July 2, 2022 – National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) – Angel City FC News Release
LOS ANGELES, CA – Angel City Football Club (ACFC) drew the Portland Thorns 1-1 tonight following an early goal by Angel City midfielder Savannah McCaskill and a stoppage-time goal by Thorns midfielder Yazmeen Ryan.
Angel City opened the scoring in the second minute. When midfielder Clarisse Le Bihan sent a through pass to forward Miri Taylor as she ran into the box, Thorns defender Kelli Hubly fouled Taylor, and the head official pointed to the penalty spot. When McCaskill stepped up to take the kick, keeper Shelby Hogan dove right to save her initial shot, but blocked the ball instead of catching it. McCaskill pounced on the rebounded ball and tapped it calmly to the far post to put Angel City up 1-0.
Portland had the next good chance of the game, in the 16th minute, when midfielder Hina Sugita sent a cross in from the left. Ryan was inside the six-yard box and made contact with her torso, but keeper DiDi Haračić dove right for an excellent save.
After a handful of Angel City chances over the next 10 minutes, the Thorns had another near miss in the 26th minute. Forward Marissa Everett struck a cross from the left side of the penalty area that found forward Hannah Betfort at the edge of the six. Betfort had an open shot on goal, but headed the ball just over the crossbar.
In the 31st minute, forward Jun Endo dribbled past two defenders at the top of the box and put a hard shot on target, but Hogan made an impressive save.
The final quality chance of the half went to Portland in the 39th minute, when Ryan struck a free kick from 25 yards just high.
Early in the second half, ACFC put several shots on frame from distance, including one from Taylor and another from midfielder Lily Nabet, who got her first NWSL start tonight. Hogan saved both shots.
Much of the rest of the game was back and forth with few chances either way, until the Thorns equalized in stoppage time. Defender Madison Pogarch sprinted up the left wing and sent in a cross. Ryan was crashing the box and beat her mark to head the ball in from inside the six-yard box.
In addition to Nabet, tonight marked the first NWSL appearance for midfielder Katie Cousins. Sydney Leroux, who arrived in LA earlier this week, got her first minutes for Angel City, entering the game in the 64th minute for Miri Taylor. Tonight also marked the 100th NWSL match for midfielder Dani Weatherholt.
Angel City is at home again next Saturday,…
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