Angel City rallies to draw Utah

Despite having been eliminated from playoff contention, Angel City again showed it won’t go down in matches without a fight, with Sunday’s home finale against the Utah Royals serving as another example.

Utah’s Claudia Zornoza spotted Angel City a goal in the 21st minute, but Sydney Leroux responded with a spectacular goal in the second half, and Angel City settled for a 1-1 draw at BMO Stadium.

“Looking at our second-half performance, it shows who we are when we are at our best,” Angel City defender Sarah Gorden said. “Our first half wasn’t good. We got knocked down and were getting beaten to the ball. Then we came out in the second half and regrouped.”

Trailing by a goal in the second half, Angel City found the equalizer in the 59th minute. Katie Zelem sent a corner kick into the penalty area, Angelina Anderson punched the ball away, but Giselle Thompson kept possession for Angel City. Thompson headed a ball to Leroux, who chested a ball, then fired a right-footed volley that sailed over a scrambling Anderson and went in at the far post to level the match.

“One statement I can say is we always continue to fight in the second half,” Angel City head coach Becki Tweed said. “That is something that we want to see more evolution in. We don’t want to just wait for the second half to turn up and start that second performance.”

Utah did its best to take back the throughout the second half, but Haracic refused to let that happen. Sentnor had two of Utah’s best chances, the first coming in the 70th minute, as she created a sightline at the top of the penalty area, then fired a shot at goal, but Haracic got her right hand on the ball, parrying it over the framework. Sentnor had one more chance in the 77th minute, as she dribbled from midfield, withstood a jersey tug and fired a shot from about 25 yards out, the shot looked to be wide, but Haracic took no chances, and parried the ball over the end line.

“Once I get into my flowstate I feel like everything is fluid and I’m in my comfort zone,” Haracic said of her performance. “I’m happy with my performance, but there are also 10 people in front of me that did their job as well. We’ve been through a lot, and it’s through thick and thin with this club.”

Utah got going early in the first half. An Angel City foul set up the Royals for a set piece from about 25 yards out. Zornoza and Cloe Lacasse stepped into shooting position, but it was Zornoza who took the shot, and she succeeded, as she sent a left-footed shot that beat Haracic near post to give Utah the lead.

Utah took the lead into the second half, and came out firing to start the second half. Zornoza sprung Madison Pogarch down the left side, igniting a Royals counter in the 54th minute. Pogarch touched into the penalty area, then fired a left-footed shot, but Haracic stood her ground, and parried Pogarch’s shot away from goal. Utah however kept possession, Cam Tucker passed to Zornora, she took a touch into the penalty area and fired her own left-footed shot towards goal, but again Haracic stood tall, as she jumped and got her right hand on the ball, sending Zornoza’s shot over end line. Utah had another chance to add to the lead in the 55th minute, as Allyson Sentnor sent a free kick into the penalty area, Ana Tejada headed a ball forward to Zornoza, who headed the ball herself towards goal, but the ball bounced off the crossbar and Mina Tanaka’s touch went over the end line.