Photo Credit: Steven Bisig | Imagn Images
Chaos continues to churn in the NWSL as Rivalry Week saw many unexpected results. Meanwhile, there is more misery for Racing Louisville, and the Queens Classic delivers a great attendance number and an underwhelming game.
Queens Classic: More marketing triumph than sporting spectacle
Gotham FC prevailed over the Washington Spirit 1-0 at Citi Field on Wednesday. The ‘Queens Classic’ set a record for the best-attended women’s professional sporting event in New York City with a sellout of 42,175 fans.
The game itself left much to be desired. The match lacked rhythm or flow. The ball was in play for under 48 minutes total, according to Opta — second lowest of the prior matchweek. It is unclear how much the condition of the makeshift pitch, the high temperatures, and elevated Air Quality Index played into it. It was not just the match that was choppy, as the home viewer had a similar experience. The ESPN broadcast was frequently interrupted by guests during the run of play, including during the goal.
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