There is no room for error for Angel City now, not with just two matches left in the regular season.
After spending the last three months getting back into the playoff race, Angel City was dealt a speed bump on Monday night, and it came at the hands of the Orlando Pride. Adriana’s first half goal was all Orlando needed to not only snap Angel City’s unbeaten streak at 111 matches, but strengthen its own playoff position following the 1-0 result at BMO Stadium.
“It was really hard after the game, looking at the stat board and seeing 20 shots, 11 corners and us not getting any goals,” Angel City midfielder Dani Weatherholt said. “We’re definitely disappointed that we didn’t put our chances away. We dominated possession and every category. However, ultimately at this point in the season, we have to win games.”
Orlando (9- 10- 1, 28 points) now find themselves tied with OL Reign for the sixth and final playoff spot heading into the final month of the season. The result meant the first loss for Angel City’s interim head coach Becki Tweed, but despite the setback, Angel City is still three points back of both teams.
“It’s never easy to lose a game, especially at this point in the season where the table is so close,” Tweed said. “What’s important for us is that we learn from it. We move on. It wasn’t a game where we’ve been outplayed. It wasn’t a game where we can walk away from it saying we were beaten by the other team.”
Orlando surprised Angel City in the 22nd minute. The Pride had the ball deep inside Angel City’s side of the field, Adriana played a ball to Marta, who took a touch, then fired a shot just outside the penalty area, Angel City defender Sarah Gorden blocked the shot and the ball went high in the air, Adriana tracked the ball, then volleyed a one-timer with her right foot, the shot went right at goal, Angel City Angelina Anderson got a piece of the ball, but not enough to prevent the shot from sneaking in at the near post for a surprise goal that gave Orlando the lead.
While Angel City did not find the back of the net, it was not for a lack of effort. Angel City had 66 percent possession, 20 shots to Orlando’s seven and 11 corner kicks. Jun Endo played a ball into the box for McCaskill in the 85th minute; McCaskill volleyed the shot on goal, but it just went over the crossbar. A minute later, a corner kick by Clarise Le Bihan bounced off several players and high into the air. Angel City forward Sydney Leroux got her head on the deflected ball and put it on target at close range, but Pride keeper Anna Moorhouse got her right hand on the ball and parried it over the crossbar.
