Its a Saturday night in Cary, North Carolina for Angel City FC this evening as they are on the road to take on the NC Courage. While odds are still slim, the team do have some playoff hope left, and the best thing they can do for those hopes is win out. The final stretch of the season starts tonight as the team look to build on the win last time out, with a big win on the road.
Locked in đź”’#Volemos | #NWSL | #NCvLA | #AngelCityFC pic.twitter.com/vVLW2TIZ6P
— Angel City FC (@weareangelcity) October 12, 2024
The first half was not the best of halves for Los Angeles. From kickoff it was the home side Courage that put their foot on the gas and didn’t seem to let up much if at all in the opening minutes of the match. They immediately began testing Angel City keeper, DiDi Haracic as they were on the hunt for the opening goal of the match. It was a masterclass in survival from Angell City as they would not fold, despite the immense pressure.
North Carolina finished the half with over 60% possession, tallied seven shots with three on target, put together several close chances at the goal and came away ahead in just about every stat there is. They dominated the half, but most importantly for Los Angeles, they hadn’t scored. The teams went into break scoreless and even with ACFC thankful to not be down. While great, they also need the win, not the draw, definitely not a loss, but at this point, getting a draw is essentially a loss so there is nothing to really lose. The team should be levels more aggressive in the second half if they want the win and keep the playoff push alive, but its great to know the defense came to play in this one.
Didi Haracic with a smothering save! 🧱 pic.twitter.com/71GM9R2Zc0
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) October 13, 2024
Angel City FC came out looking a lot more aggressive the second half. The team finished the first half with just one shot, but through 75 minutes, they had the tally up to four shots with three on target as they began to come alive in search of a late winner. The three points were very much there for the taking as NC looked vulnerable throughout the second half. For much of the half, it looked like it was destined to end in a scoreless draw, with LA feeling like they had once again let one slip away. However, that isn’t how Hollywood works, and the team from Los Angeles had a bit more drama for us late in this season. As stoppage time was winding down, in one of the last attacks of the match, Angel City put together one last push for the win on the road. Getting the ball once again into the final third, the team got it on the feet of their superstar, Christen Press who did not disappoint. After faking one defender into oblivion, Press found a sliver of reality to get the shot off, getting it past a sea of Courage players, finding the back of the net for what looked like the late winner.
Christen Press… are you serious?! pic.twitter.com/Sthd3k7GHW
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) October 13, 2024
In soccer you are always most vulnerable just after scoring and this was no different. After it looked like they had the win right at the end, it was the home side to provide even more drama with a ball that sent Courage forward Olivia Wingate open on the run, where she needed just one look to get it past Haracic to steal back the points in the final moments of the match.
Olivia Wingate with a stunning late answer! ⏰ pic.twitter.com/S5hp1S1NhF
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) October 13, 2024
The draw doesn’t mathematically eliminate the team from the playoffs just yet, but depending on how results shake out around the league this weekend, they could be looking back at this moment as the end of their playoff push for good. For now, the team have one final home match to prepare for as they get set to host Utah Royals next weekend.
Thoughts on the draw? Leave a comment below!