-
Angel City FC midfielder Hope Breslin controls the ball against a Portland Thorns defender during the second half of their NWSL match on Friday night at Banc of California Stadium. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
-
Angel City FC midfielder Savannah McCaskill moves the ball across the field during the first half of their NWSL match against the Portland Thorns on Friday night at Banc of California Stadium. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
-
Angel City FC midfielder Savannah McCaskill, center, celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal during the first half of their NWSL match against the Portland Thorns on Friday night at Banc of California Stadium. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
-
Angel City FC midfielder Savannah McCaskill, center, celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal during the first half of their NWSL match against the Portland Thorns on Friday night at Banc of California Stadium. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
-
Angel City FC midfielder Lily Nabet kicks the ball during the first half of their NWSL match against the Portland Thorns on Friday night at Banc of California Stadium. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
-
Angel City FC goalkeeper Didi Haracic (13) leaps to block a shot during the first half of their NWSL match against the Portland Thorns on Friday night at Banc of California Stadium. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
-
Angel City FC forward Jun Endo kicks the ball past a Portland Thorns defender during the first half of their NWSL match on Friday night at Banc of California Stadium. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
-
Angel City FC forward Clarisse Le Bihan, right, vies for the ball against Portland Thorns midfielder Taylor Porter during the first half of their NWSL match on Friday night at Banc of California Stadium. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
-
Angel City FC midfielder Miriael Taylor looks for an open teammate during the first half of their NWSL match against the Portland Thorns on Friday night at Banc of California Stadium. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
-
Angel City FC defender Ali Riley dribbles the ball during the first half of their NWSL match against the Portland Thorns on Friday night at Banc of California Stadium. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
-
Angel City FC goalkeeper Didi Haracic, right, dives for the ball during the first half of their NWSL match against the Portland Thorns on Friday night at Banc of California Stadium. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
-
Angel City FC’s Lily Nabet, left, controls the ball as Portland’s Yazmeen Ryan defends during the first half of their NWSL match on Friday night at Banc of California Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
-
Angel City FC’s Savannah McCaskill tries to control the ball as Portland’s Taylor Porter slides into the mix during the first half of their NWSL match on Friday night at Banc of California Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
-
Angel City FC’s Savannah McCaskill tries to control the ball as Portland’s Taylor Porter slides into the mix during the first half of their NWSL match on Friday night at Banc of California Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
-
Angel City FC’s Savannah McCaskill tries to control the ball as Portland’s Taylor Porter slides into the mix during the first half of their NWSL match on Friday night at Banc of California Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
-
Angel City FC defender Paige Nielsen, right, vies for the ball against Portland Thorns forward Marissa Everett during the first half of their NWSL match on Friday night at Banc of California Stadium. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
-
Portland’s Yazmeen Ryan controls the ball as Angel City FC’s Ali Riley defends during the first half of their NWSL match on Friday night at Banc of California Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
-
Angel City FC’s Jun Endo, center, controls the ball against Portland’s Kelli Hubly, left, during the first half of their NWSL match on Friday night at Banc of California Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
-
Portland’s Natalie Beckman (45) tries to control the ball as Angel City FC’s Ali Riley falls to the turf during the first half of their NWSL match on Friday night at Banc of California Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
-
Angel City FC forward Tyler Lussi signals to a teammate during the second half of their NWSL match against the Portland Thorns on Friday night at Banc of California Stadium. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
-
Angel City FC goalkeeper Didi Haracic makes a save during the second half of their NWSL match against the Portland Thorns on Friday night at Banc of California Stadium. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
-
Angel City FC midfielder Savannah McCaskill dribbles the ball during the second half of their NWSL match against the Portland Thorns on Friday night at Banc of California Stadium. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
-
Angel City FC midfielder Hope Breslin heads the ball over Portland Thorns forward Natalie Beckman during the second half of their NWSL match on Friday night at Banc of California Stadium. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
-
Angel City FC forward Jun Endo, right, maneuvers the ball against Portland Thorns midfielder Yazmeen Ryan during their NWSL match on Friday night at Banc of California Stadium. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
-
Angel City FC forward Sydney Leroux, center, battles two Portland Thorns defenders for the ball during the second half of their NWSL match on Friday night at Banc of California Stadium. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
-
Angel City FC forward Sydney Leroux, right, brings the ball up the field during the second half of their match against the Portland Thorns on Friday night at Banc of California Stadium. The teams played to a 1-1 tie in the newly acquired Leroux’s ACFC debut. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
-
Angel City FC forward Tyler Lussi, left, dribbles the ball as Portland Thorns midfielder Hina Sugita defends during the second half of their NWSL match on Friday night at Banc of California Stadium. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
-
Angel City FC midfielder Stefany Ferrer looks to pass during the second half of their NWSL match against the Portland Thorns on Friday night at Banc of California Stadium. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
-
Angel City FC defender Dani Weatherholt vies for the ball against a Portland Thorns defender during the second half of their NWSL match on Friday night at Banc of California Stadium. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
-
Portland’s Marissa Everett (21) jumps into Angel City FC’s Jun Endo as players vie for the ball during the second half of their NWSL match on Friday night at Banc of California Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
-
Portland’s Marissa Everett jumps into Angel City FC’s Jun Endo as she makes a play for the ball during the second half of their NWSL match on Friday night at Banc of California Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
-
Newly acquired Angel City FC forward Sydney Leroux reacts after asking for a penalty call during the second half of their NWSL match against the Portland Thorns on Friday night at Banc of California Stadium. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
-
