With one International break down, and an even longer break looming, Angel City FC were back in NWSL action and looking to find some consistency at home against Chicago Stars. With the worst team in the league making the trip to Los Angeles, and a new coach at the helm, Angel City were hoping to secure the win at home to help get them back on track and start a bit of a run as the month-long Euros break approaches. Unfortunately, new Head Coach Alex Straus learned a very important lesson that almost all new coaches in this league learn, even the worst team can put you in a mental blender and have you questioning life choices with the ways they can scrap for results.
Sharing a point at home 🤝
Next up: 6/14, Juneteenth Match at @BMOStadium #Volemos | #NWSL | #LAvCHI | #AngelCityFC pic.twitter.com/Nzq2ZgjIPl— Angel City FC (@weareangelcity) June 8, 2025
Before the match even started, Angel City fans were treated to something far better than any 3pts, home win, or goal fest could give them. Shown on both the Jumbotron and the National Broadcast, fans were treated to the sight of Angel City defender Savy King, sitting with the rest of her teammates that weren’t in action on the night, there to support her side as she continues to recover from recent health events. Seeing her with teammates, at the stadium, with a smile on her face was worth a trillion wins, and as always we continue to wish her well in her recovery.
Savy King made her return to support her Angel City teammates 🫶
— NWSL (@nwslsoccer.com) June 7, 2025 at 7:15 PM
The match started just about the way many had expected. Partly down to the fact Chicago are, well, who they are this season, but a major reason for the sluggishness on LA’s side had more to do with a sizable chunk of their roster had only a day turnaround after returning from their respective National Team camps. Still, it wasn’t long before we got the first goal of the match behind some great passing from the home side. In the 29th minute Angel City had one of their best attacks all season with some beautiful ball movement took them all the way into the opponent’s box, ending with a slight deflection off the Stars defender, only to end up at the feet of Kennedy Fuller who needed just one touch to put it over the line for the opening goal.
A total team effort ends with a goal for 18-year-old Kennedy Fuller 👏
— NWSL (@nwslsoccer.com) June 7, 2025 at 7:43 PM
That was the lone score of the half, with Angel City, despite the short time together under Straus, looking like the better team. Not only did they finish with more possession, but seemed to actually do something with the ball for most of the first half. They put together seven shots, earned four corner kicks, and had an 81% success rate on 200 passes in the first half alone. Then the second half happened, and NWSL After Dark took full effect. In the 58th minute, Chicago were able to equalize, while the tradition of the wildest goals conceded continued for Angel City. Stars forward, Gomes, did well to dribble around MA Vignola at first, but the defender was able to recover and get her foot on the shot attempt. Unfortunately, it caused the wildest deflection that sent a rainbow shot up and over the reach of goalkeeper Angelina Anderson, finding its way into the net for the equalizer.
WHAT JUST HAPPENED 🤯
The Chicago Stars get a goal after this deflection!
— NWSL (@nwslsoccer.com) June 7, 2025 at 8:26 PM
Chicago used that momentum well, because just minutes later, they were taking the lead. Ally Shlegel went on a deadly run in the 66th minute, as she blew past the midfield, as well as a couple of defenders and from outside the box got enough space to let loose a rocket of a shot. Anderson did a great job of getting fingertips on it, but the shot was struck so perfectly, anyone would have had a hard time stopping it. The true definition of a banger, giving her side the lead in the second half.
The run. The strike. The celly.
An absolute thing of beauty by Ally Schlegel 🤌
— NWSL (@nwslsoccer.com) June 7, 2025 at 8:34 PM
In the past, this would be the type of match the team would lose, and end up with another week of wondering, how? However, this time, they were able to dig deep and as the 80th minute struck, they were able to get an equalizer of their own. Rookie Riley Tiernan was able to get a decent pass into the box, that was promptly blocked by the Chicago defense, but the deflection landed right to a waiting Vignola who was ready to make up for the earlier deflection of her own, and smashed it home to bring Angel City even. You can tell by the raw emotion of her celebration, just how much it meant to the defender.
The definition of perfect placement by M.A. Vignola 😮💨
— NWSL (@nwslsoccer.com) June 7, 2025 at 8:47 PM
On the surface, this draw definitely feels disappointing. This is only the third result Chicago has gotten all season, as it also continues the tough time Angel City seem to have at home. If there ever was a perfect time to get back on track after what has been a wild, and emotional, few weeks for Los Angeles, it was this time, against this team. However, context is always important and given such this result isn’t as surprising or disappointing as it may seem. We all know this league, with everything perfectly going your way, is still a chaotic grind that can see anyone beat anyone on any given night. New Head Coach Alex Straus, while announced months ago, had only begun handling training and team activities, a week ago. That itself would make adjusting to any new league hard, but wait, there’s more. With half this team away on their various National Teams, and only returning late Thursday, that gave Straus precisely one full day of training, with his entire roster, before his first-ever NWSL match as head coach. That’s very important context to consider.
Straus has already stressed on multiple occasions that while the goal is lofty, and the vision for the club involves lots of wins and silverware, it will take time. Rome wasn’t built in a day and all of that, and you can’t come into the NWSL thinking it’s sweet with only a day of full training. There will be growing pains, but that should be expected. The goal for now, keep pace in the postseason hunt while the new man in charge slowly begins to implement his vision. Most should be willing to extend some grace in the immediate, trusting that this will all be well worth it sooner, rather than later.
Thoughts on the first match under Alex Straus? Leave a comment below!