The run continues for Angel City.
Having thrust itself into the NWSL Playoff race last Sunday with a home win over OL Reign, Angel City served notice that not only are they in the playoff race, they are here to stay. Jasmyne Spencer made sure of that, as her goal in the second half extended Angel City’s unbeaten run to eight matches following the 1-0 result at Children’s Mercy Park.
“Going into this match, we knew it was going to be a grind,” Angel City defender M.A. Vignolia said. “Kansas City is very good on the transition as we saw multiple times in the game. However, we were pretty much very closed down and had our defense on lock tonight. We were able to cover those places that we weren’t able to get through in the midfield.”
Despite the retirement of Julie Ertz, and the loss of starting keeper Didi Haracic to COVID protocols, Angel City was able go on the road and get a result that leaves then tied on points with OL Reign for the sixth and final playoff spot pending the latter’s outcome of its match with the Orlando Pride on Sunday. Angelina Anderson filled for Haracic between the pipes and asserted herself with two key saves in the first half, and Angel City also saw the debut of French star Amandine Henry.
“It’s always good to get a clean sheet, especially the way that we got it,” Anderson said. “It was chaotic. We really had to fight to the end. For my first regular season game, it was really a test of how calm I can be in those moments. I had a lot of fun. I’m so glad we got a shut out.”
After 64 minutes of both teams creating chances, but not being able to get the ball into the back net, it was Spencer that delivered the moment for Angel City. Spencer received a ball from Madison Hammond and broke for goal. Spencer got inside the penalty area, fought off a challenge from Debinha, then actually sent a shot cross into the six-yard box, the Current defense cleared the ball, but it took a deflection off Spencer’s teammate Clarise LeBihan right back to Spencer, and she fired a left-footed shot that snuck past the Kansas City defense and keeper Adrianna Franch at the back post and Angel City was suddenly up in front.
While the match was scoreless up to that point, both teams were certainly trying to break that mold. Kansas City got its first chance to test Anderson two minutes in, as Alex Loera sent a corner into the penalty area, Elizabeth Ball sent a right-footed volley right at goal, but Anderson calmly jumped and made the save. Anderson’s heroics were required one more time in the 25th minute, as Michelle Cooper sprung Kristen Hamilton with a long ball down the left side, Hamilton deked Sarah Gorden as she got into the penalty area, then fired a right-footed right at goal but Anderson got her left hand on the ball and thus managed to parry the ball away from goal.
“She was huge in this game,” Angel City head coach Becki Tweed said of Anderson’s performance at keeper. “They had a couple of chances pretty soon after the first whistle. She held her ground back there and is becoming very good with her feet. She was able to spray balls out wide and keep possession for us. Overall, she played huge tonight.”
Angel City had some chance themselves early in the match. In the 11th minute, Claire Emslie sent a free kick into the Current penalty area, the ball deflected off Kansas City defender Kate Del Fava and went towards goal, but Franch managed to make the save on a quick reaction to prevent what would’ve been a Kansas City own goal. Spencer had a chance earlier prior to her goal, as LeBihan tried to thread a pass into the penalty area, Current defenders Gabrielle Robinson and Izzy Rodriguez cut off the pass, but Spencer beat both of them to the ball, Spencer touched into the penalty area, then fired the right-footed shot, but Franch calmly made the save.
