May 9, 2022 – National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) – Angel City FC News Release
LOS ANGELES – Angel City FC fell 0-1 to the Orlando Pride at home last night, following an early goal by forward Sydney Leroux in front of a crowd of 17,510.
The match got off to a frenetic start, and the visitors opened the scoring in the third minute. Forward Darian Jenkins found fellow forward Gunnhildur Jónsdóttir to the right of the penalty box, and the Icelandic international sent the ball across the face of goal to Leroux. Leroux had a clear shot at the net and one-timed the ball, which Angel City defender Megan Reid tried to block- but it bounced off her leg and into the top netting.
In the sixth minute, forward Tyler Lussi nearly got one back for Angel City when she got her foot on a recycled free kick and lobbed it towards goal. It dropped at the right angle to beat Orlando keeper Erin McLeod, but landed wide.
Orlando’s aggressive pressure kept Angel City on the back foot for much of the half, and the Pride got two more chances in the 17th and 20th minutes, one a Leah Pruitt header and the second a one-touch strike by Leroux on a pass from the right by Jenkins.
As the half went on, ACFC worked their way back into the game, maintaining more possession and limiting the Pride’s chances. In the 41st minute, forward Christen Press had a look on goal, dribbling around Carrie Lawrence to get one-on-one with McLeod, who saved her shot to the near post. The home team came close again in the 44th minute when a scramble in the box following a Jun Endo corner kick ended with the ball at Lussi’s feet, and she sent it into the six-yard box for defender Vanessa Gilles; her close-range header went over the bar.
The home team had the better of the second half, starting with a chance in the 57th minute. Press dribbled around her mark to find space and took a hard left-footed shot from outside the 18. It deflected off McLeod’s arm and fell to forward Simone Charley, who sent the rebounded…