Angel City FC forward Sydney Leroux (bottom right) makes a sliding tackle on NJ/NY Gotham FC midfielder Emily Sonnett during the first half of an NWSL match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, July 6, 2024. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Associated Photographer)
Angel City FC forward Claire Emslie (10) kicks the ball against NJ/NY Gotham FC during the first half of an NWSL match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, Saturday, July 6, 2024. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Associated Photographer)
Angel City FC defender Madison Curry (left) controls the ball against NJ/NY Gotham FC during the first half of an NWSL match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, July 6, 2024. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Associated Photographer)
Angel City FC forward Claire Emslie (right) controls the ball pursued by NJ/NY Gotham FC defender Mandy Freeman during the first half of an NWSL match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, July 6, 2024. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Associated Photographer)
NJ/NY Gotham FC midfielder Rose Lavelle (front row) retrieves the ball defended by Angel City FC defender Giselle Thompson during the first half of an NWSL game at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, July 6, 2024. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Associated Photographer)
Angel City FC defender Giselle Thompson moves the ball up the pitch against NJ/NY Gotham FC during the first half of an NWSL match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, July 6, 2024. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Associated Photographer)
Angel City FC goalkeeper Didi Haracic (back view) deflects the ball against NJ/NY Gotham FC during the first half of an NWSL match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, July 6, 2024. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Associated Photographer)
Angel City FC midfielder Madison Hammond (left) moves the ball while being chased by NJ/NY Gotham FC midfielder Yazmeen Ryan during the second half of an NWSL game at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, July 6, 2024. NJ/NY Gotham FC won the game 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Associated Photographer)
Angel City FC forward Claire Emslie scores a goal from a penalty kick during the second half of an NWSL game against NJ/NY Gotham FC at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, July 6, 2024. NJ/NY Gotham FC won the game 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Associated Photographer)
Angel City FC defender Sarah Gordon (left) kicks the ball against NJ/NY Gotham FC during the second half of an NWSL game at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, July 6, 2024. NJ/NY Gotham FC won, 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Associated Photographer)
Angel City FC defender Jasmine Spencer (left) dribbles against NJ/NY Gotham FC forward Katie Stengel during the second half of an NWSL game at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, July 6, 2024. NJ/NY Gotham FC won, 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Associated Photographer)
Angel City FC head coach Becky Tweed (center) reacts during the second half of the NWSL game against NJ/NY Gotham FC at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, July 6, 2024. NJ/NY Gotham FC won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Associated Photographer)
Angel City FC midfielder Madison Hammond (center) shoots a header over NJ/NY Gotham FC forward Katie Stengel (right) during the second half of an NWSL game at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, July 6, 2024. NJ/NY Gotham FC won the game 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Associated Photographer)
Angel City FC forward Messiah Bright (left) reacts during the second half of an NWSL game at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, Saturday, July 6, 2024. NJ/NY Gotham FC won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Associated Photographer)
Angel City FC midfielder Rocky Rodriguez (left) competes for the ball with NJ/NY Gotham FC midfielder Neely Martin (14) during the second half of an NWSL game at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, July 6, 2024. NJ/NY Gotham FC won the game 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Associated Photographer)
Angel City FC forward Claire Emslie (not pictured) scores a penalty kick that beats NJ/NY Gotham FC goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger during the second half of an NWSL game at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, July 6, 2024. NJ/NY Gotham FC won the game 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Associated Photographer)
Angel City FC defender Merritt Matias (12) kicks the ball against NJ/NY Gotham FC during the second half of an NWSL game at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, Saturday, July 6, 2024. NJ/NY Gotham FC won the game 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Associated Photographer)
Angel City FC forward Sydney Leroux kicks the ball against NJ/NY Gotham FC during the second half of an NWSL game at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, July 6, 2024. NJ/NY Gotham FC won, 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Associated Photographer)
Fans cheer after Angel City FC scores a goal against NJ/NY Gotham FC during the second half of an NWSL game at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, July 6, 2024. NJ/NY Gotham FC won the game 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Associated Photographer)
Angel City FC forward Sydney Leroux (second from right) attempts to block a shot against NJ/NY Gotham FC during the first half of an NWSL match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, July 6, 2024. NJ/NY Gotham FC won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Associated Photographer)
Angel City FC goalkeeper Didi Haracic fails to block a shot on goal by NJ/NY Gotham FC midfielder Rose Lavelle (not pictured) during the first half of an NWSL match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, July 6, 2024. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Associated Photographer)
Angel City FC forward Alyssa Thompson kicks the ball against NJ/NY Gotham FC during the first half of an NWSL match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, July 6, 2024. NJ/NY Gotham FC won the match 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Associated Photographer)
Angel City FC defender Merritt Matias goes for the ball against NJ/NY Gotham FC during the first half of an NWSL game at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, July 6, 2024. NJ/NY Gotham FC won the game 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Associated Photographer)
Angel City FC forward Alyssa Thompson carries the ball up the field against NJ/NY Gotham FC during the first half of an NWSL match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, July 6, 2024. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Associated Photographer)
LOS ANGELES — The good news for Angel City Football Club is that there is still time and they are in playoff contention.
But the reality is, on current form, Angel City doesn’t look like a playoff contender and has a lot of work to do.
Gotham FC (9 wins, 3 losses, 4 draws, 31 points) won 2-1 on Saturday at BMO Stadium in front of 16,542 spectators, scoring two goals in the first half despite a second-half struggle from Angel City.
“We’ve got to carry that tenacity and drive and will to compete into the second half (of the season),” ACFC coach Becky Tweed said. “We saw it in the second half (Saturday) and we were 45 minutes behind.”
Angel City (4-9-3, 15 points) had a great opportunity in the 68th minute when Gotham FC’s Mandy Freeman fouled Giselle Thompson in the penalty area. After a video review, referee Katya Koroleva confirmed the foul and awarded Angel City a penalty kick. Claire Emslie converted the kick, making the score 2-1.
Unfortunately, Angel City was unable to apply sustained pressure on Gotham after that, while Gotham nearly ended the match in the 88th minute when a Lynn Williams shot hit the crossbar.
Gotham took the lead in the 16th minute with a goal from Rose Lavelle, and in the 40th minute, Delaney Sheehan made it 2-0 with an easy tap-in, and it looked like it was going to be an easy night for Gotham FC.
Angel City failed to create enough chances in the series to put any serious pressure on the Gotham FC defense, with Angel City managing just two shots on goal compared to Gotham FC’s nine.
“We want to win every game and we want to try to win every game we play,” Tweed said. “The best thing about this league is you don’t get disappointed for a long time and we have a real chance in the second half of this season and we know what we have to do.”
The first match between the two teams took place on June 8th, with Gotham FC winning 3-0.
Angel City lost 3-0 to the Orlando Pride last week. The Pride are tied for first place in the NWSL. Gotham is in fourth place.
Despite the loss, the only hope Angel City can count on is in the NWSL standings. With two teams joining the league this season and two more playoff spots, the number of playoff spots has increased from six to eight. Angel City is currently three points behind eighth place and a playoff spot with 10 games remaining.
Following next week’s league-wide mandatory pause, Angel City will begin preparations for the NWSL-Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup. Angel City will open group play on July 20 against Club America at CS Fullerton’s Titan Stadium.
Angel City returns to NWSL action on August 24 against San Diego Wave FC, looking to renew their hold on a solid performance and a possible playoff berth.
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