Emslie scores the winning goal against San Diego in her debut

LOS ANGELES >> Claire Emslie arrived in town earlier in the week and officially joined Angel City FC on Thursday.

By Saturday night, she stamped her name in the Angel City record book with her first goal, which was the winner in the first regularseason meeting between Angel City and San Diego Wave FC.

Emslie made her debut coming on as a sub to start the second half. In the 81st minute, after taking pass from Cari Roccaro, Emslie deposited the ball into the back of the net for a 2-1 lead and eventual win by the same score for Angel City (5-4-2, 17 points) in front of a sellout crowd of 22,000 at

Banc of California Stadium.

Emslie's goal came after a major turning point in the game. Moments earlier Tyler Lussi received her second yellow card, leaving Angel City down to 10 players for the remaining 11 minutes of regulation and four minutes of stoppage time.

DiDi Haracic was forced to make a couple of timely saves to help preserve the win.

Even though it was the first regular-season meeting, San Diego-Angel City had all of the momentum swings that usually accompany rivalry games.

Wave FC scored the equalizer in the 60th minute on a goal by Kristen McNabb.

Ali Riley opened the scoring for ACFC, taking a pass from Jun Endo and firing toward the goal. The ball hit the San Diego goalkeeper's leg and rolled into the net.

San Diego entered the week in first place in the NWSL on 21 points. It was shorthanded in this game with Alex Morgan and Taylor Kornieck with the U.S. national team and goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan with the Canadian national team for the CONCACAF Championships.

The teams will meet again Sept. 17 in San Diego. They met twice during the preseason NWSL Challenge Cup. The first game ended in a 1-1 draw and San Diego won the second meeting 4-2.

ACFC 2, SAN DIEGO 1 Up next: Angel City FC at North Carolina, Friday, 4:30 p.m., Paramount+