A gloomy Los Angeles morning broke mid-afternoon, and by the time we were set to kickoff this rivalry match between Angel City FC and San Diego Wave, the weather was perfect for a Saturday evening of hatred and footy. The LA sunshine was shining, the evening breeze had arrived, and the atmosphere was rising with every minute closer to kickoff we got. Both teams came into this one looking to improve on form and come away with the three points, along with some bragging rights.
Here is your ACFC Starting XI!#Volemos | #NWSL | #LAvSD | #AngelCityFC pic.twitter.com/Kp5WuLSV7Z
— Angel City FC (@weareangelcity) May 9, 2026
In a pretty full, blacked out BMO Stadium, the two sides took to the pitch in a match that historically is always close, always physical, and always entertaining. Just two minutes in we got our first long injury stoppage when Angel City midfielder Ary Borges clashed heads with San Diego defender Mimi Van Zanten leaving both needing treatment, but in the end neither had to come off thankfully. The first chance of the day came in just 10 minutes and belonged to Angel City. A great pass from Gisele Thompson sent Sveindís on the run, and a great ball across the box found a wide open Kennedy Fuller, who skied the shot. It was still back and forth early on, but Los Angeles were finding ways to break down the San Diego defense for opportunities on goal.
Much like we’ve seen the last couple of matches for Angel City, they dictated the tempo, they were asking all the questions in attack, and they were in control, but they just couldn’t get that final bit of brilliance they needed to take full advantage and get the opening goal through 30 minutes. Just as the first half was ending, Angel City got another great chance at goal when rookie Taylor Suarez found herself going 1v1 with the keeper, but a shot directly at her was easy work for the veteran, Haricic, in goal. The halftime break came with neither side finding a goal, but Angel City feeling like the more threatening of the two sides. The real key in the second half will be defending set pieces and making sure not to break down when San Diego do get on one of their rare breakaways. Goals are there in this one, but will the home side find them before San Diego? That is the real question.
San Diego started the second half with a lot more energy, immediately becoming the ones dictating the flow of the match. Just to show how efficiency can really work in your favor, despite chasing the match for 45 minutes, San Diego needed just the one good chance to convert and take the lead quickly into the second half behind a great effort from Dudinha who beat her defender, and put the ball into the back of the net.
Dudinha with the elite footwork + finish for San Diego 👀 pic.twitter.com/INGbrrq869
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) May 10, 2026
The response from Angel City FC was swift. In the 54th minute the team earned a corner kick and for the first time in a while, it was the second effort that resulted in the goal. Defender Sarah Gorden got on the end of the rebound, lofted the ball back into the box where it went far post, finding fellow defender Emily Sams, who tapped it past Haracic and into the back of the net for the equalizer. We were once again level, and it was game on with plenty of time for either side to find the winner.
Emily Sams goal alert 🚨
The defender scores her first in a @weareangelcity jersey! pic.twitter.com/l3a09CFTCr
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) May 10, 2026
At the 70th minute mark, with just over 20 minutes left in the match, the atmosphere went up a few levels. The home crowd was the loudest they had been all match, Angel City were on the hunt for the winner, and San Diego were making use of poor passes and counter attacks to create their chances. The three points were well and truly up for grabs.
San Diego took the late lead in the 81st minute, once again showing it’s not the amount of shots you get, but what you do with them. A great ball into the box found Mimi Van Zanten prowling the far post, getting past the Angel City defender to get a clean header on the pass that went smashing past Anderson for the second Wave goal of the night, and the late lead.
What a time for your first NWSL goal 👏
Mimi Van Zanten with a crucial header for San Diego late in the SoCal derby!#NWSLRivalries | @ally pic.twitter.com/1J7I79aYlu
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) May 10, 2026
The headed goal was enough to secure the win on the road for San Diego. The loss pushes it to four straight losses for Angel City, who are very much struggling with efficiency at the moment. This is a team that is clearly the better side on the pitch for long spells of matches, but they just can’t seem to get the ball over the line and find the lead the same way they did to start the year. The brief home stand comes to a close with the team failing to get a result in either of their three matches. Now, the team will shift their focus on running it back with Portland Thorns, this time in Portland as they hit the road in eight days.
Thoughts on the loss at home? Drop us a comment below!