**Cary, North Carolina** – The North Carolina Courage defeated Angel City FC, 1-0, at WakeMed Soccer Park on Wednesday night in the first of two games across the league in midweek action. Though both sides created plenty of opportunities in front of goal, it was forward Kerolin’s second half tally that ultimately separated the two sides as the hosts kept all three points at home.
The Courage began testing the Angel City defense as early as two minutes in when a lightning quick counter attack saw the hosts go from their own penalty box during an Angel City corner all the way to the other end with forward Kerolin putting an effort on goal. A two-pass move after a clearance from the corner released Kerolin in the Angel City half, and the Brazilian forward used her speed to outpace the defense and break through on goal. Aiming to the far corner with a low effort, the visiting goalkeeper DiDi Haracic did extremely well to get a vital touch on the ball and send it away for a corner.
Then, just a few minutes later, Angel City found a way through on goal via forward Claire Emslie who broke through on the other end. Midfielder Savannah McCaskill played Emslie into the penalty area with a through pass on the left side of the box, and Emslie fired a left-footed shot toward the center of goal only for Courage goalkeeper Casey Murphy to smother the attempt and eventually see the ball clear of danger.
The back-and-forth first half continued with North Carolina again testing Haracic in the 26 ^th minute, this time on an effort from just outside the penalty area via Denise O’Sullivan. Following a corner kick, the Courage kept the ball near the Angel City penalty area and, after a failed clearance, midfielder Fuka Nagano laid the ball off for O’Sullivan just outside the center of the top of the area. Winding up as she charged toward the ball, O’Sullivan sent a left-footed shot flying toward goal that forced Haracic into an acrobatic save as she pushed the ball over the bar and out of play.
Just before half, the final big chance of the opening 45 minutes came in the 43 ^rd minute when defender Ali Riley played in attacking midfielder Jun Endo into a similar position as Emslie was earlier. From just inside the box to the left, Endo beat a shot at Murphy’s goal that caused the netminder to bat the ball down as it then rolled away from goal just in front of the goalline.
Despite plenty of opportunities either way, though, the sides were locked in a scoreless position at the halftime interval.
Out the break, North Carolina again was the first to produce an opportunity in front of goal and this time, the forward Kerolin would not be denied as she opened the scoring for her side in the 54 ^th minute. The bolstering Brazilian duo of Debinha and Kerolin connected once more as Debinha carried the ball down the left side of the field and played a cross in toward the near post for Kerolin. Running onto it, the forward then roofed her effort for the goal as the Courage were able to edge out their opponents for the first time all evening.
As the half wore on, the hosts were continuing to create the better looks between them and their opponents and Haracic was back in action in the 79 ^th minute, this time producing a good save on a headed effort from Debinha. After providing the assist on her on side’s goal earlier in the half, a floated ball in from a deep position by defender Merritt Mathias fell onto the head of Debinha inside the penalty area. Debinha did well to get power behind shot but ultimately watched as Haracic leapt to prevent a second goal with a diving save to her right.
At fulltime, the hosts had proved they had done just enough to gain all three points with Kerolin’s 54 ^th minute goal standing as the winner on the night. The result, though, is as impactful as the goal with North Carolina now just a point behind Angel City as the two sides attempt to catch the Chicago Red Stars in sixth place for the final playoff position, a spot the Courage could hardly imagine being in just a few short weeks ago.

Match Highlights

Match Highlights