For the team that insists they play to their best with backs against the wall, Angel City FC were definitely up against it coming into tonight’s match. On the road, against a team that already got the win over you in the reverse match, and fresh off receiving a 3pts deduction to their total for salary cap violations. Already needing wins to keep their playoff hopes alive, the deduction felt almost like a death blow, but as the old saying goes, we’re saying there’s a chance. They will need massive help, but most importantly, they need to win going forward, and it starts tonight in Seattle.
Focused. #Volemos | #NWSL | #SEAvLA | #AngelCityFC pic.twitter.com/G9yZytXgAS
— Angel City FC (@weareangelcity) October 5, 2024
The match started off fairly slow. Both sides were in the feel out process, with Angel City providing most of the pressure, knowing how important tonight is. They did well to find open runs with Alyssa Thompson, as well as finding open space for Messiah Bright, but they couldn’t find the back of the net for the first quarter of the match. It wasn’t until the 34th minute that we saw the build-up pay off. A beautiful one-two between Alyssa Thompson and M.A. Vignola ended with the latter muscling her way through a defender, onto the ball, and curling it past the keeper for the first half lead.
Alyssa Thompson 👉 M.A. Vignola
Watch this goal right now! pic.twitter.com/msLMk6W81N
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) October 5, 2024
The goal would be the only score of the half, but it was a dominant half from Los Angeles. They went into the break with nine shots, the lone shot on target was the goal, while Seattle only mustered one shot in the half, which did not find the target. Angel City kept 55% of the possession and saw out the first half with a solid performance. It wasn’t spectacular, but it was effective, and that is what the team need most right now, results. Any way you can get them.
The second half went much like the first. Angel City continued to apply the pressure and kept knocking on the door looking for their second goal of the night. They did excellent defensively, keeping Seattle to just two shots, with only one on target, through 80 minutes of the match. While they had yet to get their second goal and some breathing room, they were doing enough to not feel like the Reign were any real threat. Then again, this is a team that historically finds goals late, so keeping focus would be key for Los Angeles.
The one advantage Reign did have during the match, corner kicks, racking up nine in the match, with most of them coming in the final moments of the match. With ten minutes of stoppage time, Angel City defended with everything they had, doing their best to keep the home side from finding one late to keep their own slim playoff hopes alive. The final whistle blew and the match ended with Angel City securing three massive points, putting them, for now, just six points off the line. Now, the scoreboard watching begins as we wait and see how it all shakes out, and what the road looks like going into the final three matches of the regular season.
Thoughts on the road win? Leave a comment below!