LOS ANGELES -- Angel City dug a hole and failed to climb out Saturday. Will that be the story of their season?
The team entered the summer break with another loss, falling to reigning NWSL champions Gotham, 2-1.
Angel City had a few early chances but was outplayed by Gotham, which generated 2.35 expected goals in the first half. Midfielders Rose Lavelle and Delanie Sheehan scored to help the visitors jump to a 2-0 lead.
Angel City found their footing in the second half. They were awarded a penalty when defender Gisele Thompson was fouled in the box. In the 68th minute, forward Claire Emslie slotted it home.
Claire Emslie delivers from the spot 🎯 pic.twitter.com/fparaYmyGS
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) July 7, 2024
Angel City could not find an equalizer despite a late push. Still, their second-half performance offers some hope for the second half of the year. They limited Gotham’s chances and pushed in transition. Tweed told the team to be brave at halftime and feels they delivered in the second half.
“Second half, we made a choice. The choice was to come out and compete, be scrappy, and work to make amends for what we did in the first half,” Tweed said. “You never want to do that because it is a long way back in this league.
"We have to take the second half scrappiness, desire, and willingness to compete into the second half of the season.”
Angel City enters the break with a 4-9-3 record after losing three straight matches. Still, they are only three points off a playoff position.
They dug a hole, but there is still room to climb out in their final ten matches.
“Everybody needs this break to take some time away mentally and physically,” Tweed said. “We have to come back with the attitude, the energy, the desire, the grittiness that we brought in the second half.”
During the break, Angel City will play in the NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup. The group stage matches against Club America Femenil, Bay FC and the San Diego Wave will allow them to explore options within their squad.
Then, it is a sprint to the finish line. For Angel City, that mark is eighth place, the final playoff position.