After weeks of intense summer heat, it was nice to get a perfect night of football with the breeze, breezing, and the sun taking a few hours of as the evening arrived. Angel City FC were back at home after the road trip saw them lose their first one, but close out with back-to back wins. Tonight they hit the pitch for a first-ever meeting with expansion side Denver Summit FC, in a battle of teams both fighting for their place in the postseason, just fingertips away from that final playoff spot.
Here is your ACFC Starting XI!
#Volemos | #NWSL | #LAvDEN | #AngelCityFC
— Angel City FC (@angelcity.com) September 11, 2026 at 6:28 PM
After what has felt like most of the season dealing with injuries and absences, tonight is the healthiest we’ve seen the team in a while. The starting XI reflected as much, one of their strongest lineups in months. With plenty on the line and an expansions side making the visit, the stage was set for Angel City to really make a statement at home. Through 15 minutes, Angel City was clearly outpacing Denver, using their speed and quickness to get past defenders with pretty one-touch football, but the visitors quickly settled in and were able to anticipate and limit the build-ups.
Angel City had the better chances in the first half, nearly taking the lead on a couple of efforts, but were unable to get the ball over the line through 30 minutes. The best chance of the half was a corner that bounced around before falling to Maiara Niehues who had an excellent look, but sent the shot just wide as it hit the post and skidded out of bounds. The other danger was Denver beginning to find space to work with against an Angel City defense that was a bit too soft at moments.
Despite getting tons of counter-attacks, Angel City were being real sloppy with passing and wasting a lot of legit chances, but thankfully just as the first half was set to end, one of those efforts finally found its reward. In the 45th minute a poor touch from the Denver attack gave ACFC defender Sarah Gorden the chance she needed to intercept the ball and send it forward where it found Niehues. The Brazilian had an excellent first touch to set up the turn and shoot from distance that found the corner of the goal for the lead as the first half came to a close.
The first touch 😮💨
Then the perfect strike 🫨Maiara Niehues with an absolute work of art 🤌
Angel City started the second half looking to not only see out their lead, but add more to really put emphasis on the night. They nearly did that, scoring in the opening seconds, but the pass into a box where an open Niehues was waiting, was just wide and found a Denver defender instead. In the blink of an eye, the entire match changed. A sloppy pass from Angel City led to a prime opportunity for Summit in the 49th minute, setting up Yuzuki Yamamoto for the shot, with no hesitation, curled it past the LA defense and keeper, for the equalizer.
That’s three straight matches with a goal for Yuzuki Yamamoto 👏
Just minutes later, Denver took advantage of more sloppy possession in the middle of the park, taking the ball from Angel City and immediately going on a counter that saw the initial shot hit the crossbar before falling to Lindsey Heaps who slammed home the second effort for the lead in the 50th minute for the lead and just like that, momentum had shifted.
Lindsey Heaps’ first goal for her hometown club 🥹
After the shock of getting hit in the mouth to start the second half, Angel City settled in a bit and were now the hunters in search of a very important equalizer. The equalizer wouldn’t come before yet another dispossession in the midfield that led to an open look from Denver defender Janine Sonis, who unloaded from outside of the box to give Summit a third goal on the night.
Defender Janine Sonis with her 10th goal of the season for her hometown club 🫨
The goals were coming quick and fast in the second half, just minutes after conceding the third goal and just seconds after coming onto the match, Angel City went on the attack that saw Sveindís Jónsdóttir beat her defenders to find space to go 1 v 1 with the keeper. She opted to not take it herself, slowing down enough for Prisca Chilufya to catch up, slotting a pass to her, letting her tap in a second goal, bringing them back within a goal in the 63rd minute.
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Sveindís Jónsdóttir tees up Prisca Chilufya to bring Angel City one goal closer 👀
NWSL After Dark head reached peak in Los Angeles, when Angel City were awarded a penalty on a foul that occurred in the box, during a corner kick. Midfielder Ally Sentnor stepped up to the spot and smashed it low corner, watching it just get past the keeper for the equalizer in the 74th minute, with plenty of time left for more chaos.
Ally Sentnor from the spot! 🎯
The penalty would be the last goal scored in a half that saw five combined goals. While not the win Angel City would have wanted the most, the draw does keep the within arm’s reach of that final playoff spot. Luckily for Los Angeles, they have matches against the teams around them still to come, to close out the regular season. If they want to extend their season, they will need to clean up the midfield, and get a bit more clinical in front of goal.
Thoughts on the draw against Denver? Let us know in the comments below!