HARRISON, NJ(SMI-WOMEN-SPORTS-JUNE 25-26, 2023)-The Gotham FC/NJ/NY defeated the Chicago Red-Stars 2-1, on a Sunday's afternoon game in celebration of Juneteenth and 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup sendoff players from both teams with a postgame ceremony at RedBulls Arena, in Harrison, NJ.

Prior to the game kicked-off, both teams wore custom Juneteenth T-shirts commemorating Juneteenth, and the singing of the Black National Anthem " Lift Every Voice"  was introduced followed by the " Star Spangled Banner" at RedBulls arena.

The game began with Gotham and the Chicago Red-Stars locked-out their defensive line most of the first 45' minute, reaching each other goals with few counter-attacks but without any major danger  that resulted with the first half ending scoreless. 

In the second half, the Goths opened the score very early in the first minute (46') through Lynn Williams when she received a throwing pass inside the box by Nealy Martin, and she immediately kicked a looping left-footed shot over the head of  Red-Star's goalie Alyssa Naeher that ended in the back of the net for 1-0, Gotham over Chicago.

The Red-Stars answered back with a goal of their own 8-minute later to tie the game 1-1,
through midfielder Cari Roccaro at 54' minute. The play was originated during a counter-attack through the left-side field,  attacker  Sarah Griffith with the ball inside the box passed it to Roccaro who was coming on a run inside the 18, and shot a hard right-footed ending in the back of the net for her first goal of the season and even the game 1-1.

After back and forth counter-attack from both teams, Gotham's midfielder Allie Long put the Goths ahead 2-1, with direct free-kick from 25-yards away  out of the reach of Chicago's goalie Alyssa Naeher and sealed the 2-1, victory for Gotham over Chicago.

The 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup Australia/new Zealand sendoff players are:
Kristie Mewis, Kelley O’Hara, Lynn Williams & Alyssa Naeher(Chicago) will play for US while Ifeoma “Ify” Onumonu (Gotham) will play for Nigeria & Cheyna Matthews(Chicago) for Jamaica in the 2023 FIFA Australia/NZ World Cup..