April 2, 2023 – National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) – Angel City FC News Release
ORLANDO – Angel City Football Club (ACFC) earned their first win of the season today on the road against the Orlando Pride, following a penalty goal by forward Claire Emslie, an equalizer for Orlando by Messiah Bright, and a last-minute scoring effort by forward Katie Johnson. Johnson’s goal at 99:12 in the match is the latest game-winning goal in league history.
In the 9th minute, Orlando had a chance when midfielder Ally Watt stripped the ball off ACFC midfielder Dani Weatherholt, dribbled a few yards, and took a hard, angled shot from the edge of the 18. Goalkeeper DiDi Haračić dove to block the ball out at the far post for a corner kick.
ACFC opened the scoring in the 39th minute on a penalty kick. Midfielder Savannah McCaskill booted a long pass to forward Alyssa Thompson, who was brought down in the box by defender Emily Madril, and center ref Danielle Chesky pointed to the spot. Emslie stepped up to take the kick, the first of her NWSL career, and coolly slotted a low shot to the right as goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse dove left.
Orlando nearly got one back in first-half stoppage time when forward Adriana made a run up the right and fired off a shot from the right edge of the 18. Her attempt hit the far post and bounced to Watt, who sent her own shot wide.
In the 51st minute, forward Messiah Bright equalized for the home team. After receiving a short pass in the center of the field by midfielder Erika Tymrak, Bright charged centrally towards goal, muscled between defenders Sarah Gorden and Megan Reid, and sent her shot past Haračić.
A series of substitutions by both coaches shifted the game’s energy, with the two teams trading a number of chances on transition over the final 20 minutes of regulation time.
In the 67th minute, Emslie found Simone Charley making a run up the right with a long pass; Charley dribbled to the right of the penalty area and sent a sideways pass into the six for Weatherholt, who one-timed the ball just wide of the far post.
Orlando substitute Summer Yates had a look in the 72nd minute, receiving a low cross from Adriana on the right, but she sent her one-time shot over the crossbar.
The visitors were unlucky not to go up in the 86th minute, first when forward Scarlett Camberos, who made her NWSL and ACFC debut, mis-hit a close-range shot off a low cross by defender Ali Riley. Weatherholt pounced on the second ball and struck a shot into the…