Angel City rallies for massive road win vs. Denver

If you need any proof that Angel City FC in 2026 is different from the last couple of seasons, look to Saturday night’s match against the Denver Summit.

Coming off the international break, its first match on the road against the Denver Summit in altitude, Angel City spotted Denver a two-goal lead at Centennial Stadium. In the past, overcoming such a deficit would’ve been near impossible, but not this team, not this year. Goals from Sveindis Jonsdottir, Taylor Suarez and Ally Sentnor led Angel City on a furious comeback late in the first half, and Angel City left Denver with the 3-2 win.

“We managed the game very well,” Interim Head Coach Leif Smerud said. “We played another really mature away game against a team that is good at home. We could have started better, but I was proud of the team today.”

The win moved Angel City (13-8-7, 46 points) up the NWSL standings, as they currently now sit in fifth place. More importantly, Angel City is just one point back of the Kansas City Current for the fourth spot, which would allow them to host a playoff game, and Angel City have last two matches of the season at home.

“Our mentality is very good,” Jónsdóttir said. “We scored one goal and we just knew that this was going to be our game. There was nothing that changed in our game plan. We just stuck to it, defended better, kept going and scored three great goals.”

It took Denver just two minutes to get on the board. Janine Sonis sent a corner kick into the six-yard box and Melissa Kossler beat Angel City keeper Angelina Anderson to the ball and slotted home the point-blank shot to stake the Summit to the early lead. Denver doubled the advantage int he 18th minute, as Heaps sprung Sonis down the left side, Sonis crossed into the penalty area, Angel City defender Sarah Gorden cut off the cross, but Heaps, who had traied the play, swooped in and one-timed a right-footed volley just outside the penalty area past Anderson near post to give the Summit a two-goal lead.

From that point on however, Angel City went into action. Angel City pulled a goal back in the 32nd minute, as Sentnor received a pass from Gisele Thompson, then played a pass that sprung Evelyn Shores down the left, Shores crossed into the penalty area, and it was a prefect cross to Jonsdottir, who slotted a right-footed shot past between the legs of keeper Abby Smith into the back net.

That was just the start for Angel City, as they tied the match in the 39th minute. Thompson sent a ball forward, Suarez timed her run to get behind the Summit defense, dribbled into the penalty area and fired a right-footed shot past Smith far post to level the match at two goals apiece. Angel City completed its comeback in spectacular fashion in the 43rd minute, as Sentnor fired a left-footed volley from about 25 yards out in tight space, and the ball sailed past Smith near post for a wonder goal that put Angel City in front.

“We knew quite well what the game would look like and what Denver would bring,” Smeurd said. “The way we responded to a very tough start, sticking to the game plan, not being stressed by being two goals down, was very impressive.”

The first of Angel City’s last two matches at home of the season will begin on Saturday evening against Bay FC.