One new wrinkle that has been thrown into the NWSL Season; the mid-week tournament match.
Dating back to 2020, the NWSL Challenge Cup had been held prior to the start of the regular season. Last year, Angel City FC, heading into its first season, used the opportunity to allow the team to build chemistry on the field, playing its regulars for all of the six Challenge Cup matches it played.
However, starting this year, all 12 NWSL teams will be playing its Challenge Cup matches in conjunction with the regular season, meaning teams will be looking to balance its lineups trying to keep bodies fresh. Angel City regulars Savannah McCaskill, Jun Endo and Ali Riley started the match on the bench; ditto for OL Reign’s Megan Rapinoe and Jess Fishlock.
“Tonight, it was really good to see some of the players put in strong performances,” Angel City head coach Freya Coombe said. “I thought Jasmyne [Spencer] did really well, and it was great for her to get her first start for us. M.A. [Mary Alice Vignola] looked much improved from the previous game, which was great to see. Lily Nabet also had a great performance. Scarlett [Camberos] looked threatening in different moments of the game, which was excellent. We can use the Challenge Cup to bring the best out of those players.”
In the end however, luck was on OL Reign’s side, as a Jordyn Huitema goal off a mistake, followed by a spectacular goal from Fishlock enabled OR Reign to open up Challenge Cup play on a good note, getting the 2-o win at BMO Stadium.
“For the first goal, it’s an unfortunate moment, and we chose not to dwell on that, but for the second one, we’ll look at that again,” Spencer said. “We want to be stingy and not give up set-piece goals especially. We’ll have to look at the film and make necessary adjustments moving forward.”
OL Reign caught a break in the 65th minute. Savannah McCaskill played a ball back to keeper Brittany Isenhour, who then took a touch and looked to punt the ball. Isenhour however mishit the ball, and Huitema pounced, chasing the ball into the penalty area and one-timing the shot past a scrambling Isenhour into the empty net to put OL Reign in front. OL Reign sealed the match in the 77th minute, as Megan Rapinoe sent a corner kick into the penalty area and Fishlock’s touch took a deflection and went into the back net.
Angel City did have its chances in the match. Early first half shots by Spencer and Alyssa Thompson were saved by keeper Claudia Dickey, and in the 30th minute, Isenhour sent a goal kick forward, Scarlett Camberos headed a ball forward, M.A. Vignola timed her run and took the ball into the penalty area, Vignola shot for the far post, but barely missed, then in the 37th minute Claire Emslie sent a corner kick into the penalty area, Megan Reid sent a header right at goal, but Dickey calmly made the save.
“We had many positives that we can take going forward,” Vignola said. “We’re not thrilled we gave up a set-piece goal, but I believe we can correct our mistakes.”
Angel City will have a chance to clean up those mistakes on Sunday, as they welcome its regional rivals San Diego Wave FC to town. Aside from it being a rivalry match, Sunday’s match will most likely see the debut of midfielder Julie Ertz for Angel City.
Angel City FC
OL Reign
