In truth, we all figured a loss was coming sooner or later, but nobody thought it would go down like this. Angel City FC were at home and riding the high of remaining unbeaten, with two wins running under their belts. The kids looked like they were finding form, the team had just announced a new head coach on his way from Germany, and things were starting to look up in Los Angeles. Gotham came with ill intentions looking to not only snatch three points, but also be the ones to hand Angel City the first loss of the season.
#Volemos | #NWSL | #LAvGFC | #AngelCityFC pic.twitter.com/CrKgPjiQ47
— Angel City FC (@weareangelcity) April 19, 2025
In truth, this is the type of match you just forget about. From the start this one was all Gotham, with the visitors wasting no time in getting on the scoresheet. The precise passing and speed were on display for the East Coast side, putting it all together in the 18th minute, breaking down the Angel City defense. The final pass landed to Esther González whose first touch put her in excellent position for the shot on goal from close range, needing just the one chance to get it past Angelina Anderson. Unfortunately, it wouldn’t be the first time the young keeper would be picking the ball out of the back of the net.
Esther González is not missing from there 🙂↔️ pic.twitter.com/OaJQ3SJGvp
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) April 19, 2025
Despite the early goal, and first half domination, Angel City did an excellent job and limiting the damage and going into the halftime break just down a goal. Gotham finished the first half with 61% possession of the ball, seven shots with two finding their target, and having completed 85% of their 220 passes. Still, with the home crowd behind them, there was a chance for Los Angeles to salvage, at the very least, a point from this match. Unfortunately, for how exciting youth can be, it can also prove costly when It comes to overcoming matches like this one.
The second goal came in the 67th minute and was in all fairness, a bit unlucky for the home side. What was looking to be a simple pass into the box from Gotham’s Lilly Reale, ended up deflecting off of Angel City defender Miyabi Moriya, and sailing into the back of the net. Yes, it was just one of those nights for Los Angeles.
LILLY REALE’S VISION LEADS TO GOAL NO. 2 FOR GOTHAM 🪄 pic.twitter.com/s77BS4qgLC
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) April 19, 2025
About ten minutes later, the struggling corner defense for Angel City was painfully on full display. With Sarah Schupansky standing over the ball in the 74th mintute, she sent in the perfect ball for Esther González at the near post for a flicking header that was sent past Anderson for the third goal of the night, and all but killed any hope anyone might have harbored for a comeback to at least take a point away from this one.
The connection from Sarah Schupansky’s corner to Esther González’s head 🤌 pic.twitter.com/qFgOd2uXeH
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) April 19, 2025
The final dagger came in the 85th minute. More solid passing from Gotham ended with Midge Purce sending a cross clear over the length of the box, finding new arrival and loanee from Manchester United, Geyse, at the far post. The Brazilian wasted no time in opening her NWSL account with a strike that went shooting past defenders and the keeper for the fourth, and thankfully last goal of the night for the visitors.
QUE GOLAÇOOO, GEYSE 🔥
What a way to score your first NWSL goal! pic.twitter.com/XlQnj13JVq
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) April 19, 2025
“We have a really young squad and everyone knows that” said Angel City defender Sarah Gorden after the match. “We played an experienced team and so, I think this is part of the process, it’s a long season, but the most important thing is going to be how do we respond.” The team wont have long to dwell on the result as they have to prepare for a road trip that will see them face Orlando Pride this Friday, and Washington Spirit the following week. As bad as this loss feels, and looked, this is still just the first loss of what will be a very long season. The key, as Sarah and the team understand, will be how they respond and making sure they don’t let this one loss, turn into a stretch of poor form.
Thoughts on the loss at home? Leave a comment below!