**Los Angeles, California** – In one of the games of the season, OL Reign came back from down two goals to end up defeating Angel City FC, 3-2, to earn the club’s first road victory of the year.
The hosts started the game with a bang as midfielder Cari Roccaro opened the scoring after just 8 minutes, forcing the Reign into a quick response. After winning the ball back, Angel City broke into the San Diego half via midfielder Savannah McCaskill, as she then picked out the run of forward Claire Emslie to the right. In the box, Emslie had a cross-cum-shot pushed back into play by OL Reign goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce that led to Roccaro tapping home a goal on the rebound from close in. The goal is Roccaro’s first in league play in 101 appearances, taking her name off a list of just five other to have played in 100-plus games without scoring a goal.
Then, in the 27th minute, forward Sydney Leroux attempted to chase down a through ball that had been squeezed into the penalty area only to be brought down by Reign’s Alana Cook after an initial shoulder-to-shoulder saw the defender accidentally clip Leroux. The challenge resulted in a penalty for Angel City, and up to the spot stepped the midfielder McCaskill, who sent Tullis-Joyce the wrong way to double the hosts’ lead.
OL Reign did well to work themselves back into the game though, with two of the best looks of the opening half coming in the 32 ^nd and 40 ^th minutes for the visitors. The first in the 32 ^nd minute saw midfielder Jess Fishlock produce a bullet of an effort that shook the crossbar as it hit the underside of the frame. Immediately after, the ball fell into the path of forward Jordyn Huitema, but her follow-up effort was held well by Angel City goalkeeper DiDi Haracic.
The Reign’s second chance came just nine minutes later when a cross to the back post by Reign defender Sofia Huerta aimed toward Huitema caused a bit of chaos in the Angel City box as Haracic came to collect but ultimately did not come close. As the ball dropped to the feet of the Reign’s Lauren Barnes, she fired on goal only to see defender Paige Nielsen prevent a sure score with a goalline clearance.
However, OL Reign earned a penalty kick right on the stroke of halftime as midfielder Jess Fishlock was bundled over in the box by Angel City’s Jun Endo and were presented an opportunity to pull one back. Up to take the penalty was OL Reign’s Kim Little, who was returning to NWSL action, but she failed to send Haracic the wrong way as the goalkeeper leapt to her right side to save Little’s penalty and preserve the clean sheet through the opening half.
After the penalty save, the halftime whistle sounded and Angel City held onto their two-goal advantage.
Into the second half, OL Reign threatened first in the 52 ^nd minute when a ball in from a wide position was fumbled by Haracic as it fell to the feet of attacker Tziarra King. However, as King went to strike the ball a great block came in and the chance was ultimately cleared.
Two minutes later though, midfielder Jess Fishlock did eventually pull one back for OL Reign as they slowly worked their way into the deficit. This time, King turned provider as she fed Fishlock in the left side of the box where she perfectly placed a right-footed shot across goal into the bottom right corner for her side’s first on the night.
With momentum on their side, OL Reign continued to pester the Angel City midfield and defense and would end up finding an equalizer through a goal of the season contender from Sofia Huerta. After Haracic fumbled a corner kick in, the ball was cleared to the top left center area outside the box where Huerta was waiting. Taking a touch to settle, Huerta delivered a screamer that found the top left corner on its way in as her side pulled level.
In the 81 ^st minute, OL Reign might have thought they’d then gone on to win the match when midfielder Jess Fishlock was faced with a one-on-one against the goalkeeper Haracic. As Reign midfielder Rose Lavelle fed Fishlock in the penalty area, the Welsh international attempted to sneak an effort around Haracic but was denied by the netminder as the hosts remained level.
However, the visitors would not go away and ended up with their storybook ending as an 89 ^th minute winner from attacker Tobin Heath following her recent return to the league is how an enthralling contest at Banc of California Stadium ended. Huerta had gotten down to the endline and was looking to lift a cross into the middle of the area. Delivering it just in front of the back post, the substitute Heath, who had come on just five minutes earlier, then lashed it home between Haracic’s legs to put her side ahead for good.
In the end, the two sides produced another fantastic game overall that saw OL Reign come back from two goals down to recover in a 3-2 win over Angel City FC on the road, their first road victory of the year. The win helps the Reign bounce back after a narrow defeat against Kansas City in their last time out, while Angel City have now lost to the Reign twice in the last four games.

Match Highlights

Match Highlights