Photo Credit: Erik Lira for Area Sports Network
Los Ángeles, CA | September 05 | Kelly Landaverde – @kel_una
17,721 fans showed up for the first edition of Copa Angelina at the Banc of California Stadium. The visitors had the 1st chance, during the 5th minute of play with María Sánchez dribbling up the ball in the left side, she took a touch to cut inside, past defender Jasmyne Spencer, and took a shot from 15 yards. The shot went directly to Brittany Isenhour; the keeper’s hands. Both sides wanted to showcase a great clash, but much of the first half ended up being a back and forth midfield possession battle. Neither side was able to capitalize, or able to control the match during long periods of time. In the 40th minute, ACFC came close, with Breslin, making a run into the six-yard box. She jumped and got a header on the far post on frame, on a corner kick by forward Miri Taylor. But keeper Itzel González dove to block it out over the end line. The first half ended on a level scoreless draw.
During the second half, the momentum shifted from a scoreless draw, to seeing some goals. Mexico had another great chance in the 49th minute, Jaramillo combined with LA born, San Diego native, who grew up in Chula Vista, and former UC Irvine product, Scarlett Camberos. To find space at the top of the 18, and sent a looping shot, over the ACFC defense. But Isenhour flew with one hand to save the locals, and sent that play to a corner kick. Camberos was first selected to play for Mexico on August 25th. Both teams had tried to open the scoresheet. But neither was able to open it, and capitalize. Until the 71st minute with an own goal from Megan Reid, Mexico went up by a lone goal after Greta Espinoza’s header. They then scored the second goal 4 minutes after in the 75th minute, with a left footed shot from Scarlett Camberos. Who had warned the locals of how dangerous she could be once she was able to get a touch on the ball. Midfielder Jacqueline Ovalle drove up in the left side to the end-line, and cut the ball back towards the middle of the box for Camberos. Who sent the ball past Isenhour inside the near post, it was her first international goal with the Mexican jersey. They kept defending well, to keep the advantage lead of 0-2 up. The second edition of Copa Angelina is coming next year in 2023. Angel City will now play next on the road against the Houston Dash on Sunday the 11th.
Photos By: Erik Lira for Area Sports Network
POST MATCH QUOTES
ACFC Head Coach Freya Coombe
On the importance of this match:
“This match was very important for both communities, in terms of bringing together Los Angeles and Mexico, who is an International Federation. Bringing that to LA while building on our partnerships and the community, is really important. It’s something that we value, but we also value all of the players within our team. It gives us a great chance to present players with opportunity, whilst also maintaining our run for playoffs.”
On key takeaways from this game:
“It was a really good opportunity to push a few of our players beyond some of the minutes that they’ve been getting in previous games. We saw Lily Nabet and Clarisse Le Bihan get 90 tonight, as well as Brittany Isenhour. It gives them really good exposure to play while dealing with fatigue.
“Also, it gives us an opportunity to bring some players off the bench. When we consistently start the same people, others don’t get that exposure of being an impact player to come in. So it gives them that opportunity to develop their game in that way. Tonight, we got a lot out of that, while also being able to work on some of our transitional shape issues.”
On overall experience of playing the Mexican Women’s National Team:
“It was great to see the attendance that we got, and also for us to bring the two teams together. It’s an opportunity for many of our players that aren’t playing international football, to get that opportunity to play against an international team, playing at that slightly different game which is a different style to the NWSL. It was a great experience for us in the game tonight. You don’t see many friendlies that are played in front of this big of a crowd with as much confetti covering us at the end.”
ACFC Defender Jasmyne Spencer:
On playing against a national team with a different style and how it helps going forward looking for a spot in the playoffs:
“It makes us more adaptable. You get to see different pictures that we’re not used to seeing and different challenges. We learned a lot today and we’ll be able to go back and dissect and add another layer to our game. Especially with this stack of games coming up where we’re going to need a lot of rotation.”
“It gives everybody extra confidence that they should feel comfortable when they’re called upon in the next couple of weeks to step in and perform to the best of their ability.”
On the environment of the match and overall support for the visiting team:
“You feed off the energy whether they’re there for or against you. It’s just incredible to play in a stadium that’s loud and vibrant like the Banc. It’s been so good to us all season long.”
“Especially when you think about coming up in the playoffs stretch, there’s a good chance that if we do make it, we might be having to go against these big teams like Portland or Seattle and play in their packed houses with the crowd against you. It’s another good learning experience for us to have to deal with that.”
On the upcoming stretch of games and handling that pressure:
“Tonight was a great test. We were able to tap into our depth which has not always been available. We’ve been struck with so many injuries throughout the season, but it’s good that we have a large number of people healthy and able to get substantial minutes tonight. We’ll be able to use that rotation going into that tough stretch of games.”
“We’re excited that we completely control our destiny in terms of being able to close that stretch with two home games and come back and have our supporters on our side to lift us and push us through the tough end of it. To have an international level game, right here at home, it’s big to keep us in form going into the final stretch of the season.”
On her first international game and confidence to play at the international level:
“It was my first-ever international game in my career. In some ways it felt like a club game because it’s our home field. It’s with our club team who we train with every day, but the level of intensity was higher. There were higher stakes with a trophy being on the line as well. The emotional side of it takes it up another notch. It gave me confidence that I can play at that level and I hope it did for all my teammates as well.”