EXPLORIA STADIUM—Angel City FC defeated Orlando Pride on Sunday, April 2. This is the Angels first victory of the NWSL 2023 campaign after their opening day home defeat to Gotham FC. They were awarded a penalty on the 38-minute mark after Alyssa Thompson was judged to have been taken down illegally. Last week, Thompson became the second youngest player to score on her NWSL debut.
Scottish international Claire Emslie converted the penalty and sent English goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse the wrong way. Orlando came close to leveling the match in first half stoppage game as Brazilian international Adriana struck the post after a solo run through the Angel City defense.
Substitute Messiah Bright leveled the game for Pride on the 51-minute mark. Bright split two Angel City defenders with a composed run through the center of the field. She calmly toe poked the ball past Angel City FC goal keeper Dijana Haracic.
Pride defender Haley McCutcheon was judged to have handled the ball on the ball in the penalty area in the 88th minute. Once again, it would be Emslie’s responsibility to convert the penalty kick. This time Moorhouse would guess correctly and held onto the penalty to avoid conceding from a rebounded shot on goal.
The teams were level going into stoppage time. It looked like the game would be a tie and each team would leave with a point. Eight minutes of stoppage time were added to the game. The game was still being played after that time had elapsed. Angel City defender Sarah Gordan won a corner after her cross was deflected in the 99th minute.
Substitute Katie Johnson Hammered home a header from the ensuing corner in the final play of the game in dramatic circumstances. The Natalie Portman co-founded side next game takes place at home in the BMO Stadium against Racing Louisville on April 15 at 7 p.m.
Tickets for the game are available at https://www.ticketmaster.com/angel-city-fc-tickets/.
