Angel City beat the Orlando Pride 1–0 at home tonight on the strength of a goal by forward Alyssa Thompson.
Angel City had the first look of the game in the fourth minute when forward Riley Tiernan blocked an Orlando pass, turned, and dribbled toward goal. Her shot, from the edge of the 18, was on target, but goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse saved.
Orlando struck next, with defender Oihane Hernandez sending a low cross into the six-yard box for forward Ally Watt, who one-timed her shot on target from close range. Goalkeeper Hannah Seabert made an excellent save to keep Orlando off the board, blocking it with her foot for a corner kick.
The Pride had a similar chance in the 11th minute, this time with midfielder Simone Jackson sending in the service and midfielder Haley McCutcheon getting on the end of it. Once again Seabert made an impressive reflex save with her foot to keep the game scoreless. In the 19th minute, ACFC had another look when forward Sveindís Jónsdóttir sent a long throw-in to the edge of the six-yard box, where defender Meg Reid headed the ball on target—but Moorhouse swatted it away.
The hosts had another chance in the 42nd minute. Midfielder Madison Hammond curved a shot over the defensive line and on target, but Moorhouse saved again.
The final chance of the half came when defender Miyabi Moriya picked up a recycled ball and beat her mark to send a service into the box, where forward Alyssa Thompson was lurking; she made contact with her torso to put the ball on frame, with Moorhouse again saving.
After the break, Angel City poured on the pressure, with Tiernan earning the first chance in the 46th minute when she cut past a defender on the 18 yard line and sent a right-footed shot just wide of the far post.
Hammond had another look in the 52nd minute. Jónsdóttir beat two defenders at the edge of the six to find Hammond near the penalty spot; Moorhouse again saved Hammond’s attempt.
ACFC continued to push for goal, making repeated forays into Orlando’s penalty area; the next high-quality chance came in the 84th minute, when midfielder Maiara Nieues dropped a pass back to forward Christen Press as she made a run towards goal. Press put a low, angled shot on frame, again saved by Moorhouse.
The home team finally broke through in the 87th minute. Tiernan took a shot that bounced off a defender, with Thompson then picking up the recycled ball. Thompson cut past her mark and shot from an angle, sending the ball into the side netting to bring the score to 1–0.
Angel City are at home again on Monday, September 1 at 6:00 p.m. in a Labor Day rivalry clash with Bay FC. Get tickets now!
