This one was tough. Angel City FC drop their third match of their last five, while on the road in what was a very physical match. Cards were flying, bodies were hitting the floor, it was almost impossible for the match to find any sort of rhythm or flow, and all of that played directly into the hands of the home side Racing Louisville. Another one of those matches where, despite large chunks of the match where Los Angeles looked in control, it was Racing that was able to make the most out of one of the few mistakes from Angel City, on their way to a 1-0 win at home.
Final.
🔜 10/6 at @BMOStadium. pic.twitter.com/EHP87oBvPe— Angel City FC (@weareangelcity) September 28, 2025
There were no goals in the first half for either side, but there were four yellow cards shown, three of which were earned by Angel City. Los Angeles kept a ton of the possession in the half, at 62%, but as we have said before, possession isn’t really the goal, scoring is, and when you keep the ball for that long but don’t find the back of the net, it makes the day all the more frustrating. The team only found the target once on their seven shots and while the ideas were there and the attack was aggressive, it was another match where the final product was just lacking. Whether it was off-timed passes, losing possession in the opponent box, the slightest of hesitations when going for goal, it was just off enough to prevent the team from finding that early goal.
Credit to Racing though, they did put together a really tough high press that was causing a lot of the struggles for Angel City to get past. The press only caused more issues in the second half, when Louisville got even more aggressive. In the 66th minute, the pressure became too much for Los Angeles. Racing’s Emma Sears put the clamps on Angel City defender Sara Doorsoun, who couldn’t get the ball away from her area fast enough. Sears picked her pocket and immediately sent the ball towards goal where Sarah Weber was waiting, getting a touch on it and sending it past the goalkeeper for the late lead.
Emma Sears picks the pocket and sets up Sarah Weber to give Racing the lead 🔥 pic.twitter.com/7xTsJB7c9c
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) September 28, 2025
The shot was the only one on target for Racing in the half, with them only finding six shots in total. But as we have learned time and time again, in this chaotically cruel sport you can control the ball for 99% of the match, unless you score, it only takes one mistake and in the blink of an eye, you can find yourself on the wrong end of a smash and grab. The late goal was enough for Louisville to see out the win and take the tree points as Angel City could only muster three shots the entirety of the second half. It was very much just one of those matches.
While the loss is a pretty big blow to the playoff push, it wasn’t the end. Mathematically, they still very much have a chance, but as we mentioned in the preview to this match, the wins have to come, now. There are only four matches left in the regular season, that’s 12 points up for grabs with Angel City sitting five points off the playoff line. As far as long shots go, they also find themselves in a really great position because the next three matches will be played at home. That is 9 of 12 possible points up for grabs in their house. Couldn’t ask for much more if this is the position you find yourself in.
Thought on the loss on the road? Leave a comment below!