BY : Christine Espinoza
While critics and even the game announcers thought this would be a loss for the new expansion team from Los Angeles against a team that has been collecting a lot of trophies recently, Angel City rose to the challenge and defeated the Washington Spirit in their first away game of the season.
The game was exciting from start to finish. Fans of both teams and many wondering what it would take to beat the unstoppable force that Washington Spirit has been. Freya Coombe made a peculiar decision in moving Tyler Lussi from her usual striker position to left-back where she chased and covered Trinity Rodman throughout the entire game. With the help of the defense, the team was able to keep her and players Ashley Hatch, and later, Ashley Sanchez from making any significant moves. Meanwhile Jasmyne Spencer, Jun Endo, Savannah McCaskill, Simone Charley, Dani Weatherholt, and, of course, Christen Press got busy at the attacking third.
Their best attempts in the first half started at the 16th minute when Press was able to keep the ball inside the end line of the field and then passed it to McCaskill who placed it right in front of Weatherholt. Unfortunately, this would play would be stopped by Aubrey Kingsbury. At the 34th, Spencer tried to set up Charley for a header, however, Emily Sonnet would win this battle.
The third time was the charm for Angel City when a long shot from Vanessa Gilles led Press to make a solo run at the Spirit defenders. At the 42nd Press would take advantage of the defenders’ positions in order to bend the ball around one of them and score her first goal of the regular season.
As the first half came to a close, Kingsbury found herself making a couple of saves when the team made a few attempts to broaden their lead.
Kingsbury would not be the only one making saves before the whistle. Angel City goalkeeper DiDi Haracic made her best save of the game when Anna Helferty made a dangerous shot on target.
In the second half, possession stayed even as both teams would make attempts to score only to be saved by defensive players.
One of Angel City’s best attempts in the second half was at the 50th when Endo linked up with Gilles in a play reminiscent of how Angel City’s first goal was scored when Jun set up Gilles for a header only for the attempt to meet Kingsbury’s gloves.
The second came from a Spencer pass to McCaskill at the 55th when she attempted to chip the ball in from the side of the box.
Overall, Angel City had great command of the game. The choice to place Lussi on left-back proved wise, but every player on the team kept Spirit subdued. When players who typically score for the Spirit made moves to score, defense quickly pressed on them and when players like Press, Endo, Charley, and McCaskill had the ball, they continuously found ways to attempt to score.
This team continues to show willingness to adapt and to work with their strengths and newfound ways to contribute to the team. The team’s first game on the east coast certainly left many with an impression that Angel City is ready to be seen as much more than an expansion team and what better way to do this than to defeat the reigning champions.