Angel City closes in on Seattle for final playoff spot

Facing its first big test of the season, Angel City passed with flying colors on Wednesday night.

Angel City came into its match with the Seattle Reign sitting four points back of the Reign of the eighth and final NWSL playoff spot, and while anything short of a win would not have necessarily taken them out of the race for the playoffs, Angel City knew they best way to prolong its playoff hopes was to grab all three points in this crucial match. Angel City answered the call, as goals from Ally Sentnor, Ary Borges and Taylor Suarez, with Evelyn Shores assisting on two of the goals, carried Angel City to the 3-1 win at BMO Stadium.

“There is a competitive spirit in us now that I like a lot and that really pays off,” said Interim Head Coach Leif Smerud. “There was a lot of pressure going into this game. We knew how important it was, and to deal with that in the way we did, I’m very impressed by the team.”

The result sees Angel City (10-8-6, 36 points) get within a point of the Reign for the last playoff spot with six matches left to play. Angel City did mark an accomplishment, as Wednesday’s win marked the first time Angel City reached double-digit wins in a single season.

Angel City caught a break starting in the 18th minute. Evelyn Shores sent a corner kick into the penalty area, Carina Lageyre sent a ball forward, the ball took a few deflections before ending up at the feet of Maiara Nieheus, who one-timed a left-footed shot at goal, the ball deflected off the hand of Madison Curry, and referee Atahan Yaya signaled Angel City to the penalty spot. Two minutes later, Angel City finally cashed in, as Sentnor converted the penalty to give Angel City the lead.

Angel City survived a brief scare in the 25th minute. Jess Fishlock sent what seemed like a harmless ball off her right foot towards goal, but it looked like it would sneak across the goal line at the back post, keeper Angelina Anderson scrambled, but was saved first by the framework, at the ball went off the far post, then by her teammate Emily Sams, who got to the ball before Seattle’s Maddie Dahlein could, Sams’ clearance attempt went off both Anderson and Dahlien, and Sarah Gorden finally cleared the ball out of the penalty area.

Angel City he got an all-important second goal just before halftime, and it came off another corner. Shores sent the corner into the penalty area and Borges headed a ball past keeper Claudia Dickey far post to double the Ange Coty advantage. Angel City relied on its defense for most of the second half, then Suarez  scored the goal that wrapped up the three points for Angel City in the 81st minute, as she received a pass from Shores, dribbled into the penalty area and Suarez, 21 second after entering the match, made history, fired a right-footed shot that beat Dickey far post to virtually put the game out or reach. Not even a stoppage time goal from Sofia Huerta could dampen Angel City’s mood.

“I just saw the opening to run and finish, and that’s what I did,” said Suarez, who became the fastest player to score after coming into a game as a substitute. “Playing professionally was a dream of mine since I was a little girl, so being able to have my name in the history books is pretty cool. Anything I can do to help this team, whether it’s starting the game, coming off the bench, it feels great.”

Angel City braces for another huge test, as they travel to Utah to face the third-place Utah Royals on Sunday evening.