Angel City FC’s Sydney Leroux (2) controls the ball against Portland’s Kelli Hubly, right, during the second half of their NWSL match on Friday night at Banc of California Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
-
Angel City FC’s Sydney Leroux, center, controls the ball against Portland’s Kelli Hubly, right, during the second half of their NWSL match on Friday night at Banc of California Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
-
Portland’s Hina Sugita controls the ball during the second half of their NWSL match against Angel City FC on Friday night at Banc of California Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
-
Angel City FC’s Miri Taylor, front, and Portland’s Natalie Beckman vie for the ball during the second half of their NWSL match on Friday night at Banc of California Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
-
Portland Thorns players celebrate after they scored a tying goal late in stoppage time of their NWSL match against Angel City FC on Friday night at Banc of California Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
-
Angel City FC’s Clarisse Le Bihan, left, shows her frustration after Portland scored a tying goal late in stoppage time of their NWSL match on Friday night at Banc of California Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
-
An Angel City FC fan holds up a sign during the second half of their NWSL match against the Portland Thorns on Friday night at Banc of California Stadium. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
-
Angel City FC fans cheer during the second half of their NWSL match against the Portland Thorns on Friday night at Banc of California Stadium. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
-
An Angel City FC fan cheers before the start of their NWSL match against the Portland Thorns on Friday night at Banc of California Stadium. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
-
Angel City FC fans look on before their NWSL match against the Portland Thorns on Friday night at Banc of California Stadium. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
-
An Angel City FC fan cheers during the second half of their NWSL match against the Portland Thorns on Friday night at Banc of California Stadium. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
-
Angel City FC teammates take a knee during the national anthem before their NWSL match against the Portland Thorns on Friday night at Banc of California Stadium. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
-
Angel City FC’s Savannah McCaskill stands during the national anthem as her teammates take a knee before their NWSL match against Portland Thorns FC on Friday night at Banc of California Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
-
Newly acquired Angel City FC player Sydney Leroux, second from right, stands beside some of her new teammates before their NWSL match against Portland Thorns FC on Friday night at Banc of California Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
-
Newly acquired Angel City FC player Sydney Leroux, center, jokes with some of her new teammates before their NWSL match against Portland Thorns FC on Friday night at Banc of California Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
-
Angel City FC players huddle before their NWSL match against Portland Thorns FC on Friday night at Banc of California Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
-
Angel City FC players huddle before their NWSL match against Portland Thorns FC on Friday night at Banc of California Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
-
Portland Thorns FC’s Meghan Klingenberg, center, talks to the team before their NWSL match against Angel City FC on Friday night at Banc of California Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
-
Angel City FC players walk on the field before their NWSL match against Portland Thorns FC on Friday night at Banc of California Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
-
Newly acquired Angel City FC player Sydney Leroux looks on before their NWSL match against Portland Thorns FC on Friday night at Banc of California Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
-
A sign hangs in support of imprisoned WNBA star Brittney Griner during Angel City FC’s NWSL match against the Portland Thorns on Friday night at Banc of California Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
-
A general view of play between Angel City FC and Portland Thorns FC during the first half of their NWSL match on Friday night at Banc of California Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES — It was almost the best of both worlds for Angel City Football Club fans on Friday night.
Angel City (4-4-2, 14 points) scored in the second minute and held the lead until late into stoppage time but was forced to settle for a 1-1 draw against the Portland Thorns in front of 17,492 at Banc of California Stadium.
Portland’s Yazmeen Ryan scored the equalizer late into stoppage time to steal a point for the Thorns (4-1-5, 17 points).
“We need to contain the game there and not allow them to switch the point attack,” Angel City coach Freya Coombe said.
In the 64th minute, new addition Sydney Leroux made her Angel City debut coming on as a substitute to replace Miri Taylor. Leroux, who starred in college at UCLA from 2008-2011 and went on to become a fixture with the U.S. women’s national team, was acquired on Wednesday in a trade with the Orlando Pride.
Leroux had been sidelined since June 3 with an ankle injury, but this wasn’t her first time playing at Banc of California Stadium this season. She scored the only goal in Orlando’s 1-0 victory over Angel City on May 8.
Her presence was cheered wildly throughout the night whenever she appeared on the video board before and during Friday’s match.
“It feels like I’m coming back home,” Leroux said. “I felt very welcomed. It’s been a really crazy week. I’m still on Eastern time and I’m excited to get settled.”
Angel City didn’t waste much time jumping on the scoreboard. Inside the first minute of the game, forward Miri Taylor was fouled in the penalty area and the referee awarded Angel City with a penalty kick.
McCaskill’s first attempt was blocked by Portland goalkeeper Shelby Hogan, but she followed the rebound and scored for an early 1-0 lead.
That’s where the score remained heading into halftime and until there were approximately 20 seconds left in the game.
“I think everyone did their best,” McCaskill said. “We just have to find those moments where we can put chances away. It was unfortunate. You never want to concede in the 96th minute … we have to learn how to close out these games.”
Defensively, Angel City, even with a makeshift back line, held strong against the late Portland charge, until that final offensive charge of the game.
The teams met on June 3 with the Thorns winning, 3-0. They split their two meetings during the preseason Challenge Cup.
Both teams were limited due to either international call-ups or injuries.
Angel City went into the international break following a 1-0 loss to OL Reign (June 18).
Angel City was playing without Vanessa Gilles (Canada) and Allyson Swaby (Jamaica) for the CONCACAF Championships that begin Monday, Cari Roccaro and Madison Hammond were out due to the COVID-19 protocols and Simone Charley (Achilles) and Jasmyne Spencer (knee) were out with injuries.
The starting lineup had a different look with Lily Nabet making her first start, along with Taylor and Clarisse LeBihan starting at forward.
With a short bench, Angel City had just six available subs and two were goalkeepers. The two goalkeepers were the only players not to enter the match.
Portland had six players out because of international obligations.
from Signage https://ift.tt/MWXfaFP
via Irvine Sign Company
