Gotham FC’s first game without the injured Midge Purce wasn’t the most encouraging.

Brianna Pinto scored late in the first half, and that was enough for the host North Carolina Courage in a 1-0 win at WakeMed Soccer Park on Saturday.

The Courage (2-1-0, 6 points) had fewer than half of the match’s scoring chances, but Gotham wasn’t able to put away any of its 15 shots — only one of which was on target.

Gotham (1-1-0, 3 points), the reigning league champion, has split two road matches and is still figuring out how to play with Purce — last season’s team MVP — who is out for the season with a torn ACL.

“On and off the field, she’s such a great leader, she’s such a great teammate,” Gotham left back Jenna Nighswonger said of Purce before the match. “And you see this on the field, too, she’s such a hard worker. So we’re just wishing her the best.

“Everyone’s gutted.”

Pinto redirected a header from Ashley Sanchez, who also was in the box and supplied the assist.

Gotham goalkeeper Cassie Miller couldn’t reverse her body’s momentum in time to make a stop.

— With Field Level Media