Angel City FC once again kicked off the NWSL weekend with Friday night lights, this time they played visitors as they headed to Orlando, taking on Barbra Banda and the Pride. In what is very much a captain obvious moment, the big key for Los Angeles coming into tonight would be doing all they can to keep Barbra Banda and Jacqueline Ovalle from running rampant and finding the back of the net. Easier said than done, but if they wanted at least a chance at a big win on the road, they would need to put together one of the best performances of the early season.
📈 READY 📈
#Volemos | #NWSL | #ORLvLA | #AngelCItyFC— Angel City FC (@angelcity.com) April 3, 2026 at 5:19 PM
The first half was a very quiet one in terms of action and chances created, which is exactly what Angel City were aiming for. Banda had a couple of moments where she looked to get behind the defense, but with a rested Sarah Gorden starting tonight, the defense was able to recover well on all occasions and ensure the chances were contested. There was one moment where it looked like Orlando found the back of the net on a corner kick, but a forearm to the back of an Angel City player drew the foul call and erased the lead for the Pride. It was the only time the ball found the back of the net as the two sides went into the halftime break scoreless and even.
Angel City had far more of the possession in the first half with 66% but it was the home side that got off more shots, with nine. While Los Angeles did a great job in the first half to prevent a goal, they hadn’t really found their footing in attack to try and snag a lead of their own in the first 45 minutes. They were able to find space, and connect on some great passes, but the final third looked to lack that bite needed to find the back of the net. That said, going into the break they were right where they wanted to be, having kept Orlando from scoring, and having an entire half to try and get the win on the road.
The second half started off with another nervy moment for Angel City when Orlando had another corner kick. This one was deflected and passed to the back post for a waiting McCutcheon who tapped it into the net for what looked like the lead, but after a quick VAR look, it was deemed she was offside and the goal for Pride, was once again, erased. Shortly after, it was Angel City who finally had a great chance at taking the lead when SveindÃs Jónsdóttir went on a phenomenal run that saw her scoot past several defenders and ended with her in the box, with enough space and time for a great shot. Unfortunately, she was off target and the chance went by the wayside as we remained scoreless.
Third time was the charm for the home side. In the 83rd minute of the match, Orlando finally broke through what had been a tough Angel City defense in true NWSL chaos fashion. A ball from Banda towards the front of goal was met with several bodies hitting the floor, and goalkeeper Angelina Anderson narrowly missing a touch on it, saw the ball leak free, where Haley McCutcheon was once again right place and right time for the second tap in of the night, with this one standing after a VAR check, giving Pride the late lead.
After a VAR check… it stands 😤
Haley McCutcheon puts Orlando in the lead at home! pic.twitter.com/7Ub1GRTBrq
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) April 4, 2026
After going down on the road, the question now was how would Angel City respond, and we didn’t have to wait long to find out. Just minutes after conceding, it was Gisele Thompson in stoppage time with a screamer that found the top corner of the goal, slammed the crossbar, came down just beyond the goal line for the equalizer and we were once again all even in Orlando.
DOUBLE DOINK ALERT 🚨
Gisele Thompson hits it cleanly from distance and drops it in off the post! pic.twitter.com/Rh0qnGITJw
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) April 4, 2026
As if that wasn’t wild enough, just minutes after the equalizer it was another corner for Orlando, and another tap in after the shot and ensuing chaos. Unable to clear the ball away, it was a pinball around the front of goal where eventually Haley McCutcheon was once again where she needed to be for the tap in and the even later lead than her first goal.
Haley McCutcheon said one wasn’t enough 😤
She pokes in her second goal of the night for Orlando! pic.twitter.com/HzWWohdCff
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) April 4, 2026
The final whistle blew and for the first time this year, Angel City suffer a loss. This was by far the toughest team they have faced this season and it definitely showed late in the match as Orlando refused to give up, but it also helps when you can reach for the bench and bring on a player like Marta, who put the final cross into the box for the eventual winner. It was as hard fought match, and Angel City nearly escaped with a point, but in the end, Pride were too much. Now, the team get set for a bit of a break with International action coming over the next couple of weeks, then they will enjoy a nice three match home stand where they hope to get back to winning ways with plenty of season left to play in the NWSL.
Thoughts on the loss late on the road? Drop a comment below!