Leroux saves the day for Angel City against Red Stars

One moment can change everything, and it certainly may have for Angel City on Sunday afternoon.

Battling not only the Chicago Red Stars, but also the scorching Southern California heat, Angel City found themselves tied with Chicago at a goal apiece with the match heading into stoppage time. A draw certainly would not have been the end of the world, but at this point of the season, every points is precious if you want to make the playoffs.

However, Angel City got one more chance and made the most of it. A long pass freed up M.A. Vignolia for a run at goal, and her perfect pass enabled Sydney Leroux to score a winning goal for a second time this season, and Angel City escaped with the 2-1 win at BMO Stadium.

“Syd [Leroux] doing what Syd does, right?” Angel City head coach Becki Tweed said. “Coming up with that game winner and M.A.’s  service across the box was brilliant. We’ve been waiting for her to get back healthy, fit, and ready. We’ve been building her back in again. You saw the player that she is, coming off the bench. It was great.”

Just how important was that win? Well the three points earned on Sunday now pulls Angel City (6-9-3, 21 points) into a tie with Bay FC for the eighth and final playoff spot with eight games to go.

The moment came seconds into stoppage time. Rocky Rodriguez sprung Vignolia down the left side with a long ball, Vignolia outraced Camryn Biegalski to the ball inside the penalty area, played a short cross just outside the six-yard box and Leroux beat Hannah Anderson and one-timed a ball past keeper Alyssa Naeher into the back net to put Angel City back in front. Angel City then killed off the eight minutes of stoppage time to get the win.

“I know exactly what M.A [Vignola] is going to do,” Leroux said of the play. “She’s going to drive and bully her way. She’s going to put in a beautiful cross and I have to be there. I was there and it was a good goal. Overall, I’m really proud of us for getting the three points.”

Angel City got off to a fast start, finding the back net just six minutes in. Elizabeth Eddy sent a long ball that Messiah Bright tracked down. Angel City gradually built up its attack, then Meggie Daugherty-Howard curled a ball just outside the penalty area, Naeher made the save, but left a rebound ball at her back post and Alyssa Thompson capitalized, coming in to slot the ball into the back net to stake Angel City to the lead.

Chicago thought they had tied the match in the 20th minute, but a Hannah Anderson was called back by VAR, which showed Mallory Swanson to be offside earlier in the play. Chicago however took advantage of the 15 minutes stoppage time to get that equalizer. Mallory Swanson sent a free kick to Natalia Kuikka, who then sent a ball into the penalty area and Bea Franklin one-timed a ball past keeper Didi Haracic near post.