NWSL Angel City FC

Angel City Football Club Makes Comeback Attempt in Home Loss to Chicago

Published on June 6, 2023 under National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)
Angel City FC News Release


LOS ANGELES - Angel City fell 2-1 at home tonight to the Chicago Red Stars following a first-half brace by Red Stars forward Ava Cook and a late goal by ACFC forward Sydney Leroux, who returned from injury after being sidelined since last July.

The Red Stars opened the scoring in the 16th minute when forward Julia Bianchi sent a corner kick to the top of the six-yard box. Cook made an unmarked run towards goal and put a jumping header past keeper DiDi Haračić.

Angel City nearly answered in the 20th minute. Forward Claire Emslie sent an aerial ball from the right edge of the penalty area to the far post, where defender MA Vignola leapt and tapped a one-time volley on target- but keeper Alyssa Naeher blocked the shot out for a corner kick.

Cook doubled her team's lead in the 25th minute following a free kick that defender Arin Wright put at the edge of the 18-yard box. Angel City midfielder Julie Ertz won the initial header, which then fell to Chicago midfielder Yuki Nagasato. Nagasato headed the ball down to the feet of Cook, who let it take a few bounces and then hit with a sliding left-footed effort that landed in the back of the net.

Forward Scarlett Camberos had a near miss in the 49th minute. Forward Katie Johnson held the ball up and laid it back back for Camberos as she made a run into the box from the right. Camberos drove toward goal and sent a sharply angled shot just wide of the near post.

After entering the game in the 76th minute, forward Sydney Leroux pulled one back for Angel City. Thompson dribbled into the box from the right and sent a low pass across the face of goal from inside the six. Leroux was lurking near the goal line and slid to get her foot on the ball and poke it across to bring the score to 2-1. This game marked Leroux's first game since last July, marking the end of a long road back for the former US Women's National Team star.

In stoppage time, Angel City nearly leveled the score when Thompson dribbled into the box and tapped a short pass back to midfielder Clarisse Le Bihan, who lobbed the ball into the six-yard box. Midfielder Savannah McCaskill connected but her shot went over the crossbar.

Despite coming out on top in terms of possession (58%), shots (15 to Chicago's six), and expected goals (1.39 to Chicago's .5), Angel City couldn't find the equalizer and ended the night with a home loss.

Angel City plays next on the road this Saturday, May 10, at 4:00 p.m. PST against the Washington Spirit. The match will be broadcast on Paramount+.

GAME NOTES:

Forward Sydney Leroux has now scored for 6 different NWSL clubs. Only Jess McDonald has scored for more (7)

This goal also makes her 40th career goal.

She's now ranked 11th by herself in career NWSL regular-season goals.

Forward Alyssa Thompson's first career assist.

Third youngest to record an assist in NWSL regular season play (after Olivia Moultrie and Jaedyn Shaw).

Youngest for Angel City.

First NWSL Career Start for Forward Scarlett Camberos

50th Career NWSL Appearance for Team Captain/Defender Ali Riley

POST-MATCH QUOTES

ACFC Forward Sydney Leroux

On her return:

"It meant a lot to me. It's definitely been an emotional year. I didn't know if I would be able to put on this jersey again and be able to play the way that I know I can play. So to come on, to feel like I'm back, to not have any issues, and to play without pain was really special. We wish that the score was a little different, but I think we showed that we can play tough and that's what we need to do, but for 90 minutes plus."

On what it means to celebrate Juneteenth:

"We're really happy that Angel City took Juneteenth seriously and gave us our time and flowers, and that's really important. Of course, I have two babies and it means a lot to me. Growing up I didn't really have us to look up to. Seeing all of us be honored tonight was really cool, because it gives little black girls and boys someone to look up to."

On watching the team this year and her connection with Alyssa:

"It's been a tough year for us, but we can show that we can get results, we can fight, we can have grit, we can have heart and that's the most important thing - to go out there and fight. We need to do more of that and we know we need to do more of that. So hopefully, I can help out with that. It takes each and every one of us to fight. I'm excited to move forward and move past this game and look to the future because we know what we need to do."

"As for Alyssa, she is amazing and I'm excited to play with her more. I knew when she got that ball, that ball was coming in the box and I was going to get there first, and she knew that too. It's a nice little connection to have, and hopefully we can share the running. That'll be fun."

ACFC Head Coach Freya Coombe

On The Return of Sydney Leroux:

"She's been out for a long time. It's a minute restriction for her coming in, because we want to ensure that she comes back safely. We'll continue to look at how we can bring her into games, continue to increase the load on her, and then we'll have to see how her body's reacting to it after being out for so long. We have to make sure that we can do it in a safe way that ensures consistency of her being available and able to play."

"She brought passion, pressing, and quality of movement for the finish. She has that mentality and mindset. Even after scoring a goal, she got up and put the ball back on the center circle like - let's go, let's win this game, and that's massive."

Substitutes tempo in the second half:

"The subs did a great job of lifting the level. Jasmyne Spencer looked really dangerous, was able to get on the ball really high up the field, which is great from her. She brought that energy, drive and determination. Clarisse [Le Bihan] had some moments, had a great ball into Savannah [McCaskill], which ended up being offsides for that chance."

"Also bringing in Dani Weatherholt, who had the engine and competitiveness in midfield. That's what we're going to see now. They're fighting for their starting spot for next week. We're basing it off if a player can come in, compete, and drive the game forward."

On the recent signing of Amandine Henry:

"Amandine is a very experienced professional who's got experience in the league, so it's not going to be a shock coming into the NWSL. Although, I do think the NWSL has changed since she last played in it [2016 and 2017]. She is really competitive and has that quality on the ball."

"In terms of her ability, not only can she get on the ball deeper, whether it's a six role or her ability to score goals, which we saw in the Champions League finals. Her bringing in that mindset and quality is going to help with the squad and continue to help us through our puzzle, with being able to play a possession style, but also having that experience for us to be able to create more chances going forward."

Check out the Angel City FC Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



National Women's Soccer League Stories from June 6, 2023


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central