After a nice homestand for a couple of weeks, Angel City FC were back on the road this evening to take on Utah Royals. This is the first time these two meet since the expansion’s side return to the NWSL this season, and Angel City will be looking to snag three points off the struggling side, while on the road.
L.A. is in the building 🙌
#Volemos | #NWSL | #UTAvLA | #AngelCityFC pic.twitter.com/MRjpYZR0VO— Angel City FC (@weareangelcity) May 4, 2024
After winning two of their last three, the team have a chance to take three points off a Utah side that has only won once so far this season. While the opening to the season has been tough for Angel City, they now hit a stretch of favorable matchups. These are the matches you need to win if you look to find yourselves in the top half of the table at the end of the season.
Angel City came out in the 3-4-3 once again, after having such massive success with it in the first 60 minutes of the last match. The only difference was they didn’t come out quite as fast this time around, opting to be slightly more reserved to start the match. That plan nearly didn’t work out, as Utah were gaining confidence and through 25 minutes had put on the best effort of the night. It looked like they might be gearing up to smash and grab one before the break.
In the 29th minute Angel City put together an excellent attack and they put forth the best effort of the night, and made it count. Alyssa Thompson continues her run on excellent service, with a gorgeous ball whipped into the box that found Sydney Leroux with tons of space and she smashed it home with a header, her specialty. The goal was exactly what the team needed late in the first half, on the road.
Alyssa Thompson and Sydney Leroux link up for a beautiful opening goal🔥 pic.twitter.com/xKM2Z3tvdN
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) May 4, 2024
Alyssa Thompson may not be scoring the way many had perhaps expected her to, but she sure is doing more than enough to help her side out in other ways. Shortly after assisting on the goal, Thompson got on the end of a pass that saw her in the box, but brought down by the defender, drawing the penalty for Angel City. Claire Emslie was the one to step up to the spot and she converted it calmly to double the lead late in the first half.
Angel City’s lead doubles as Claire Emslie buries her PK!! pic.twitter.com/ZMttcmHZtJ
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) May 4, 2024
Utah did their best to try and pull one back before halftime, but Angel City were able to get to break with the two goal lead. If last week was a masterclass in dominance for ACFC in the first half, this week was more, sit back and take our chances when its clear. Utah finished the half leading in most categories, with Los Angeles keeping more possession, but just barely. Royals had way more touches and control in Angel City’s box, but it was the visitors that made their opportunities count with goals.
Utah started the second half easing into their high press, and started putting the pressure on Angel City. Pressure while trying to build out the back has been a huge struggle for LA, and this was no different. In the 50th minute Utah forced an error, and took advantage with an attack that ended with Dana Foederer getting her first goal in the NWSL.
A first NWSL goal for Dana Foederer gets Utah back in this one 👀
Watch for free on NWSL+ 👉 https://t.co/1FGnyEmPeo pic.twitter.com/NdWZ6WzyjS
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) May 4, 2024
Utah spent much of the immediate time after scoring, taking control of the match. They held the ball, they were starting to break down the ACFC defense, and were looking more and more threatening to get the equalizer. LA did well to keep them honest with counter attacks, switching up play with the long balls from the back.
The final 15 minutes of the match were back and forth. Utah had moments where they looked like they could sneak the equalizer, while Angel City were still applying pressure and nearly came away with a third on a few occasions. The final moments of the match were spent defending for their lives, once again, but unlike against KC, Angel City were able to withstand the late attacks and see out the 2-1 win for the three points. Wasn’t pretty, but it was a third win in four matches. That’s all that matters right now.
Thoughts on the win in Utah? Leave a comment below!