Welcome to another edition of Friday Night Footy, featuring your Angel City FC! The team are on the road this time, taking on Seattle Reign in battle at the bottom of the table. Unfortunately for Los Angeles, the already tough road to the playoffs just got thrown yet another obstacle, this one having nothing to do with on-pitch results, making it all that much worse. With playoffs hopes rapidly diminishing, the team struggling and vibes at an all-time low, Angel City need to tap into that grit and find a way to leave Seattle with three points and some joy.
Footy Friday ☀️
📍 Lumen Field
🥳 6 PM Watch Party starts at @DogHausDogs
⚽ 7 PM KickoffTune In
📺 @SportsonPrime (USA)
📻 @iHeartRadio (ENG)
📻 @TuLigaRadio (SPA)
🌍 NWSL+ (INT’L)#Volemos | #NWSL | #SEAvLA | #AngelCityFC pic.twitter.com/Vj2DdtddHp— Angel City FC (@weareangelcity) October 4, 2024
Elephant in the room
Okay, lets talk about it now and get it out the way. For anyone who missed it last night, Jeff Kassouf of The Equalizer and ESPN broke news that the NWSL had found Angel City had violated rules in regards to the salary cap and were issuing a penalty. Part of that penalty was the immediate suspension of both CEO Julie Uhrman and GM Angela Hucles Mangano for the remainder of the calendar year, a $200k fine and the most immediately impactful, a three points deduction from the points total of Angel City FC. That last part, the three points, means that Angel City now come into tonight nine points behind Bay FC for the final playoff spot, all but ensuring the Los Angeles club will miss the playoffs barring an incredible turnaround in form and a whole lot of luck.
BREAKING #NWSL news: Angel City has been fined $200K, deducted 3 pts from standings, and Julie Uhrman and Angela Hucles Mangano are suspended the rest of the calendar year for a salary cap violation after league investigation. NWSL will now audit all club spending. pic.twitter.com/CBaRqrxX0Z
— Jeff Kassouf (@JeffKassouf) October 3, 2024
Fight until the bitter end
While the penalties all but killed the playoff dream, there is still, albeit mathematically, a chance for Angel City. However, if they want their magical moment, they will need win out their remaining matches, as well as hope those above them lose a majority of their matches remaining. While they cant control the latter, they can the former and given how the team has looked lately, they need a win for their confidence just as much as they need one for the standings. That said, Seattle Reign have already played spoiler earlier this season, putting ACFC in this hole when they got the win in Los Angeles just weeks ago. This is a team that is not shy about being a team that performs best when their backs are against the wall, and tonight, they are pinned as far back as the wall will allow, so if ever there was a time to show some much needed fight, its now.
How To Watch
Tonight’s kickoff is set for 7:00pm PT from Lumen Field from Seattle, Wa. The match will be broadcast live and can be streamed on Amazon Prime for those in the US and NWSL+ for International fans. Those looking for a radio broadcast can find the match on iHeart Radio for English, and Tu Liga Radio 1330AM for the Spanish broadcast.
Thoughts on the match tonight? Leave a comment below!