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NWSL Angel City FC

Angel City Football Club Defeats Reigning NWSL Champion Washington Spirit; Secures First-Ever Road Win

May 15, 2022 - National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)
Angel City FC News Release


Angel City FC forward Christen Press vs. the Washington Spirit
Angel City FC forward Christen Press vs. the Washington Spirit
(Angel City FC)

WASHINGTON, DC - Angel City Football Club (ACFC) beat the reigning NWSL champion Washington Spirit 1-0 on the road today, following a 42nd-minute goal by forward Christen Press.

The game was back and forth for much of the first half, with both teams defending well and limiting the other side's chances. The first good chance for either team came in the 16th minute, when Washington forward Trinity Rodman beat defender Tyler Lussi to the right of the penalty area, dribbled to the endline, and sent a low, driven ball across the face of goal, though no Spirit players were able to reach the ball in time. Washington had another look in the 19th minute, a close-range header by Rodman that keeper DiDi Haračić saved.

The Spirit continued to push for the next 10 minutes, forcing Angel City to absorb pressure, which they did well. A 30th-minute hydration break gave the team an opportunity to reassess the game, and coming back after the break, wingers Press and Jun Endo switched sides, with Press now on the left.

That change would prove fruitful, as Press notched the game's only goal from that side in the 42nd minute. After muscling past Morgan Goff on the inside, she charged forward, took a touch, and sent a cleverly struck right-footed shot curving around defender Emily Sonnett and past keeper Aubrey Kingsbury, who dove but couldn't reach the ball.

A couple half-chances by the visitors and a shot from the top of the 18 by Washington midfielder Anna Heilferty- which Haračić did well to save- closed out the half.

To start the second half, forward Simone Charley subbed out for midfielder Clarisse Le Bihan, marking her NWSL debut following her signing in April.

Angel City had another good chance in the 55th minute, when defender Jasmyne Spencer sent a pass up the right wing for midfielder Savannah McCaskill. McCaskill sprinted onto the ball and struck an arching shot toward the far post from the right side of the penalty area, sending Kingsbury diving. The keeper just got a glove on the ball to swat it away, and it was cleared out.

Washington got another look in the 67th minute, with midfielder Ashley Sanchez dribbling through space centrally and finding forward Ashley Hatch on the right. Hatch sent the ball into the six-yard-box, but Haračić dove to save it. The home team had their best chance of the second half in the 78th minute when Heilferty popped a ball over the back line for defender Sam Staab, who hit it on the volley but sent the ball wide to the right.

After eight minutes of stoppage time, most of which took place during a downpour, the final whistle blew to make Angel City's first-ever road win official.

In addition to Le Bihan, defender Paige Nielsen- a league champion last year with the Spirit- also got her first minutes today, subbing in for McCaskill in the 97th minute.

Angel City is at home next Saturday, May 21, against the Kansas City Current. The match will be at 7:30 p.m. PT and will be streamed live on Twitch.

Post Match Quotes

Angel City FC Head Coach Frey Coombe:

Opening Statement:

"We were feeling the effects of the loss last week and wanted to put that right and build momentum again.

"I think we've shown that when we're really on it, we're really a tough team to break down and beat as well as being exciting in the offense and the attack. That was something we wanted to get back to this week and was something I thought we did."

On the logistics behind Christen Press's Goal:

"We had been looking at their press and how they wanted to go. We know that they sent their outside back a little higher on that side, and there was an opportunity of getting that rotation coming inside and then also how they jump. So being able to switch was really important."

"It's important for us to be a little bit varied in our attack and not always give it the same look each time. So that was something that we had worked on and identified, but obviously the finish as well and that was all Christian."

On winning first road trip in franchise history:

"Yes, I think it's important for us. We've got to try and compete every game and everywhere we go. I think we gave a very good account of ourselves last week. We were hurting as a team from that and it was important for us to go and put our best foot forward."

On difficulty in playing the Spirit:

"Washington is a great team and moved the ball really well. They have really good passing combinations in the middle of the field and I thought we did a good job to try to nullify that."

"There were moments in the game where they were able to play through us a little bit too easily, but we went back in and rebuilt the block to try and prevent them from playing for us, forcing them outside. I thought we corrected that well and limited their opportunities, but they're definitely a team that moves the ball well."

Christen Press, ACFC Forward

"It was a tough week and I'm really proud of the team. Both of the matches in the league that we've won have been such team wins, so much effort from all the players on both sides of the ball."

"It's really important for us as an expansion team to have short-term memories when it comes to performances that we're not happy with so we can continue to take points."

Tyler Lussi, ACFC Forward

On physicality of the match:

"[It was] Definitely a physical match, and the result was very physical and transitional. Especially with the weather, the ball was skidding and sliding, but we handled it very well and made it into the game well while sticking together."

On what you look forward to as a defender:

"Playing as a forward, especially a winger, I know tendencies and try to position myself as best I could in terms of the spacing. I needed to stay connected to Vanessa, but also close enough to the winger Rodman to see if they could read it while in the pocket."

"I was going to step in and go through, but it was definitely challenging, however we got the job done."

On communication:

"There is so much communication. My head is on the swivel at all times since I have to stay connected to Vanessa. I made sure that we are sliding over enough and we're connected, tight knit, and not too far so that I can still get wide enough if I needed to press Rodman."

"So it was constant communication, but my teammates were doing that for me, DiDi especially. Everybody was helping me which is awesome, so I tried to communicate with the team also, do my best and it turned out well."

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Angel City FC forward Christen Press vs. the Washington Spirit
Angel City FC forward Christen Press vs. the Washington Spirit
   



National Women's Soccer League Stories from May 15, 2022


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