Angel City improves playoff positioning with win over Bay FC

The mood inside BMO Stadium on Saturday evening was celebratory, even before the first kick.

Even before it took the field against Bay FC, Angel City received some great news 24 hours before, as the Portland Thorns defeated the North Carolina Courage back on Friday evening, and that result was enough to clinch Angel City its second playoff appearance in franchise history.

With that out of the way, Angel City can now focus on the task of trying to secure a top four spot and with it, a playoff home match. Goals from Gisele Thompson and Riley Tiernan combined with a stingy defense that neutralized Bay FC’s attack for most of the match was more that enough to carry Angel City to the 2-0 win.

“We made sure to do our best to really focus in on this game,” Angel City keeper Angeling Anderson said. “We really want to go into the playoffs with a lot of good momentum from having really good performances these last two games of the regular season

The win vaulted Angel City into the fourth spot, one point ahead of the Kansas City Current. Kansas City however reclaimed the fourth spot on Sunday when it defeated the Washington Spirit on Sunday, meaning Angel City’s regular season finale against Boston next Sunday will be important.

“We have been playing playoff games the whole fall because there has been a lot of pressure, and I think this team deals with that very well,” Angel City interim head coach Leif Smeurd said. “I don’t think we have to change a lot going into playoffs. This is a team with a lot of energy now.”

After a scoreless first half. Angel City surged ahead in the 49th minute. Emily Sams passed out of the back line to Maiara Nieheus, who then turned and dribble forward, then played a pass to her right to Thompson, and she touched into the penalty area and blasted a right-footed shot through the hands of keeper Jordan Silkowitz into the back net.

Angel City sealed the three points in the 83rd minute. Thompson played a ball forward t Nealy Martin, who sent a ball into the penalty area, Tiernan touched a ball that somehow got past Silkowitz and two Bay FC defenders and trickled across the goal line into the far post net for her first goal in seven months to double the Angel City advantage.

“What makes our team so special is not just our togetherness, but our bench, the energy they bring, and the way they come on,” Angel City defender Sarah Gorden said. “When you have a bench that is sacrificing for the team, and then comes on and makes a difference, that’s how you close out games.”

Angel City’s match on Sunday will actually be played at Dignity Health Sports Park.