Just when you think it might be all over, Angel City FC pull off a performance like this. If there’s one thing this team is going to do consistently, it’s respond well when their backs are against the wall. With a loss or draw being the end of their already slim playoff push with just a few matches left in the NWSL regular season, Angel City put together one of, if not the best performance of the season to get past the Houston Dash at home this past weekend.
Houston, we have a dub 👩🚀 See y’all next week for our Fan Appreciation match on 10/19!#Volemos | #NWSL | #LAvHOU | #AngelCityFC pic.twitter.com/ecuaqQMOyY
— Angel City FC (@weareangelcity) October 12, 2025
From the start Angel City came out like a team that knew they needed the win. In fairness they have been a lot more aggressive in their attack the last month and change, but this time felt different. The best way to describe it is, it was controlled desperation. Not so desperate that they were making bad decisions, or taking ill-advised looks at goal, but the kind of desperation that led to 14 shots in the first half, earning five corners, a handful of free kicks around the box, with the team peppering the goal early and often to find a way through.
While they couldn’t find the goal they wanted in the first half, they also did really well to keep Houston from finding any chances on the other end. Dash had just four shots the entire half, with three of those shots blocked by the defense and the lone shot from inside the box, a header from van Zenten, going well wide of the goal without threat. The teams went into the halftime break even and scoreless but it very much felt like a win was just sitting there for Angel City to grasp. The real criticism from what was a phenomenal first half was the team, once again, struggling to find ways to take advantage in the final third. Ideas were there, and as we mentioned, the team earned plenty of set pieces from great positions, but weren’t able to take full advantage of them. Then the second half started.
It took 53 minutes but Angel City eventually broke through the Houston defense, while also showing just how important it is to crash the box and follow up shots. Hina Sugita attacked the flank towards goal and while she didn’t have an angle for the shot, she did the next best thing, sent the ball into the box and hoped either a teammate got on it or chaos ensued, and she got a little bit of both. Abby Smith stopped the initial effort from finding any of Sugita’s teammates, but couldn’t handle the ball fully, letting it trickle back out away from her and right onto the feet of a streaking Kennedy Fuller who took one touch to smash it past Smith on the rebound, finding the back of the net for first goal of the day, her fourth of the season.
Right place, right time for Kennedy Fuller 📍
She buries the close range chance for Angel City!
Dash tried their best to respond, and nearly did when a Paige Nielsen header hit the crossbar and got cleared away from danger, but Angel City did excellent to defend. Again, controlled desperation, it was clear LA did not want to be on the wrong end of a late goal equalizer, but weren’t so desperate in defense that they were manic, or making mistakes. Then, in the 85th minute they slammed the door shut on Houston with a goal that featured one of, if not the best assist of the NWSL season. Clearing the ball from their own box, Miyabi sent the ball forward just trying to get it away from her goal, but clearance turned to counter attack when that ball found Jun Endo who, without a second of hesitation, put on the greatest flick in Angel City history that found a wide open Maiara, who sped past Abby Smith who was way too far out, and once past the keeper, it was a walk-in goal for Maiara to double the lead late and seal the three points for Angel City.
Jun Endo with the cheeky touch and Maiara Niehues with a breakaway finish to seal it for Angel City! 💨
Just to give a clearer view of the Endo assist, here is another video so you can fully appreciate the greatness that was the flick. Hang it in the Louvre!
This flick from Jun Endo is UNREAL 🤯
The win snapped a five match winless streak for Angel City, and was their first clean sheet win since a 1-0 win over Orlando back in August. It was also a bit historic for the matchup, as it was the first time the home side got the win in the series with Houston. The team do still sit six points off the final playoff spot, and the odds are still slim, but as this league has shown year in and year out, anything can happen.
Thoughts on the win at home? Leave a comment below!