The 2023 NWSL season hasn’t started ideally for NJ/NY Gotham FC forward Ifeoma Onumonu. She started her club season sitting out with a hip injury and didn’t see her first minutes of the regular season until Gotham’s 2-0 win over the Orlando Pride in mid-April. Since then, she’s been in and out of Gotham’s starting XI. When Onumonu does come off the bench, she’s often playing in a slightly deeper position on the wing rather than the usual central forward role.
In the past three games for Gotham, when Onumonu had meaningful minutes on the field, she took up the No. 7 role when Gotham was defending in a midblock. In a traditional 4-4-2 defense, Onumonu occupies the space of a right winger instead of a target striker.
Following a 1-1 draw with the Washington Spirit on Sunday, head coach Juan Carlos Amorós told reporters dropping Onumonu into the midfield was a result of in-game tactical adjustments. Noting how the Spirit played directly, Amorós said Onumonu was put in that position to help defend, but ultimately she came in to help the team attempt a game-winning goal.
Despite playing in a new role and coming off the bench, Onumonu is still in good spirits, saying it’s hard to be unhappy when Gotham has a strong team — and sits at the top of the NWSL…
