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In Retrospect Angel City FC: Summer Cup, summer goals, and second half surge

Angel City look to carry momentum from break into a postseason push with just a handful of matches left
Trebor TracyBy 9 Mins Read
during the first half of a friendly match between FC Juarez and Angel City FC at the BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, California.

While just about everybody was watching the 2024 Summer Olympic Games, in which the USWNT ran the table unbeaten on their way to an impressive Gold Medal, Angel City FC were putting in some major work. This time off from NWSL action provided a huge opportunity for the Los Angeles side. An opportunity to come together, a chance to refine, re-assess, and revitalize the squad as they prepared for the second half of the season. Despite an incredibly tough first half that saw Angel City severely struggle in the middle of the park and final third, the team went into this break just three points off the playoff line. This break was the perfect chance to cleanse themselves of the past, readjust, and make sure the road forward ends with a postseason. From the looks of it, everything, at least so far, has gone according to plan.

Making the most of the break

Coming into the break, Angel City FC Head Coach Becki Tweed talked about having several goals. She mentioned wanting to use this time to refine tactics, experiment a bit with them as well as rotations. She talked about wanting to give more playing time to those who many have been calling to see, but had yet to see the pitch. Most importantly, she talked about rebuilding the confidence with the team, get them playing at the highest level capable with the understanding that despite the tough start, the season was far from over. Which is what made this break so critical for Angel City in particular. This is a roster that, on paper, shouldn’t be dwelling at the bottom of the table, and in all honesty, shouldn’t be fighting for the last playoff spot. While a handful of the other teams across the league dealt with chunks of players leaving to represent their respective countries, Angel City had the benefit of not having that problem. Most of the team went uncalled, giving them the chance to really come together as a group, setting a better foundation to build on for the final 10 matches of the season.

Enter Summer Cup. The newly created tournament provided an opportunity for NWSL clubs and the players who weren’t in Paris, to stay sharp, get the competitive juices flowing, and most importantly for LA, an opportunity to experiment without repercussions. The team did exactly that and it showed in the best ways throughout the tournament. Their opener against Liga MX Femenil side and familiar foe Club America was probably the one match this entire break that felt like a typical Angel City match. Despite a new lineup, the team played the same struggle ball for the most part. Constantly trying to play out the back, very little useful possessions, and most of the passing took place on their side of the pitch. In the end, the team came away with the win, but it didn’t provide much in the way of confidence. It wasn’t until their second match against fellow NWSL side, Bay FC, that things looked to really open up.

From Bay FC on, the team looked a lot more threatening in attack. Even though they failed to score in their final two matches of the Summer Cup, they still maintained that threat. In the final three matches of the tournament, the team tallied over 35 shots, with 18 of them on target. They scored two goals in regulation, to go along with the two scored in the win over America, and despite not getting the trophy, they did get out of their group as the winners, going unbeaten.  However, the biggest news for the club came near the end of the tournament, as the team got healthier and welcomed back one of the biggest keys to their future success, Christen Press.

Breakouts, breaking through?

Christen Press made her highly anticipated and very long-awaited return in the 88th minute of their Summer Cup match against San Diego Wave. It was a moment that was two years and an incredibly arduous rehabilitation, in the making. In a lot of ways, it was the official close of one chapter, and the beautiful start to another. Despite many of us just happy to see CP23 back on the pitch, she wasted zero time in making her intentions clear as she nearly found her first goal in mere seconds. She was well and truly BACK.

Now, we all know when she is 90 minutes fit, Christen Press will start for Angel City, and she will be in attack. Which, the team absolutely needs right now. Having struggled in the final third, Press is a player that has historically been clinical in front of goal. At the very least, she is a player who is confident enough to let it fly from anywhere, at any moment. Peppering the goal is a great way to sneak one in or find yourself on the end of a banger. However, even with her return, the entirety of the playoff weight can’t and shouldn’t be on her shoulders.

Throughout the break, there were a handful of players that not only stepped up with the opportunity provided, but they showed out, making the case that they should be considered for significant playing time down the stretch. Two of those players were teenage midfielder Kennedy Fuller, and often talked about forward, Messiah Bright. Let’s start with the former. From match day one Fuller has been an impressive player to watch considering her age and being a rookie in the league. The raw talent was on full display early in the season, as well as the confidence she has to just shoot it from anywhere. Its led to a couple really impressive goals by her, but what stood out most in recent matches was how vastly improved her understanding was. No longer was she relying on pure raw talent, but was playing with purpose. An understanding of her role and responsibilities as a midfielder, not just putting her head down and charging forward, but creating space with a purpose. Pulling in defenders to then kick out the pass to the attackers on the run. In the short time together, her and Messiah seemed to really find some wonderful chemistry that led to some really beautiful chances and even a couple of goals.

Which brings us to Bright. The second-year forward arrived in LA after a trade saw her leave Orlando after just her rookie season. She is a player many were excited to see from the start of the season, but whether it be minor knocks, fitness, or time needed to integrate into the new system, we didn’t really get to see much of Bright in the first half, but we saw plenty of her recently.

Bright was the starter and main target up front for the duration of this break, giving her ample opportunities to showcase her skills and she did just that. While she didn’t get a goal at the Summer Cup it wasn’t for lack of effort as she was close on several occasions. What really stood out was, despite not having blazing speed, she used her big frame as well as quick first steps to get past defenders in the final third. Her size also making her a great target for crosses into the box to try and get heads on. It wasn’t until the team’s final friendly match against FC Juarez where Bright finally put it all together. Not just scoring the opening goal in under a minute, but finishing the night with a hattrick. She was constantly a presence lurking in the box and with every shot, only gained confidence until she pulled off one of the nastiest goals you will ever see.

The path forward

As fun as it was watching the somewhat new look Angel City, now starts the real work. 10 matches and three points. Those are the two most important numbers for Los Angeles going into tomorrow’s return to NWSL play. Just three points off the playoff line, on the outside looking in, with just 10 matches left in the season. The whole focus of the break for this team was improving. Finding and refining their identity. Finding the right combination of players to get the job done. The right tactics to put players in positions to succeed. Figuring out how to be more clinical in the final third and more competent in the midfield.

Now, we see if lessons were learned. We see if the team will continue to build on the momentum they have gathered in recent weeks, or if we will see a return to the norm. A return to the same XI that has struggled to do much of anything for 16 matches. A return to the same tactics that see us living in the struggle ball era. A return to what, very clearly, has not worked. 10 matches. That’s all that’s left in the 2024 season, with every single match mattering the most. A must-win just about every time this team steps on the pitch. If now isn’t the time we continue to see change, or see players who have clearly earned, at the very least, a shot at some playing time on the pitch. If now isn’t the time to push forward with everything we have, throwing the kitchen sink and dishes at opponents if need be. If now isn’t that time, then when? Because time is running out.

Thoughts on second half of the season ahead? Leave a comment below!

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