Angel City routs Boston, maintains unbeaten streak heading into the playoffs

Different home venue, no problem for Angel City FC.

Sunday’s regular season finale had to be moved from BMO Stadium to Dignity Health Sports Park, home of the Los Angeles Galaxy, in order to accommodate LAFC’s home match being moved to the same day. Despite the change of venue, the result remained the same for Angel City; a win, as they headed into the NWSL playoffs on a ten-match unbeaten streak following its 4-1 win over Boston Legacy FC.

“I’m proud of how the team has dealt with the pressure of having to win a lot of games and the ability to be consistent,” Angel City Interim Head Coach Leif Smeurd. “Ten games now in a row without losing…to do that in any league is difficult. So that consistency speaks to the core of the group: being able to stay focused and not drop in performance. I want to bring that to the playoffs.”

Coming into decision day on Sunday afternoon, Angel City had the opportunity to climb as high as third place, which would have guaranteed them at least one home playoff game. Angel City put themselves in position, as they got goals from Nealy Martin, Evelyn Shores, Sveindis Jonsdottir and Claire Emslie, but while Angel City did it’s part, neither the Chicago Stars (lost to Washington Spirit) and Racing Louisville (lost to Kansas City Current) were not able to do theirs’ meaning that Angel City finished fifth in the standings and thus will face the Current at CPKC Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

“When the team’s doing so well, it doesn’t matter who’s on the pitch,” Emslie said “We feel that no matter who scores, we’re proud to have players come on the pitch and make a difference.”

Gisele Thompson dribbled down the right side past Boston defender Nicolette Hernandez into the penalty area, Thompson played a cross that was dummied by Maiara Nieheus and found the feet of Ally Sentnor, who waited, then chose to play a pass to Martin, and she fired a right-footed shot that deflected off the Legacy’s Deja Davis, and the deflection threw off keeper Laurel Ivory, thus allowing the ball to go into the back net uncontested to open the scoring for Angel City.

Boston however had its say in the 37th minute. Alba Cano sprung Aïssata Traore into the penalty area, Aïssata touched a ball, which set up Amanda Gutierres for a chance and Gutierres delivered, as she one-timed a right-footed shot that beat keeper Angelina Anderson far post for the equalizer. The game remained tied going into halftime and for the first seven minutes of the second half, but ultimately, Angel City was able to conjure up a response in the 53rd muinte, as Jonsdottir sent a throw-in into the penalty area, but was cleared out, Angel City defender Sarah Gorden kept the play alive and sent a ball back to Jonsdottir, who crossed back into the penalty area, Shores headed a ball that sailed over Ivory, beating the Legacy keeper far post for a goal that put Angel City back in front.

Photo courtesy of Angel City FC.
Angel City is riding a ton of momentum heading into the NWSL Playoffs.

The floodgates soon opened for Angel City. Angel City doubled the advantage in the 72nd minute, as Sentnor led counterattack, dribbling all the way through the center lane, Sentnor played a ball to Taylor Suarez on her left side, Suarez’s presence drew out Lilly Reale, who had been marking Jonsdottir, Suarez quickly played a perfectly-placed ball back to Jonsdottir, whom managed to keep herself onside and she slotted a right-footed shot past Ivory near post to make it a two-goal game. Emslie put a bow on the match the season for Angel City in the 84th minute, and it started when Riley Tiernan played a ball to Suarez on the left side, Suarez dribbled past Alba Cano into the penalty area, played a ball into the six-yard box, the ball got past Ivory, and Emslie came in at the back post, beat Hernandez and slotted a sliding right-footed shot into the back net to cap off a dominant afternoon for Angel City.