Angel City FC fell 0–2 at home tonight against OL Reign in their opening match of the 2023 Challenge Cup. A goal by forward Jordyn Huitema and an own goal by ACFC midfielder Clarisse Le Bihan made the difference in the midweek game.
Angel City started the half on the front foot, with forward Alyssa Thompson combining with forward Scarlett Camberos in the first minute to put a shot on target, but Reign keeper Claudia Dickey made the save.
ACFC spent much of the next 15 minutes in their attacking third, putting together a handful of chances and forcing Dickey to make two more saves—one against defender Jasmyne Spencer in the fourth minute, and another against Thompson in the 12th minute.
In the 30th minute, LA had their best chance yet when keeper Brittany Isenhour sent a long goal kick to Camberos in the midfield. Camberos flicked the ball forward with a header into the path of defender M.A. Vignola’s overlapping run. With plenty of space in front of her, Vignola sprinted forward and shot from the left edge of the penalty box—but the ball went just wide.
After the game, Head Coach Freya Coombe said she was pleased with the team's performance in the first half. '[Going into the second half] was about doing more of the same,' she said. 'Being a little more patient in the final third... We wanted to try and get at them a little more 1v1 in wide areas through Scarlett and Alyssa. It was just a case of being able to move the ball a little bit quicker and being patient in possession, but not dropping the ball speed.'
Isenhour came up big in the 52nd minute when midfielder Jess Fishlock sent a free kick over the wall and on target at the bottom right-hand corner of the goal. Isenhour dove and deflected the ball out for a corner kick.
Ten minutes later, OL opened the scoring when Isenhour mishit a backpass from midfielder Savannah McCaskill; forward Jordyn Huitema pounced on the loose ball and tapped it into the open goal.
Camberos nearly equalized in the 73rd minute when defender Ali Riley lofted the ball over the 18 toward the far post; Camberos was making a run and put a point-blank header on target, but Dickey did well to save her shot.
'I saw that it went over K-Jo [Katie Johnson] and the defender she had,' said Camberos after the game. 'It was going pretty slow, so I was like, 'I can get there,' and I tried, but the goalie had a good save.'
The visitors doubled their lead in the 78th minute on a corner kick by forward Megan Rapinoe that Reign midfielder Jess Fishlock volleyed toward goal with her right foot. Her attempt deflected off the shoulder of Angel City midfielder Clarisse Le Bihan and into the back of the net.
'I think it can feel a little unlucky in those moments,' said Coombe, referring to the two Reign goals. 'But we also need to make sure we're not putting ourselves in those positions. We need to be focused and be able to move the ball quickly throughout. We need to be in control of our own destiny, as well.'
'We just have to be more concentrated throughout the whole game,' said Camberos. 'I think it comes down to concentration over the full 90 minutes, especially against a strong team like OL Reign.'
Midfielder Mackenzie Pluck made her first professional appearance, subbing in for Clarisse Le Bihan in the 85th minute. Camberos made her first start and first appearance at home.
Angel City plays next this Sunday, April 23, hosting San Diego Wave FC at home at 5:00 p.m. The match will be broadcast on Paramount+.
