Angel City Football Club (ACFC) will face the Kansas City Current at CPKC Stadium at 3:30 PM PT on Saturday, August 1. The match will be televised on ION.
Last Time Out: ACFC Loses to Louisville Despite Late Rally
Angel City rallied late but fell just short of equalizing in a 2-1 loss to Racing Louisville FC on Sunday, July 26, at BMO Stadium.
Forward Sveindís Jónsdóttir scored her sixth goal of the season in the 80th minute, pulling ACFC (7-1-7) within one after a brace by Louisville attacker Maja Lardner gave the visitors the lead.
Angel City came close to tying the score on multiple occasions: a powerful shot from defender Gisele Thompson, an attempt off the frame by forward Riley Tiernan and a diving header from midfielder Ally Sentnor that forced a two-handed diving save from Racing Louisville goalkeeper Jordyn Bloomer. But ACFC ultimately lost despite producing 2.08 expected goals.
“The goal [by Jónsdóttir] helped because we got the crowd going and [brought] more intensity,” said Interim Head Coach Leif Smerud, adding, “[But] it's frustrating to lose a game like this.”
Angel City conceded for the first time under Smerud’s mantle after posting three consecutive 2-0 victories against Orlando, San Diego and Chicago. The club remains in eighth place in the NWSL standings, which keeps ACFC strongly in the playoff hunt with half the season completed.
Angel City dominated the ball, with 64% of possession, and outshot Louisville, 30-14 with Sentnor accounting for nine.
“We had the momentum in the last 30 minutes of the game,” forward Claire Emslie said. “You know we always push – we never give up. Unfortunately, we didn't put the ball in the back of the net enough times tonight.”
Defender Karsyn Cherry made her first NWSL start, defending well and generating two offensive chances. She was replaced in the 74th minute by backliner Sophia Mattice, who picked up her first NWSL career assist on Jónsdóttir’s goal in her first match action of 2026.
Next Up: Bethune, Cooper and the Current
Kansas City will host Angel City on Saturday seeking revenge for a 2-1 loss at BMO Stadium on May 20. In that contest, Sentnor,who was at that time still on the Current’s roster,notched the only goal for her former team, equalizing before halftime after Thompson gave ACFC the early lead with a ninth-minute strike.
With forward Temwa Chawinga away from Kansas City (8-7-1) on international duty for Malawi, midfielder Croix Bethune will have to step up in her absence. Entering the week, Bethune has three goals and six assists in her first season with the Current.
Forward Michelle Cooper has seven goal contributions and will seek to link up with Bethune in looking to pierce an ACFC defense that continues to limit opponents’ opportunities. Angel City has allowed just 16 goals in 15 matches, the third-lowest total in the NWSL.
ACFC has faced Kansas City nine times in five seasons and is 4-1-4 overall.
In the Spotlight: Chilufya Seeks World Cup Berth
Angel City attacker Prisca Chilufya is currently away from the team on international duty as she competes for the Zambia Women's National Team in the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON). With the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup just a year away, this competition also serves as a qualifier for the global tournament – increasing the stakes for Chilufya and the Copper Queens.
The talented forward has been a key element in the ACFC offense this season with two goal contributions. Chilufya set up Jónsdóttir for Angel City’s second goal in the 2-0 triumph over Chicago Stars FC on July 18 – picking up her first-ever NWSL assist.
This call-up is far from Chilufya’s first action with Zambia. The attacker has represented the Copper Queens since 2018, including appearing in all three group-stage matches at the 2024 Olympic Games and serving as an alternate at the 2023 World Cup.
Chilufya is one of three NWSL players on Zambia’s roster, with the others being her former Orlando Pride teammate Barbra Banda as well as Bay FC’s Racheal Kundananji. Although Chilufya will not face Chawinga in Angel City’s match with Kansas City this weekend, the two will compete in a WAFCON group-stage contest between Zambia and Malawi on August 5.
