After splitting the points at home against rivals San Diego Wave, Angel City FC were back in action and on the road to take on Portland Thorns this past weekend. Coming into the match, the team had more questions than answers, in a season that is critical for establishing the path forward for the club as a whole. While its hard to hold your noise up at a draw on the road, it’s also hard to look at the performances to start the season and feel like this is a club that has progressed from last season’s woes, let alone becoming a team that looks like its ready to be a contender.
A look at last nights performance. Catch us back at BMO Stadium on 3/30 for our Women’s History Month match.
Post Match Stats | Carmax
— Angel City FC (@angelcity.com) March 22, 2025 at 11:55 AM
Running with the same XI from the opener, Angel City actually did a great job the first few minutes of the match. They controlled the tempo, they were able to keep possession fairly well, and most importantly, they were able to strike first with an early goal. In just the ninth minute of the match, teenage sensation Kennedy Fuller got on the end of a pass that, in truth, didn’t look like an all-too dangerous attack but was the perfect case for why you sometimes should just Let It Fly, from time to time. A quick turn and shoot from Fuller after receiving the pass ended up finding its way int the back of the net for the early lead.
This touch & turn from Kennedy Fuller 👏 pic.twitter.com/xGPANxiAom
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) March 22, 2025
It didn’t take long for the response though, as Portland, even without Sophia Wison, are the type of team that refuses to go quietly into the night. The type of team you actually have to beat, and can’t just hope gives you a result. A corner kick that was played perfectly found Thorn attacker Reilyn Turner wide open at the far post, where she controlled the ball into the box, and without hesitation, put it past Anderson for the equalizer. As great as the kick and play were from Portland, it was another example of the Angel City defense getting caught napping, with nobody paying mind to a roving Turner back post.
Persistence pays off for Reilyn Turner 💪 pic.twitter.com/7yzidEzbY1
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) March 22, 2025
The two goals in the first half would be the only ones scored on the night but it definitely wasn’t for lack of trying on Portland’s part. The Thorns finished the match with 21 shots, of which nine found their target and eight were sent straight into the brick wall that was Angel City FC goalkeeper, Angelina Anderson. The 24-year-old keeper put on an absolute show on the road with her performance between the posts. Finishing the night, as we said, with eight saves was massive. If you want to point to any individual performance responsible for saving the team from defeat, look no further than Anderson. Several times, especially late in the match, it looked like Thorns were about to rip the hearts right out of Los Angeles, alas, it was Angelina who played Saint and answered the fans’ prayers with save, after save, after save.
Are you serious, Angelina Anderson?! 🤯 pic.twitter.com/pigzSXECVv
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) March 22, 2025
The other special moment of note featured NWSL legend and Angel City FC superstar defender, Sarah Gorden, who hit 10k minutes of NWSL regular season action for her storied career, in this match. Not bad for the multi-time Iron Woman in defense. In the end, the team were able to leave Portland with a point. Hard to argue against that kind of result, especially on the road, but in terms of hoping that this was the start of watching this side grow into the team they are capable of, there was still plenty left to be desired.
Thoughts on the draw on the road? Leave a comment below!