Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports activities

Reporting from WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, North Carolina.

The North Carolina Braveness crashed out of the primary spherical of the Nationwide Ladies’s Soccer League playoffs after dropping to NJ/NY Gotham FC by a 2-0 scoreline at dwelling on Sunday. North Carolina struggled to seek out its footing from the very starting and conceded within the fading moments of each halves. 

The Braveness, who spent all the season leaning on their gradual, methodical build-up play, couldn’t break by means of Gotham’s press. Gotham suffocated the Braveness in most of their build-up makes an attempt. There have been stretches of this recreation throughout which North Carolina have been pinned of their defensive third, desperately attempting to get out of their very own half. In these moments, Gotham foiled the Braveness’s ahead development by reducing off passing angles and shutting area on the participant with the ball.

Evaluating North Carolina’s possession statistics versus Gotham to their season-long averages helps to place the Braveness’s efficiency into perspective. Within the common season, the Braveness posted an NWSL-record 60% common possession worth and managed an 82.5% passing accuracy. In opposition to Gotham, the Braveness possessed the ball nearly half the time, and accomplished simply 71% of their passes.