Angel City FC had a tough task going into its mid-week match against the Houston Dash.
Angel City had hoped to improve from its previous performance in which they lost handily against the Portland Thorns last Friday, and in the process get an upset win over a Dash squad that entered the match riding a five-match unbeaten streak.
After 90 minutes were up at Banc of California Stadium, the results were mixed. Angel City held its own against Houston, possessing the ball 55% of the match as opposed to 44% of Houston’s possession, and also had some dangerous chances. However, just like in its last home match against Gotham FC, Angel City was unable to find the back net, and had to settle for the 0-0 draw.
“I’m really pleased with our defensive performance,” Angel City head coach Freya Coombe said. “I think it was more important for us to try and get a clean sheet again, since it’s been a couple of games with us not being able to achieve that.”
Houston was able to extend its unbeaten streak to six matches, and Angel City was unable to find the back net for a third straight match. Still, Angel City can take some solace in earning a point against one of the league’s better sides. Angel also moved up to fourth place in the NWSL standings.
“The service on the corners was really good and dangerous tonight,” Angel City defender Ali Riley said. “Everyone out there wants to score. It feels like it’s inches right now and then in the run of play we are better at getting around teams.”
Angel City went on the offensive to start the match. Angel City had its first real chance at goal in the 24th minute as Jun Endo sent a corner kick into the penalty area. Simone Charley sent a dangerous header for the back post, but it missed by a mere inches. The scenario repeated itself in the 37th minute as Endo sent another corner into the penalty area and Charley headed a ball towards goal, but the ball this time bounced inside the six-yard box. Vanessa Gilles got to the ball and shot for the near post area, but the ball instead hit the side netting.
Angel City continued to keep the pressure on Houston in the second half. Angel City thought for sure they had found the back net in the 69th minute, as Savannah McCaskill dribbled forward, the managed to get a pass off to Clarisse Le Bihan just before colliding with a Dash player. Le Bihan passed to Endo, whom after gathering herself shot a ball for goal, keeper Jane Campbell made the save, though she left a rebound in the box, which Christen Press was more than happy to oblige. Press quickly took the shot, but Campbell managed to recover just in time to get her right hand on the ball, stopping the shot just outside of the six and Kate Naughton eventually cleared the ball.
“There were some good crosses and a lot of shots, but we’re still not drawing teams out enough so we can get these one-on-one chances,” Riley said “The delivery is good. The next step is, how can we get someone who’s willing to do whatever it takes to get a body part on the ball?”
Houston did have some chances themselves in the match. Houston got its first good look at goal in the 33rd minute, as Sophie Schmidt fired a laser of a volley from about 28 yards out that was right on target, but keeper Didi Haricic dove to her right full extension got her left hand on the shot and parried the ball over the end line. Another chance for Houston came in the 64th minute, as Marisa Viggiano took a shot that deflected off Dani Weatherholt, but still went dangerously towards goal, Haracic leaped and stuck her right out, but got some help from the framework, as the ball went off the crossbar, Nichelle Price missed on the rebound chance and Tyler Lussi eventually cleared the ball out of the penalty area. The framework saved Angel City one more time in the 80th minute, as Shea Groom fired a right-footed volley from just outside the penalty area, but the shot instead bounced off the crossbar.
