure the Gotham’s back line were rewarded when she intercepted a pass and got a touch to get around the back line. She then beat the defenders to the ball and launched a beautiful shot from a few yards outside the box, hitting the opposite upper 90.

The Argentinian’s missed header just minutes before stuck out in her mind as she sprinted to intercept the ball, she said, as well as Williams’ voice in her head to shoot the ball more.

“The second time I had a chance, I didn’t hesitate,” Larroquette said through a translator. “Once I saw the ball go in, I couldn’t believe it.

“Being able to pressure the back lines and put in effort in games is something I’ve been working on throughout the year and is something that I understand is a good part of my game and I’m not planning on changing that anytime soon.”

Larroquette had been subbed in just seven minutes before she scored. It was the second time this season she scored and ran across the field with her signature celebration: holding her left hand in front of her face, forming a finger gun pointing up.

A tie was a result that got KC a point, but the team is still searching for its first win of the season.

The team had a strong performance overall, though, and Kansas City’s midfield held its own against a talented Gotham midfield of Allie Long, Jennifer Cudjoe and McCall Zerboni. Lo’eau LaBonta showed her abilities on set pieces, serving some balls on silver platters, but KC was unable to finish her crosses in the air.

Williams said they originally believed they were going to have to limit LaBonta’s minutes to 70. But right after the second half got underway, Williams was given the news: LaBonta was good for the full 90, and she made a difference through the whole game.

“Such an important player for us,” Williams said. “She’s the backbone, she’s the life and soul in that midfield, up and down, box to box ... Lo will work quietly, Lo will also work loudly, as well, when she sees somebody not doing their job, Lo will be demanding of that. She’ll be demanding it out of the coaching staff, too, she is driven to be successful.”

KC was frustratingly close at times to getting three points on the road, but Gotham’s Didi Haracic was a brick wall in the first half, staving off several chances created by Kansas City.

One of those chances was a LaBonta free kick that was lofted right into the sweet spot of the box, but Haracic just beat KC to the ball and punched the chance away. Haracic also made a save on a shot launched by Amy Rodriguez, who took advantage of Gotham’s slow set up on a free kick. Mallory Weber came close to her own goal, but it was again Haracic who kept Kansas City off the board. Haracic, though, came off the field after going down on the play.

The nature and extent of Haracic’s injury was not clear, though it looked like she took a hit to the face from the ball.

With Mandy McGlynn subbed in the net for Gotham, KC made the most of the opportunity to test her. And they were rewarded with a point.

A point on the road after waiting over three hours to play is pretty close to a win, especially with standout performances from LaBonta and Weber, who started on the back line and was tasked with containing USWNT star Margaret Purce. Williams said he loved what Weber did against the Gotham forward, acknowledging she wasn’t going to win every ball against a player like Purce, but she won her fair share.

“Mal’s fast, so (she) was able to neutralize Midge’s speed somewhat, right? Just by her positioning and strength,” Williams said. “There’s a will in Mal, there’s a passion in the way she plays. And she’s very demanding of herself and teammates as well. Mal is going to be important player for us as she solidifies her role in left back.”

KC goalkeeper Abby Smith was out with an injury and did not travel, which meant veteran Nicole Barnhart got the start.

Barnhart is one of the main reasons Kansas City left New Jersey with a point, with two crucial saves in the final minutes of the game.

She came off her line in the final stoppage time to stop a shot from Long before it happened. She then immediately made a diving, one-handed save to tip a shot off the rebound over the net. Gotham was throwing everything it had at the Kansas City defense, but they were denied by Barnhart.

“We saw a little bit of that veteran leadership today, too, when we needed that,” Williams said. “In the past, I don’t know if we would have kept that tie. First of all, I’m not sure a month ago we would have come back. And then I’m not sure if we would have kept it based on the amount of pressure they were pushing, we had some tired legs towards the end.

“Barnie was able to control that back line with her communication and with the tactical decisions to want to slow down the game.”

Kansas City will return to action at OL Reign at 6 p.m. Sunday, July 11.

This story was originally published July 3, 2021 at 12:00 AM with the headline "KC NWSL breaks skid, gains a point on Larroquette goal from distance that tied Gotham 1-1."