Your fate can turn quickly in the NWSL and Angel City Football Club is seeing that again.
Read more San Juan Capistrano tea favorite to open new restaurant at Sherman Gardens
After winning its first three games, Angel City dropped four in a row. This week, facing a tough three-game week, Angel City recorded a hard-fought draw on the road against the Portland Thorns and followed that with a gritty 2-1 win at home Wednesday against the Kansas City Current.
“We have been good, the players have been performing well,” ACFC coach Alex Straus said following Wednesday’s win.
One key has been in goal with Angelina Anderson, who came up with a big save against Portland and against Kansas City had a massive penalty-kick stop in the second half.
“To save that (penalty kick) in such a big moment is so important,” ACFC midfielder Kennedy Fuller said. “We’ve been on a losing streak and so for her to just put her head down and make the save for the team, it pushed us. We had to score.”
Anderson made the save in the 54th minute and Fuller scored the winning goal in the 71st minute.
Angel City (4-4-1, 13 points) had a quick turnaround, leaving home Thursday to head to Houston for a meeting against the Dash.
Read more Trump administration rule to force foreigners in the US to apply for a green card abroad
On paper, this is a game between teams headed in opposite directions. Houston (3-5-2, 11 points) is winless in its last six games. Angel City won the first meeting March 27, but it wasn’t easy. The Dash scored inside the first 10 minutes and Angel City needed a pair of second-half goals to secure the win.
Phair makes first start
Casey Phair made her FIFA World Cup debut with South Korea at 16 years old. She signed with Angel City in 2024 at 18. After spending most of last season on loan in Sweden, she returned this season.
Wednesday, Phair made her first NWSL start, going 82 minutes against the Current.
“I think she worked really, really hard,” Straus said. “She’s fighting alone up front (at the forward position). She does a lot of the work that is not that recognized, but we recognize it. That’s also why she started the game. She’s strong. She’s a handful for a defender.”
International call-ups
The NWSL pauses May 31, but there is still an international window in June. As of Thursday, three Angel City players will be departing for their respective national teams.
Sveindís Jónsdóttir, who has missed the last two games, will join Iceland. Ary Borges will join Brazil and Claire Emslie will join Scotland. Straus said Jónsdóttir (foot) could be ready to return for the May 31 home game against North Carolina.
Read more Pro-Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil wants Supreme Court to weigh in on deportation fight
ANGEL CITY FC at HOUSTON DASH
When: 5:45 p.m. Saturday
Where: Shell Energy Stadium; Houston, Texas
How to watch: ION