WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 10, 2023) - Angel City battled hard in a 1-2 loss against the Washington Spirit after two first-half goals from Ashley Hatch and Ashley Sanchez, followed by a first-half stoppage time goal from ACFC defender M.A. Vignola.
It was an action-packed first half for both clubs at Audi Field on Saturday night. Early in the 9’ Angel City’s Vignola fell short of nailing a shot in the left side of the goal, which bounced off the side of the post, while Julie Ertz had an opportunity in the 13’ to finish a header in the middle of the box from a Savannah McCaskill pass that just missed the upper 90 of the net.
Washington Spirit put the first goal on the board in the 33’ when Trinity Rodman volleyed a ball from the right side of the box to Ashley Sanchez who attempted a shot that bounced off the crossbar after a tip from goalkeeper DiDi Haračić , giving Ashley Hatch the opportunity to follow through with a header to finish.
Eight minutes later, the Spirit used momentum to score again in the 41’ minute as Paige Metayer launched the ball from the far right side of the field to Ashley Sanchez who was running in the box from the far right, allowing Sanchez to gain position on a header to make the score 0-2.
“We just needed to come back together,” stated Vignola. “Those points in games are where you lose a lot of focus. It was really important that we got back on the same track and work together as one unit.”
Angel City answered minutes later in the 45’+2 when Claire Emslie forced a tremendous pass in the left side of the box, as Vignola nailed her first NWSL career goal to decrease the deficit going into halftime, 1-2. Despite trailing at the half, Angel City led in possession at 56.1%, with 19 total crosses and seven corners won.
“I saw an opening and took it,” added Vignola. “That was my goal for this game, to finally get that goal that I've been looking for. I saw the space and beamed it to the upper corner.”
Straight out of the gate in the second half, Lily Nabet almost scored the equalizer from the middle of the box after Claire Emslie presented a precise pass in the 46’. The Spirit would try to respond in the 58’ minute as Ashley Hatch dribbled the ball deep into the box as Haračić made the easy save.
It was a defensive battle all the way through the second half. In the 71’ minute Haračić made another spectacular diving save after Rodman managed to dribble inside the box, almost scoring from a close up shot on target. Angel City would then have a free kick opportunity in the 85’, where Emslie shot the ball past the top of the goal post from right outside the middle of the box.
Angel City fought hard, leading the second half in possession as well at 58.1%, but couldn’t find the equalizer to draw the game in stoppage time.
“If we're looking at the data, it indicates a good performance from us,” stated Head Coach Freya Coombe. “We're just lacking that final execution in both 18-yard boxes. We need to continue to drive on and push in those areas.”
Angel City will continue their road play on Saturday, June 17 at 1:00 pm PT against SoCal rival San Diego Wave FC at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego. The match will be broadcast on CBS.
