Angel City lost 3–1 tonight against the league-leading Kansas City Current following a goal by midfielder Vanessa DiBernardo and a brace by forward Claire Lavogez. ACFC’s goal was scored by forward Claire Emslie.
The game got off to a slow start offensively for both teams, with Angel City’s defense doing well to contain a few half-chances by Kansas City. The first real chance for either team came in the 12th minute when midfielder Rocky Rodríguez sent a long diagonal ball to defender Jasmyne Spencer on the right wing. Spencer took the ball forward, cut inside, and took an angled shot that keeper AD Franch dove and deflected out over the endline.
The Current had their first real chance of the night in the 20th minute when forward Bia Zaneratto sent a cross into the six-yard box for midfielder Bayley Feist, who got her head on the ball but sent it over the crossbar.
Angel City continued pushing, keeping Kansas City penned into their defensive third for a long stretch of play before opening the scoring in the 34th minute. Receiving the ball on the wing, forward Claire Emslie held up play for forward Alyssa Thompson’s underlapping run. Thompson received the pass and tapped a short lateral ball back to Emslie as she ran into the box. Emslie beat a final defender on the dribble and fired an angled ball past Franch and into the far side of the net to bring the score to 1–0.
The home team largely dominated the rest of the half, keeping the lion’s share of the possession and getting another look on goal in the 40th minute. A flurry of activity by Kansas City in the last five minutes of the half, including a shot on target by Bia that saw keeper DiDi Haračić make a routine save, proved fruitless for the visitors.
Kansas City came out swinging after the break, earning a chance in transition in the 45th minute. Bia capitalized on a defensive giveaway by ACFC and took a crack from the edge of the 18, but it was a routine save for Haračić.
The visitors equalized in the 54th minute. Midfielder Vanessa DiBernardo combined with Bia to find space outside the penalty arc, turned, and sent a powerful strike into the top left corner of the goal.
The Current continued to push as the half went on, with DiBernardo uncorking another long-range shot in the 65th minute, this time hitting the crossbar. Forward Claire Lavogez, who had entered in the 63rd minute, had a dramatic attempt in the 76th minute, putting a scorpion kick on frame, but it fell directly to Haračić.
The last ten minutes saw a flurry of activity, first with two chances from Angel City. In the 86th minute, midfielder Meggie Dougherty-Howard sent a free kick into the six-yard box, with forward Messiah Bright getting her head on the ball, but Franch saved. One minute later, defender Madison Curry took a long-range crack of her own, which went off target.
Kansas City notched the go-ahead goal in the final minute of regulation time when forward Izzy Rodriguez sent a low cross into the run of Lavogez, who one-timed the ball past Haračić from point-blank range. In the 93rd minute, the French international scored a second on another net-crashing run, this time finding the end of a ball from forward Temwa Chawinga.
Angel City are on the road next week, facing the Utah Royals on Friday, May 3, at 6:30 p.m. Pacific. Due to the NBA & NHL playoffs, the 5/3 match will air live on the Bally Sports SoCal App. A delayed broadcast will air on Bally Sports SoCal TV. The game will also stream on NWSL+.
Match highlights are available here.
