March 23, 2024 – National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) – Angel City FC News Release
ORLANDO – Angel City Football Club (ACFC) drew 1-1 on the road against the Orlando Pride tonight in their first away game of the season, following a penalty goal by forward Claire Emslie and a late equalizer by Orlando midfielder Marta.
The first half saw chances for both sides, starting with a sixth-minute effort by Orlando forward Julie Doyle that posed little trouble for goalkeeper Angelina Anderson.
The visitors answered with a chance in the 11th minute, with a free kick by Emslie that former Orlando forward Messiah Bright connected with but sent well over the bar. They followed up one minute later, ACFC forward Alyssa Thompson wrestled past defender Celia Jiménez Delgado and into the 18; Celia miscleared the ball to Bright, who sent the ball back to Thompson, but the winger’s shot was wide.
The Pride had their best chance of the half in the 22nd minute, a powerful strike by forward Adriana from just outside the penalty arc- but Anderson dove to make the save.
After the break, ACFC started on their front foot. In the 47th minute, Bright received a long ball from midfielder Amandine Henry, dribbled into the box, and sent a sideways ball to midfielder Kennedy Fuller. Fuller dropped the ball back to midfielder Meggie Dougherty Howard, who sent it back to Bright- but once again her shot went over the bar.
Angel City finally broke through in the 53rd minute after Dougherty Howard drew a foul by Orlando forward Angelina just inside the 18. Emslie stepped up to the spot and calmly slotted the ball into the lower left-hand corner of the goal, with goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse diving right, to bring the score to 1-0.
ACFC was in control over most of the next half-hour, with most of Orlando’s possession going nowhere. The visitors found attackers in and around the penalty box a handful of times, with several balls intended for forward Katie Johnson, but the Monrovia native couldn’t quite connect.
In the 75th minute, the momentum took a swing back in Orlando’s favor when midfielder Luana found an angled shot to the far post from just inside the penalty area, but Anderson did well to dive and claim it.
With regulation time ticking down, Orlando midfielder Marta- who had been the best player on her team throughout the game- salvaged a point. In the 88th minute, a corner kick by Adriana fell to Marta on the left side of the 18, and the six-time World Player of the Year sent a tapped volley…