Angel City Football Club (ACFC) will host Racing Louisville FC at BMO Stadium at 6 p.m. PT on Sunday, July 26. The match will be televised on ESPN and ESPN Deportes.
Last Time Out: ACFC Shuts Out Stars
Angel City put together a dominant second half to shut out Chicago Stars FC and pick up its record third consecutive shutout win with a 2-0 triumph on Saturday, July 18, at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium.
Midfielder Maiara Niehues and forward Sveindís Jónsdóttir scored as ACFC (7-1-6) won three straight matches for the second time this season. Goalkeeper Angelina Anderson upped her career high with her fifth clean sheet of the season.
“We managed to build the intensity in the second half, and I think we rolled over them and [got] a very deserved win at the end,” said Leif Smerud, who moved to 3-0 as Interim Head Coach.
The opening 45 minutes were relatively quiet, with both teams generating six shots each but few quality chances. But the Angel City attack erupted in the second half, launching sixteen shots and putting constant pressure on the Chicago defense.
Niehues opened the scoring with a penalty kick goal in the 56th minute, while Jónsdóttir finished off the win with a tally in the eighth minute of second-half stoppage time. Midfielder Ally Sentnor led ACFC with eight total shots.
“The first half was just not good for us. We didn't play the football we wanted,” Jónsdóttir said, adding, “So [at halftime], we spoke about that – to be more calm on the ball because there were opportunities for us to play through the middle and get behind [the Stars].”
Forward Claire Emslie made her first start of the season after returning to game action from maternity leave in May.
“I love being a mum, and I love playing football,” Emslie said. “And you know, just at this point in life, getting to do both, I'm loving every second. And yeah, it's the best. I've had so much support from Angel City, and I'm so happy to be part of this club.”
With nine points from three matches, ACFC moved up to seventh in the NWSL standings and into playoff position.
Next Up: Sears and Racing Louisville
Racing Louisville arrives at BMO Stadium having broken a five-match losing streak with a 1-1 draw against the Houston Dash at Lynn Family Stadium on Saturday, July 18. But despite picking up a point, Louisville (2-2-10) remains at the bottom of the NWSL standings.
A bright spot for Louisville has been forward Emma Sears, who has two goals and a team-leading three assists. Meanwhile, attacker Kayla Fischer notched a goal against Houston and is tied for the club lead with forward Sarah Weber with three goals each.
All three Racing Louisville attackers will have to step up their game at BMO Stadium, where Angel City has conceded only nine times in eight matches. ACFC has faced Louisville eight times in four seasons and is 2-2-4 overall.
In the Spotlight: Niehues Continues Offensive Streak
Midfielder Maiara Niehues has been an attacking standout for Angel City this season, leading the club with six goals. With her conversion from the penalty spot against Chicago, the 21-year-old Niehues became the second-youngest player in NWSL history – after Diana Ordoñez – to score in five consecutive matches and extended her own club record.
“Niehues is a goal scorer,” Smerud said, adding, “As soon as the ball is inside the box and she can shoot it or head it, she is really dangerous, and that's invaluable to have in a team. And she's a great penalty taker as well, as she showed.”
Niehues led Angel City with two shots on target against the Stars and had five shots overall. She was also one of the main table-setters, attempting five crosses, second only to Emslie’s nine.
The midfielder shows no signs of slowing down in her second season with ACFC, a year in which she also received her first senior team call-up to the Brazil Women’s National Team. Niehues previously represented Brazil at the U-20, U-18, U-17 and U-16 levels and appeared in two matches at the 2024 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup.
This Week at BMO Stadium: Pride Night
This Sunday, Angel City will be celebrating its annual Pride Night. The pre-match Fan Fest will start at 2 p.m. and feature a live performance by BOZ, beats from DJ KeeLez, colorful carnival games, and complimentary portraits from Las Fotos Project. The first 15,000 fans to enter the gates will receive a Pride Bandana.
Sunday’s match versus Louisville is ACFC’s final at BMO Stadium before it hits the road for two contests in Kansas City (August 1) and Seattle (August 9).
