Los Angeles, California
– A marquee matchup that featured two NWSL debutant clubs, Angel City FC and San Diego Wave FC battled to an entertaining 1-1 draw at Titan Stadium on Saturday night.
Los Angeles, California
– A marquee matchup that featured two NWSL debutant clubs, Angel City FC and San Diego Wave FC battled to an entertaining 1-1 draw at Titan Stadium on Saturday night. It didn’t take long for Angel City to ignite the crowd, when after just seven minutes forward Christen Press drove at the San Diego defense and unleashed a powerful effort from distance, but Wave FC goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan got just enough of a fingertip on the shot to put it onto the crossbar. Chances would be exchanged throughout the rest of the opening half, with the Wave getting a good look on goal in the 24 th minute. Midfielder Katlyn John, whose header had just been blocked moments earlier inside the six-yard box, then had her follow-up attempt saved by Angel City goalkeeper DiDi Harcic. Two minutes later, Press had another fantastic look on goal as her run in behind saw her through on goal. Though the ball was played in at perfect space, Press attempted a short flick through Haracic that was well blocked. As the half neared its close, Angel City forward Tyler Lussi got her first of a few opportunities to find the back of the net as she tested Sheridan with an unexpected effort only to see her shot land wide of the far post. At the break, neither side were able to break down the other in front of goal and open the scoring. However, just four minutes into the second half Angel City midfielder Savannah McCaskill produced a well-placed header to the bottom right side of the goal from a deep cross and the hosts jumped out ahead. From there, Angel City only kept pressing ahead but chances for Lussi and Press just ahead of the hour mark went begging. The back and forth continued as chances for Wave FC’s Taylor Kornieck and Angel City’s Lussi in the 68 th and 69 th went unconverted just seconds apart from the other, though this would not be the evening’s last action. After 81 minutes, the Wave ended up capitalizing on disorganized defending from Angel City off a corner to pull level. San Diego defender Kaleigh Riehl, who replaced Abby Dahlkemper to begin the half, ended up on the end of a corner and bundled the ball over the line to help the visitors find their first goal of the season. Then, San Diego nearly had the last laugh one minute later as an Alex Morgan cross is met at the near post where an effort is redirected on goal, but Haracic was equal to it to keep things even. The two sides ended up settling for a point a piece and will now look ahead to build on each one’s inaugural match in the league. Angel City FC continues its Challenge Cup run against OL Reign on Saturday afternoon, while San Diego features later that evening against Portland.
