Angel City unable to hold early lead, comes up short against Louisville

Angel City is up against it now.

Angel City started out well against Racing Louisville, getting an early first half goal from Meghan Daugherty-Howard. However, Bethany Balcer equalized for Louisville, then Janine Beckie surged the home side into the lead with a second half goal, and Louisville rallied to top Angel City 2-1 at Lynn Family Stadium.

“Disappointing,” Angel City head coach Becki Tweed said. “This is a place that we want to come to and pick up three points. Similar to last week, we caused ourselves the problems today. We created chances, gave too many passes away in dangerous areas, then struggled to defend and transition, and teams are targeting us right now.”

The result carried implications in the NWSL playoff race, as Louisville overtakes Angel City for the ninth spot in the West, though they are still three points back of Bay FC for the eighth and final playoff spot. Angel City (6-11-3, 21 points) is four points back of Bay FC with four matches to play.

“It’s about locking that down defensively,” Daugherty-Howard said. “We could be a little bit better there and prevent teams from capitalizing on opportunities when we’re really not giving that many opportunities in games. We can get a little better in that regard, but going forward I don’t think we need to change a whole lot with what we’re doing on the ball.”

Angel City scored first in the 18th minute. Alyssa Thompson pounced on an errant pass from Abby Erceg and broke for goal, dribbling down the right side. Thompson them played a ball to Claire Emslie, who then touched into the penalty area, Emslie took the left-footed shot that was saved by Katie Lund, but she left a rebound in the box and Daugherty-Howard came in and buried the rebound chance far post to give Angel City the lead.

Angel City actually had a chance to double the advantage in the 21st minute, as Emslie played Thompson down the right side into the penalty area, but Thompson’s shot sailed over the framework. Louisville eventually made Angel City pay for not finishing that second chance. Louisville pulled back even in the 26th minute, as Ary Borges lobbed a ball into the penalty area, and Balcer headed what looked like a harmless ball. The header however not only continued forward, but was high enough to sail over keeper Didi Haracic and into the far post net for the equalizer.

Angel City came out aggressive to start the second half. Angel City had a chance in the 54th minute, as Katie Zelem sent a ball into the penalty area, Madison Curry headed a ball right a goal, but Lund got her right hand on the ball, parrying it over the end line. Angel City had another chance in the 58th minute, as Zelem sprung Thompson down the right side, Thompson eventually dribbled into the penalty area, played a ball to an unmarked Daugherty-Howard, who took the shot, but Lund again came through for Louisville, redirecting the ball over the framework.

Again, Louisville made Angel City pay for not finishing those chances by taking the lead themselves. It occurred in the 68th minute, as Jasmyne Spencer passed back to Haracic, who then cleared the ball out of the penalty area, but Beckie came in and intercepted the ball, nutmegged Curry, then fired a shot that beat Haracic far post to give Louisville the lead.

“The goals we conceded were preventable and self-inflicted,” Daugherty-Howard said. “We had good stretches of play and were able to control the game at times, but we gave them too many opportunities to punish us for our mistakes.”

Angel City now faces a crucial home match next Monday night against the Portland Thorns.