This Wednesday, May 31, at 7:30 p.m., Angel City plays their third Challenge Cup game on the road against the Portland Thorns. The game will stream live in the US on Paramount+ and internationally on NWSLSoccer.com; an English-language radio broadcast will be available on iHeart. For more information on broadcasts, click here.
This is Angel City's first Challenge Cup game against Portland for 2023, and their second game against the Thorns in all competitions. Angel City have already recorded a loss and a draw against OL Reign in the cup competition, putting them in third place in the west. Portland has only played one Challenge Cup game, a 1–0 loss to San Diego, putting them in fourth.
The two teams' last meeting was a 3–3 draw on the road on April 29.
Portland's last regular-season match was also against San Diego, a 1–1 draw on the road last Friday, May 26. Both goals in that game were scored late, with the Wave going up 1–0 in the 86th minute, and Portland defender Reyna Reyes equalizing in the 90th.
ACFC most recently played OL Reign, a 4–1 loss at Lumen field on Saturday, May 27. That game saw Angel City get on the board first following a spectacular olimpico by forward Claire Emslie in the first half. Seattle forward Elyse Bennett soon equalized; two goals by forward Veronica Latsko and one by midfielder Quinn closed out the scoring after the break.
Angel City recorded their first official win in a Challenge Cup game against Portland on April 24, 2022 with forward Christen Press notching the lone goal.
In last year's Challenge Cup, Portland finished second in the west, meaning they did not advance out of their group; in 2021, however, the team won the tournament. They faced NJ/NY Gotham FC in the championship and won a penalty shootout after playing to a 1–1 draw.