ACFC can't hold lead in defeat
The second half of Saturday's game against OL Reign was unlike the first for Angel City Football Club, and that ended up costing the expansion club.
Angel City went into halftime with a two-goal lead and a strong defensive effort that included a goal-line clearance by Paige Nielsen and a penalty kick save by DiDi Haracic.
The second half saw OL Reign rally with a pair of spectacular goals (Jess Fishlock and Sofia Huerta) and then Tobin Heath supplied the winner in the 89th minute to lift OL Reign to a 3-2 win at Banc of California Stadium in front of a second consecutive sellout crowd of 22,000.
Heath entered the game as a sub in the 84th minute. Huerta assisted on Heath's winning goal that went through the legs of Angel City goalkeeper Haracic.
The three goals were the most allowed in a single game this season for Angel City (5-5-2), but the loss will keep the club in seventh place
THE SCORE
OL REIGN 3, ACFC 2 Up next: ACFC at Orlando, Aug. 7, 4p.m., BSSC
heading into next week.
OL Reign broke through on the scoreboard in the 54th minute on a curler from Fishlock from approximately 12 yards out that settled into the corner of the goal just by an outstretched Haracic.
The next goal was another that very few goalkeepers could have saved. After the initial shot was cleared out, Huerta settled from approximately 25 yards out and hit the back of the net to make it 2-2.
The first half had just about everything: two goals, two penalties awarded, one penalty save and a goal-line clearance. Fortunately for Angel City, all of the big moments went in their favor.
Cari Roccaro opened the scoring in the ninth minute, knocking in the rebound after Claire Emslie's initial shot was saved.
In the 27th minute, Sydney Leroux was brought down by OL Reign defender Alana Cook in the 18-yard box for a penalty kick. Savannah McCaskill stepped up and converted it for a 2-0 lead.
Right before the end of the first half, Haracic made sure the score remained 2-0. Fishlock earned a penalty kick for OL Reign. Kim Little stepped up to take the kick and Haracic guessed right and made the diving save.