Not even a prolonged World Cup break can slow down Angel City FC.
Fresh off its two-week break, Angel City was back at it again on Saturday night, as they resumed UKG Challenge Cup play at BMO Stadium, and did so by welcoming the Portland Thorns to Los Angeles. Angel City however did not show any rust, and Savannah McCaskill saw to that, as her brace carried Angel City to the 2-1 win.
“We wanted to play with bravery tonight,” Angel City head coach Becki Tweed said. “We had to come out, be brave tonight, and show who we want to be as a soccer team, and really find our momentum in the attacking third. That’s what we asked Savannah to do, and she did a brilliant job.”
The win keeps Angel City’s unbeaten streak since Tweed took over as head coach to six overall matches. Angel City has a chance to advance to the knockout stages of the Challenge Cup if if defeats San Diego Wave FC at Snapdragon Stadium next Saturday and if OL Reign defeats the Thorns.
“We’ve made strides in the past month and a half,” McCaskill said of the team’s current run. “Training has been competitive, and that’s where it starts. The mindset and the standards have been there, day in and day out. Everyone’s showing up to get better collectively, and that’s showing now in the results that we’re getting in the performances that we’re putting out on the field.”
Tied at a goal apiece, it didn’t take long for Angel City to edge back ahead. Scarlett Camberos drew a foul just outside the Thorns penalty area in the 46th minute, setting up a free kick. McCaskill’s set piece was brilliant, as she curled a ball over the Portland wall as past keeper Bella Bixby at the back post to put Angel City back in front a minute later.
Angel City held onto the lead for most of the half while weathering several Portland missed chances. However, it looked like the Thorns were going to catch Angel City a second time late in the half, as the Thorns’ Olivia Moultrie held the ball inside the penalty area, and despite being marked by two defenders, made her move towards goal. Angel City defender Paige Nielsen stuck her right leg out, but ended up taking down Moultrie and referee Brandon Stevis blew his whistle and signaled the Thorns to the penalty spot. Moultrie looked to finish off the sequence, as she stepped to the spot, Moultrie shot left, but Anderson guessed right, as she scooped up the ball without any chance for a rebound. Anderson denied Moultrie again, this time from the run of play in the 84th minute, as Meaghan Nally played a ball to Natalie Beckman, who then played a low cross to Moultrie inside the penalty area, Moultrie sent the shot right at goal, but Anderson managed to parry the ball over the end line.
“Saving the PK was awesome,” Anderson said. “It was just one of those moments where I was locked in. I was in the zone and the only thing that was going through my head was just to save it. That was all I could do and I’m happy I got it done for the team.”
Angel City jumped ahead six minutes into the match. Jasmyne Spencer received a ball from Sarah Gorden, then crossed into the penalty area and McCaskill slipped in between two Thorns defenders and headed a ball just inside the six-yard box that beat Bixby into the back net to stake Angel City to the lead. Angel City held the lead for most of the first half, but Portland eventually got back into the match in the 44th minute. Olivia Moultrie led a Thorns break, then played Hannah Betfort into the penalty area, Betfort played a short cross to Morgan Weaver, who took a touch, then fired the right-footed shot that beat Anderson far post to level the match.
Angel City FC
