It’s starting to go down to the wire for Angel City FC.
Angel City faced more than the Orlando Pride at Exploria Stadium on Sunday evening. Angel City also went up against the hot and humid Florida summers with a brief spell of rain, which is what happened during Sunday’s match. Angel City however overcame the weather and the long road trip, getting goals from Ali Riley and Cari Roccaro. Orlando however took advantage of two key Angel City mistakes to get two goals of their own, and both Angel City and the Pride had to settle for the 2-2 draw.
“We need to be able to close games down,” Angel City head coach Freya Coombe said. “It’s something that we have talked about, but we need to be better in our decision-making and be able to defend as a unit.”
The draw is certainly not the worst result for Angel City, as they remain three points out of the sixth and final playoff spot. However, with eight matches remaining, including a stretch of five straight league matches on the road that will start after it hosts the Chicago Red Stars next Sunday, Angel City knows the time is now to start getting in position to make a big run to qualify for the playoffs.
We were very disappointed about last week when we gave the effort, and we lost, today we gave the effort, and we tied. We just need to change a few things to make sure that we win when we are working so hard,” Angel City defender Ali Riley said. “I am trying to take the emotion out of it, but I know in my heart how hardworking and dedicated this group is. Pushing to make the playoffs and do their absolute best. That is a really great team to be on.”
Angel City took the lead in the 40th minute in spectacular fashion, and it came from a player that called Orlando home the prior two season. Savannah McCaskill switched a ball from right to left, Ali Riley got to the ball, touched into the penalty area and unleashed a left-footed laser of a volley that sailed past keeper Erin McLeod far post for her second NWSL career goal.
Angel City took the lead into the halftime break, and held it for the first 18 minutes, but Orlando capitalized on an Angel City error in the 63rd minute to get themselves back into the game. Julie Doyle crossed into the penalty area, Erika Tymrak headed a ball towards goal, but it was blocked by Megan Reid, then cleared out of the box by Paige Nielsen. McCaskill got the ball, but pressured by Viviana Villacorta, chose to pass back to Nielsen, but did not see Doyle nearby in the box. Sure enough, Doyle pounced, intercepting the pass and quickly firing the point-blank shot that beat keeper Didi Haracic for an unlikely equalizer.
Angel City however answered the call, retaking the lead in the 72nd minute. Tyler Lussi crossed into the penalty area, Simone Charley headed a shot on goal, but McLeod parried the ball over the end line, thus conceding the corner to Angel City. Jun Endo sent a left-footed corner into the penalty area, landing at the feet of Cari Roccaro, who took a quick touch before firing the left-footed shot past McLeod for her second goal in consecutive games, and more importantly, it put Angel City back in front.
“It’s positive that we’re now scoring goals and multiple goals,” Coombe said. “Especially after the opposition equalizes it, we’re able to go back and get ahead again.”
Orlando however capitalized on another lucky break to equalize one more time. It occured as the match was heading into five minutes of stoppage time, Orlando held the ball deep on Angel City’s side of the field with numbers forward, Tymrak crossed into the penalty area, Nielsen tried to stop the cross, but the ball deflected the wrong way, and the ball got past Haracic into the back for another Orlando equalizer. Orlando actually had a chance to steal all three points late in stoppage time, but Tymrak’s free kick from 23 yards out missed the framework by inches.
“We as a team, as a club, we will never give excuses,” Riley said. “Paige [Nielsen] said she takes responsibility for that goal and it was absolutely not her fault. No one makes excuses. That is the kind of team this is.”
Angel City is back home this week, though it will take a little break from NWSL play on Wednesday, as they host Tigres UNAL on Wednesday.
Angel City FC
Orlando Pride
