Thompson Twins hold Donovan’s Wave – for now

San Diego Wave 1 v 2 Angel City

Two goals from Alyssa Thompson ensured that Landon Donovan’s NWSL league coaching debut ended in a teaching moment for the US soccer legend.

The visitors from his old hunting ground of LA poached a 2-1 victory at Snapdragon Stadium in his newer lodging of San Diego. The victory was more comfortable than the  scoreline would imply,

Thompson, the No. 1 overall pick of the 2023 NWSL draft, was one of many standouts in the Angel City side on a beautiful afternoon in Southern California.

Kennedy Fuller pulled strings from the middle of the field and when City were not causing occasional problems down the Wave’s left, Scotland international Claire Emslie was causing frequent problems down their right.

A late injury time goal from Abby Dahlkemper put a sheen on the scoreline but the match was never as close as 2-1 suggested once the visitors had scored twice in the first half.

The Angelinas’ win leaves them just one point of a play off slot behind Racing Louisville, while San Diego stay in eleventh place with the play offs looking a little less likely.

After the match, Donovan spoke candidly about finding the balance between improving the team to bring them to the full potential of his talented playing squad as opposed to obtaining results and points immediately to secure a play off position and pay less heed to the longer term.

In a very candid appraisal of the challenges ahead of him. he told the media:

“It’s a process that takes time. You can’t just dump everything on them. They’ll understand it intellectually but during a game when the stakes are high, it’s much harder and that’s why the training is so important.

“The balance I’ve been trying to strike is to just be really pragmatic right now and try to get a result or to try to start building a process. I’m trying to figure out that line. I’ver never done it.

“Homestly, it’s just difficult. In trying to understand today, I probably got it wrong. I should have just been a little more pragmatic. So that’s on me. That’s my fault.

“I’m still working out where’s that pendulum between pragmatism and results so that in four weeks, we’re really improved or in four weeks we’re kind of the same but getting results.”

There is light though at the beginning of that tunnel.

Naomi Girma and Jaedyn Shaw were among those absent yesterday for the home side and their impending availability will assist there.

The long trip to Santa Fe midweek also may have impacted the fitnesss of those available for selection. It was a a seven hour flight each way to go to Panama for that 2-0 win.

With the top eight from a division of just fourteen making the play offs, there is time to rectify that. They have two home games to follow against Washington Spirit and North Carolina Courage with no travel until September 14.

That will at least please the new coach who was happy with the reception at his first home game.

“It’s awesome. I was really impressed with the crowd. Everyone was really welcoming.”

Angel City will have good cause to be satisfied with this comfortable road win. They too have two home games coming up against Seattle and Chicago. Seattle are rock bottom and Chicago are one of the sides they need to target to finish in the top eight.

No wonder head their Bristolian Head Coach Becki Tweed had susch a broad smile on her face after the match.