Angel City Football Club (ACFC) will face Southern California rival San Diego Wave FC at BMO Stadium on Saturday at 5:45 p.m. The match will be televised on ION.
Last Time Out: Utah Outlasts ACFC
Angel City FC fought furiously in the second half despite being a player down, but ultimately lost, 1-0, to Utah Royals FC. ACFC (3-3-0) outshot Utah, 9-5, but was shut out for the first time this season.
Midfielder Ary Borges returned to the starting lineup and was named Player of the Match. Forward Taylor Suarez made her second consecutive start and played her first full game as a professional.
“Taylor did an amazing job,” Head Coach Alex Straus said. “[She] was, if not the best, maybe one of our best players today, with the dynamics and the movement.”
Next Up: Macario, Haračić and San Diego
True to its name, San Diego (5-3-0) made waves when it announced the signing of forward Catarina Macario in March. The U.S. Women’s National Team attacker had spent the previous three seasons with Chelsea FC Women before signing with her hometown club. Macario is now part of a talented offensive lineup that also features midfielder Lia Godfrey, who is tied for third in the NWSL with four goals scored.
Returning to face her former team will be goalkeeper DiDi Haračić. The Bosnian netminder was part of ACFC’s inaugural roster and spent 2022 to 2024 in Los Angeles before moving south to San Diego.
Additionally, former Angel City Head Coach Becki Tweed is expected to take on the lead managing duties for the Wave on Saturday because San Diego Head Coach Jonas Eidevall will be serving a suspension for a red card he received in the Wave’s prior match.
ACFC has faced San Diego eight times in four seasons and holds a 3-2-3 record overall.
In the Spotlight: Martin Makes Her Mark in the Midfield
Midfielder Nealy Martin has been a notable presence for ACFC in her first full season for the club. Martin has started every single match, playing a key role in Angel City's consistent dominance of possession against opponents.
Martin was acquired in a trade with Gotham FC last September and subsequently signed an extension through the end of the 2027 season. She also holds the distinct honor of having been the first field player in NWSL history to serve as an emergency goalkeeper in a playoff match, stepping in during stoppage time of the 2023 NWSL Championship and helping Gotham secure a 2–1 victory.
This Week at BMO Stadium: Rivalry Night
Angel City fans will celebrate Rivalry Night this Saturday, asking fans to “blackout” BMO Stadium as the club faces its Southern California rival. ACFC’s Fan Fest will start at 2 p.m., and there will be a halftime performance by Ritmo Del Sol.
The first 5,000 fans to enter the gates will also have the opportunity to collect the second pin in the five-set series celebrating ACFC’s historic fifth season. Pin #2, featuring the text “Heart, Hustle, Hunger,” captures the spirit that defines both the club and the city of Los Angeles. The pin is exclusively available at Saturday’s match.
