Angel City Football Club (ACFC) will take on Chicago Stars FC at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium at 3:30 PM PT on Saturday, July 18. The match will be televised on ION.
Last Time Out: ACFC Blanks SoCal Rival in San Diego
Angel City scored twice in the first half and then withstood a surge of offensive pressure from San Diego Wave FC in the second half, winning 2-0 in a complete victory at Snapdragon Stadium on Saturday, July 11.
Midfielder Maiara Niehues scored her team-leading fifth goal of the season, while Brazilian countrywoman Ary Borges added her second. Defender Evelyn Shores set up Borges’s goal for her third assist – the highest total for ACFC thus far.
With the win, Angel City moved to 2-0 under Interim Head Coach Leif Smerud and 6-1-6 overall.
“Over the break, we just tried to simplify everything,” said captain and defender Sarah Gorden, adding, “And [we’ve been] bringing this mentality of presence over perfection and trusting ourselves.”
Goalkeeper Angelina Anderson made six saves in posting her second consecutive clean sheet. Her strongest stretch came when she made several critical stops between the 64th and 68th minutes, denying multiple San Diego players to maintain ACFC’s two-goal advantage.
“[Anderson was] a really big reason we got that shutout tonight. She had a hell of a game, but just really proud of the group,” Gorden said. “I feel like a win – and a win in San Diego – is amazing, but a shutout is really important for us.”
Defender Gisele Thompson was an offensive threat and almost scored twice. In the 43rd minute, midfielder Ally Sentnor found Thompson at the far post with a lofted cross. Thompson one-timed a volley with her right foot, but Wave goalkeeper Luisa Agudelo was able to do just enough to fight off the shot.
Next Up: Swanson and Chicago
The Stars will be seeking to avenge a 4-0 season-opening loss to Angel City when they host ACFC on Saturday. Chicago (4-0-10) is coming off a 2-0 defeat to Boston Legacy FC at Centreville Bank Stadium on Friday, July 10.
One of the bright spots for Chicago has been forward Mallory Swanson, who has played five matches for the Stars thus far this season after returning from maternity leave. Although Swanson has only scored once – after coming on as a substitute against Bay FC on May 24 – her entry into the starting lineup has energized an attack that has at times struggled to find the net.
Things will not get any easier for the Stars this weekend. Angel City continues to be one of the stingiest defenses in the NWSL, with just 14 goals conceded in 13 matches – the third-lowest total in the league. With ACFC’s Anderson in form, Chicago will need to get creative on offense to prevent Angel City from picking up its third consecutive victory.
In the Spotlight: Anderson On Shutout Streak
Goalkeeper Angelina Anderson has been dominant for ACFC since the break, posting two consecutive clean sheets against the Orlando Pride on July 3 and at San Diego on July 11.
Having conceded just 14 times in 13 matches this season, Anderson is averaging a meager 1.08 goals against, which tied for sixth-best in the league. According to FBref.com, Anderson’s 73.1% save percentage is also seventh-best in the NWSL, while she is eighth overall with 38 total saves.
Anderson’s six stops versus the Wave were crucial in Angel City picking up the win, as San Diego came into the match leading the league in shots on target. The Wave produced more expected goals than ACFC (2.57 to 1.95), but Anderson’s stellar performance in net stalled the San Diego attack.
“[Anderson] dominated the box well,” said Smerud after the match against the Wave, adding, “It was a given that we would have to defend a bit deeper in the second half, and then the box defending is important. The goalkeeper's role in that is, of course, essential.”
