Angel City unable to break through against San Diego Wave FC

Despite a spirited effort against its regional rival, Angel City still could not break its current funk.

Welcoming its regional rival to BMO Stadium for the first match of the 2026 edition of the Southern California rivalry, and Angel City certainly did not play like a team that had come into the match having lost three in a row. Led by Dudinha, who scored the opening goal in the match, then assisted on the winning goal by Mimi Van Zaten late in the second half, San Diego Wave FC sent Angel City to its fourth straight loss via the 2-1 score. 

“It’s a good reality check for us, and it’s still early in the year,” ACFC midfielder Nealy Martin said. “We can choose to go one of two ways. And I’m really confident in this group and the culture we’ve built here, and I think that we’ll stick together and tough it out.”

Kimmi Ascanio intercepted a ball near the halfway line and eventually played a ball to Dudinha, who then dribbled forward. Dudinha first evaded fellow Brazilian Ary Borges as she made her way into the penalty area, then deked past Emily Sams, then fired a shot at goal, keeper Angelina Anderson initially made the save, but the ball went the wrong way, as it continued forward and went into the back net for a wonderful individual goal that gave San Diego the lead.

However, Angel City in general and Sams in particular soon had their revenge in the 54th minute. Evelyn Shores sent a corner kick into the penalty area, the ball was cleared out, but fell back to Shores’ who passed to Sarah Gorden, and the Angel City captain, playing in her 300th match, sent a ball back inside the 18-yard box, Sams tracked down the ball into the six-yard box and fired a shot that beat former Angel City keeper far post to level the match.

“The goal was a bright spot,” Gorden said, adding, “But it’s hard not to look past the disappointment of the result overall.”

San Diego however retook the lead in the 81st minute off another moment of brilliance. Wave FC worked the ball downfield, Dudinha sent a ball into the penalty area all the way into the six-yard box, Van Zaten tracked the ball down to her near post and sent a perfect header past Anderson into the back net to put San Diego back in front.

While the first half was scoreless, it certainly wasn’t for a lack of effort by either side. Both teams were on the offensive, with Angel City getting the first shot in the 11th minute, as Sveindis Jonsdottir crossed a ball to the feet of Kennedy Fuller, who had a sightline to an open net, but her touch was heavy, and she sent the shot over goal. A minute later, Gia Corley led a Wave FC counterattack, Corley played a ball to Dudinha inside the penalty area, Dudinha took the shot, but Sams stayed with the play and blocked the shot. Later, in the 38th minute, Taylor Suarez had a chance for Angel City, as she beat Kennedy Wesley to a ball sent by Nealy Martin and found herself one on one with Haracic inside the penalty area, Haracic won the battle though, as she parried Suarez’s away from goal.

“We were very, very happy with our first half,” Head Coach Alex Straus said. “We are getting into where we believe we can be — back in that rhythm.”

Angel City will again try to snap out of its funk next Saturday as they travel to Houston to face the Dash.