ACFC resumes Challenge Cup play after break

Angel City Football Club went into the mandatory week break riding the momentum of a win over North Carolina to extend the unbeaten streak under interim coach Becki Tweed to five games.

Nearly three weeks later, Angel City is finally back, returning with an NWSL Challenge Cup game today at home against the Portland Thorns.

“Our season is so busy, so much travel, so much play, so when we get a week like that off, most of us take advantage of it and turn off and unwind,” ACFC defender Megan Reid said. “We still have hit our runs that we needed to, but I try to go to a lake and completely switch off. That way when I come back I'm that much more rejuvenated.”

The week off was followed by two more weeks with no games for Angel City.

“Since being back, we've been going hard. It's been super-competitive, it's been basically full gears going and it's been a lot of fun,” Reid said. “I'm excited to see how the team does in the next couple of weeks.”

Angel City still has an outside chance to qualify for the Challenge Cup semifinals, but it will need some help. Angel City is in third place in the West (12-1, four points), two behind the Thorns with two group stage games remaining. Angel City will wrap up group stage play Aug. 5 against San Diego.

At the end of group stage play (six games for each team), the three division winners and the top second-place team will advance to the semifinals on Sept. 6, with the final set for Sept. 9.

“The approach is every game we want to win,”

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Today: Portland at Angel City FC, NWSL Challenge Cup, 7 p.m., Paramount+

Tweed said. “Challenge Cup, league, no matter what it is, we're going to try to win games. I think our momentum is key for us in the moment, and we want to continue to build on that momentum.

“We want to come back from this break better than when we left. Objective of any game you play is three points and to win the game, and that will continue this weekend. I think the week (away) was nice, I think the week was needed in the middle of the season for a rest for everybody and coming back in, people are excited to be back. I think people who had small or slight knocks or were a little tired have come back in fresh, which is nice, and we've been able to use the two weeks to focus on us.

“Being able to use these two weeks to really evaluate where we are and where we can be better has been really good.”

Angel City and Portland played to a 3-3 draw April 29 and Portland won the first Challenge Cup matchup 3-2 on May 31.

The Thorns defeated San Diego Wave FC 4-1 in last week's Challenge Cup game.

Availability update

Forward Claire Emslie (hamstring) should be available for selection.

“She was dealing with some hamstring stuff, but she's trained all week and — touch wood — she's available for selection,” Tweed said. “She's in a good spot.”

Amandine Henry, who didn't make France's World Cup roster due to a calf injury, officially joined Angel City's training recently. Her status for today is uncertain.