A very crucial four match road trip stares Angel City FC dead in the face, with playoffs on the line. As it stands, Los Angeles are just outside the playoffs but with how everything went down earlier this weekend, a win on the road tonight will have Angel City sitting in sixth place come sunset. It wont be easy, though it never is in the NWSL, as they face Utah Royals, who have had a phenomenal season, currently sitting fourth in the standings. The next four matches will undoubtedly decide how Angel City’s season will end, and it all starts tonight in Sandy, Utah.
The #AngelCityFC Starting XI for #UTAvLA.
Presented by DoorDash
— Angel City FC (@angelcity.com) September 20, 2026 at 3:17 PM
It didn’t take long before the match had its first major moment. A great ball forward sent Angel City forward Prisca Chilufya running into space, where she was brought down by Royals defender Paige Cronin. After some discussion and a video review at the monitor from the referee, it was determined Cronin did indeed commit a DOGSO (Denial Of Goal Scoring Opportunity) which resulted in a red card, giving Angel City a player advantage in the 11th minute. For 80+ minutes Utah would have to play the match with just 10 players, giving Angel City a truly golden opportunity that would be disastrous to waste.
That golden chance turned golden egg in the 24th minute, as Utah were shown another red card, this one to midfielder Ana Tejada, who was caught pulling the hair of midfielder Ary Borges during a corner kick, not only earning the red card, but resulting in a penalty kick for Angel City. Ally Sentnor stepped up to the spot and slammed it past the keeper for the first half lead as Los Angeles had the goal, and were now playing 11 v 9 for the rest of the match.
Ally Sentnor puts Angel City ahead from the spot 🎯
Despite a two player advantage for most of the first half, the penalty conversion would be the only goal scored by Angel City in the first 45 minutes of action. While going into the break with a lead is great, there was a definite sense that they would need more to see out a win, even with the heavy advantage. This was also a prime opportunity for the team to really make a statement and build some form heading into what will be a brutal stretch of matches coming up. Still, with an entire half to play, Los Angeles still had plenty of time to run it up and hopefully put it out of reach before it gets too deep into the match.
Perhaps that pressure was felt because a substitute was made as the teams came out for the second half, and stop us when you’ve heard this before. Fresh off the bench, Angel City forward Taylor Suarez wasted no time in getting onto the scoresheet, this time a great move from the rookie to cut inside the box, finding space as she received the pass from Gisele Thompson. Without skipping a beat Suarez one-touched the pass into the back of the net for the score and another match where she makes her presence felt just seconds after coming into the match.
Wasting no time after the halftime break ⏱️
Taylor Suarez scores for Angel City just 72 seconds after the restart!
The second goal provided the boost of confidence and swagger this team needed to go for more. They proceeded to go on the hunt for a third, applying pressure on Utah’s defense. In the 67th minute, they were able to add to their tally courtesy of Icelandic international, Sveindís Jónsdóttir who lurked around the Utah backline as they passed the ball around, jumping on a bad touch to pick the ball off and was off to the races, taking her time and slotting it past the keeper for the third goal of the night.
Sveindís Jónsdóttir with a clean finish to add a third for Angel City 🫶
The third goal would be all Angel City needed to see out the win. They were able to get some much needed rest to key players, let some youngsters see important minutes and kickoff the road trip with three massive points. The win not only sets the tone for the matches ahead, but for the first time in a while, Angel City are sitting in a playoff position late in the season. Still plenty of matches to go, but finishing the night in sixth place has to feel great for Los Angeles.
Thoughts on the big win on the road? Let us know in the comments below!