Los Angeles, CA | April 29 | Kelly Landaverde – @kel_una
Photo Credit: Meg Oliphant/Getty Images
Their home opener was a total success in front of a sold-out crowd of 22,000 euphoric fans. Were surrounded by a great ambience, and pregame festivities, a fan fest, with the club’s ownership group and so much more that celebrated the club’s inaugural regular season. In a gap of 10 minutes the locals had put up quite a show with their two first goals at home making history in 2022. One from Vanessa Gilles in the 3rd minute of play, and one from her Japanese teammate Jun Endo. In the first goal Endo also participated with a great assist, beating courage midfielder Denise O’Sullivan to a ball that was about to roll over the end line, she controlled it, and whipped in a cross to her ACFC teammates, Gilles jumped wide open, and with an stupendous header notched the 1st one of the night. Ten minutes later midfielder Savannah McCaskill sent a long diagonal pass on the left side of the field, Endo sprinted onto the ball, took two touches, and fired a left footed shot for the lead.
The start of a soccer era with a rampage of wanted goals. They kept on insisting to take over the lead with every opportunity they had. It was a thus a very entertaining first half. The courage tried to answer in the 19th minute, forward Kerolin Nicoli took a crack from close range, but her shot hit the bottom of the crossbar, and ended up bouncing to the ground, defender Jasmyne Spencer cleared the ball, and that dangerous played ended. A minute later, Christen Press got around Smith just in time to block her shot for a corner, with a clever dribble. In the 38th minute Didi Haračić proved why she’s the starting goalkeeper for ACFC, with an impressive save denied the courage. Defender Jaelene Daniels crossed the ball to Gray around the six-yard line, who one timed the ball toward the far post, Haračić dove to block the shout out for a corner.
In the second half Brazilian midfielder Debinha scored the lone goal for the courage. Midfielder Emily Gray crossed the ball into the box from the right, and the Brazilian sprinted around Spencer, took a diving header and sent the ball past Haračić. Angel city’s goalkeeper had another impressive save in the 54th minute, denying Debihna the tie, when she struck a curving shot from outside the 18-yard box. Jun Endo was the MVP and the queen of the night with her first goal assist and her second goal gave them the lead. Angel City will play at home again next Sunday against the pride.