Angel City Football Club (ACFC) will face the Orlando Pride at 5 p.m. Pacific Friday at Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando. The game will be televised on Prime Video.
Last Time Out: ACFC Comes Back Against Dash to Remain Atop League Table
Last Friday, Angel City beat the Houston Dash, 2-1, at BMO Stadium in a matchup of the last two undefeated teams in the league. With the victory, ACFC won three consecutive matches for the first time in club history and became just the eighth-ever NWSL team to start a season 3-0-0.
Forwards Riley Tiernan and Sveindís Jónsdóttir scored within the first five minutes of the second half to reverse Houston’s one-goal lead. Tiernan’s fourth career game-winner gave her the Angel City record for match-deciders — a particularly impressive tally given the young attacker is still in the early part of her second professional season.
Goalkeeper Angelina Anderson continued her strong play in net for ACFC. Anderson made a goal-saving punch on Dash forward Kiki Van Zanten’s attempt in the 51st minute, preserving Angel City’s lead and second-half momentum. The netminder is tied for second in the NWSL with a 0.67 goals-against average.
Next Up: Banda and the Pride
The Orlando Pride will host ACFC from an unfamiliar place: the middle of the league standings. The 2024 NWSL Champions have opened the season with just one win in four matches (1-1-2) and are in a three-way tie for seventh place with 2025 title-winners Gotham FC and expansion team Denver Summit FC.
Orlando and Gotham played to a 0-0 draw on Sunday night. Pride forward Barbra Banda did not score in Harrison, N.J., but it was the first time all season that she was held goalless. The Zambian attacker is tied with Jónsdóttir and two others with a league-leading three goals, and Banda promises to be a threat playing in her home stadium. Orlando forward Jacquie Ovalle is another name to watch, having registered a goal and an assist in the Pride’s 3-0 victory against Chicago.
Orlando goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse has kept two clean sheets and is likely to have her hands full with the Angel City offense. The ACFC attack is leading the NWSL with nine goals scored in three games and a +7 goal difference.
In the Spotlight: Suarez Earning More Minutes
Angel City forward Taylor Suarez has already been a factor early in her first professional season. The 20-year-old attacker came on for midfielder Nealy Martin in the 73rd minute against Houston and showcased solid decision-making as the team held on for the 2-1 win.
“She made an impact [in] the last 10 minutes of the game,” Head Coach Alex Straus said of Suarez after the match, adding, “She’s very skillful, very technical, very good between the lines.”
Suarez joined ACFC in the offseason after two years with Florida State. During her time with the Seminoles, Suarez was a 2025 NCAA Champion and a 2024 ACC Champion. She started 26 times in 36 appearances and registered eight goals and 14 assists.
The forward from Charlotte, N.C., has represented the United States across multiple levels and was a member of the U-17 All-American Team in 2022. Suarez is no stranger to individual accolades, having been recognized as a two-time Gatorade North Carolina Player of the Year, two-time North Carolina Soccer Coaches Association State Player of the Year, and two-time United Soccer Coaches High School State Player of the Year.
