As the final rosters get set for World Cup, players depart and teams begin adjusting to being without their respective top players. For Angel City FC this provides a bit of an opportunity. While they too are missing players, it isn’t nearly as bad as most, and with several players waiting to return from injury, they have a real chance at stating a run at the perfect time. Tonight, they played host to league leaders, North Carolina Courage, looking to go into the final stretch of the season with a win, and some hope for a push that could see them sneak into the postseason.
No thoughts, just… ✨them✨#Volemos | #NWSL | #LAvNC | #AngelCityFC pic.twitter.com/2mc2w0neto
— Angel City FC (@weareangelcity) July 9, 2023
Courage weren’t about to set themselves up for the upset on the road. The league leaders struck first and wasted no time in doing so. Brianna Pinto got on the end of a decent pass that left the ball in open space, where the streaking Pinto put her foot on it from just inside the box. It was enough to get past Haracic for the early lead.
Brianna Pinto put @TheNCCourage ahead… pic.twitter.com/Q6KOI90aCM
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) July 10, 2023
Literally a minute later, Angel City FC responded in kind. A Cedars-Sinai corner kick led to a bouncy ball that Scarlett Camberos controlled, sending in a great cross that went right across the front of goal. Savannah McCaskill needed just one attempt to get her head on it for the equalizer in the 17th minute.
… and a minute later Savannah McCaskill brings @weareangelcity right back level! pic.twitter.com/sMB1WsHdKF
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) July 10, 2023
Conceding the early goal woke up the home side, who controlled the match the rest of the half. In one of their better halves of the season, Angel City FC finished with 13 shots, with four finding their target, and a heft 54% of possession. They were in full control going into break, and in need of an even stronger second half if they wanted to come away with the massive win at home.
The second half was much like the first, with Angel City controlling most of the match. Through 70 minutes the team had racked up 17 shots and nine corners. The three points were not only crucial for the standings, but at this point for momentum. To put in a performance like this and not get a win, is tough but the team had 20 minutes to find their winner.
Angel City kept fighting, kept peppering the goal, kept applying the pressure and late in the second half they got their reward. In the 77th minute newcomer Elizabeth Eddy put her defender on skates, then hit her with the nutmeg. After drowning her mark in sauce, she put on the shot that was deflected by a Courage defender, but the sauce was too thick and it went into the back of the net anyways for the lead. The type of goal that felt deserved given the performance from the side tonight.
Elizabeth Eddy makes it happen for @weareangelcity! pic.twitter.com/8IrziPNmFS
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) July 10, 2023
Angel City FC did an excellent job of locking down and not allowing the league leaders to find another opportunity to equalize this one. The win is huge because they get the full three points at home, against the best in the NWSL, just as their playoff push begins. The team will now have two-straight Challenge Cup matches. If we are honest, those should be matches where we see experimenting and key players sitting out to remain healthy. That tournament is all but done for ACFC and the focus should be on doing everything they can to make the playoffs.
Thoughts on the win at home? Leave a comment below!
1 Comment
Oh was it a Cedars Sinai corner?