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NWSL Angel City FC

Angel City Football Club Falls to Orlando Pride

May 9, 2022 - National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)
Angel City FC News Release


LOS ANGELES - Angel City FC fell 0-1 to the Orlando Pride at home last night, following an early goal by forward Sydney Leroux in front of a crowd of 17,510.

The match got off to a frenetic start, and the visitors opened the scoring in the third minute. Forward Darian Jenkins found fellow forward Gunnhildur Jónsdóttir to the right of the penalty box, and the Icelandic international sent the ball across the face of goal to Leroux. Leroux had a clear shot at the net and one-timed the ball, which Angel City defender Megan Reid tried to block- but it bounced off her leg and into the top netting.

In the sixth minute, forward Tyler Lussi nearly got one back for Angel City when she got her foot on a recycled free kick and lobbed it towards goal. It dropped at the right angle to beat Orlando keeper Erin McLeod, but landed wide.

Orlando's aggressive pressure kept Angel City on the back foot for much of the half, and the Pride got two more chances in the 17th and 20th minutes, one a Leah Pruitt header and the second a one-touch strike by Leroux on a pass from the right by Jenkins.

As the half went on, ACFC worked their way back into the game, maintaining more possession and limiting the Pride's chances. In the 41st minute, forward Christen Press had a look on goal, dribbling around Carrie Lawrence to get one-on-one with McLeod, who saved her shot to the near post. The home team came close again in the 44th minute when a scramble in the box following a Jun Endo corner kick ended with the ball at Lussi's feet, and she sent it into the six-yard box for defender Vanessa Gilles; her close-range header went over the bar.

The home team had the better of the second half, starting with a chance in the 57th minute. Press dribbled around her mark to find space and took a hard left-footed shot from outside the 18. It deflected off McLeod's arm and fell to forward Simone Charley, who sent the rebounded ball wide.

The Pride's best chance in the second half came in the 71st minute, when midfielder Mikayla Cluff found Leroux inside the 18. Her shot was on frame, but Gilles blocked and the ball deflected out for a corner kick.

Late in the half, Angel City had a flurry of scoring opportunities, including one in the 90th minute where Press sent a through ball to forward Jun Endo, who slotted a low cross to Lussi. She got a close-range shot, but McLeod was positioned well and blocked it.

Despite outplaying Orlando in the second half- with seven shots to Orlando's four, including three on target- Los Angeles were unable to equalize, and the ref blew the final whistle after four minutes of added time.

Angel City is on the road against Washington next Sunday, May 15, at 2 p.m. PST. The match will stream live on Paramount+.

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