A fight till the end in Angel City

Angel City and San Diego met in another chapter of their Southern California rivalry, with both teams looking to gain ground in the NWSL standings. The match was competitive from the start, with neither side able to find a breakthrough in the first half despite a few promising chances.

San Diego opened the scoring early in the second half when Dudinha made a strong run into the box and finished her chance to give the Wave a 1–0 lead. Angel City didn't stay behind for long. After earning a corner kick, they took advantage of a scramble in front of goal, and Emily Sams was there to put the ball in the net and tie the game at 1–1.

With the score level, both teams pushed for a winner. The match seemed headed toward a draw until San Diego created one final big opportunity. Dudinha delivered a dangerous ball into the box, and rookie Mimi Van Zanten connected with it to score the go-ahead goal late in the match.

Angel City pressed forward in the closing minutes searching for an equalizer, but San Diego defended well and held on for a 2–1 victory. The result was a significant one for the Wave, helping them stay near the top of the NWSL table, while Angel City was left frustrated after another closely contested match slipped away.

Photo by Peter Zhan for PXP Sports