Angel City Football Club opened the NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup with a win Saturday.
It was the first victory for ACFC since June 19 and its first in its 10 games.
“Winning is not easy,” Angel City FC goalkeeper Angelina Anderson said. “I think we’ve all just been tired of losing, we’ve just wanted, needed a win. The games wasn’t entirely pretty, but it doesn’t matter when you score two and they score one. We got the job done at the end of the day and I think it was a big confidence boost for us.”
Angel City defeated Club America 2-1 at Cal State Fullerton’s Titan Stadium. On Friday, Angel City will face Northern California rival Bay FC in the second game of group play. Bay FC dropped its opener 3-1 against San Diego Wave FC.
Angel City has lost both regular-season meetings against Bay FC by 1-0 scores.
“I think we dominated the (first) game, we played well, but not well enough,” Angel City coach Becki Tweed said. “We’ve lost both times and we haven’t scored against them yet, so we have to use that as motivation to go into (Friday’s) game with a must-win mindset.”
Bay FC coach Albertin Montoya will field a different team, with forwards Asisat Oshoala and Racheal Kundananji at the Olympics with Zambia and goalkeeper Lysianne Proulx with Canada.
“Their roster is slightly different now, obviously, with the Olympics going on, but I think Albertin has a really clear style of play,” Tweed said. “He wants to play. He wants his teams to have the ball, he wants to play a style where they build out of the back and they want to be high-pressing and I think that’s something that he’s always had in his style. I’m excited, it’s going to be a good matchup.”
The final group stage game is Aug. 1 at Titan Stadium against San Diego Wave FC. The top four teams (according to points) at the end of group play will advance to the semifinals. San Diego hosts Club America on Friday.
Casey Phair debut coming soon
Phair, who has yet to play for Angel City, could be in line for her debut Friday.
She was unavailable last week due to injury.
“She’s trained fully this week and will be available for selection,” Tweed said. “I’m excited to give her the opportunity. Over the last month, has put in an insane amount of work. Her growth has been huge and I think the moment she gets her debut will be a moment she’s earned and that she deserves and hopefully that will be (Friday.)
Christen Press update
Tweed added the Press went through a full week of team training this week.
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“She’s growing from strength to strength every day,” Tweed said. “That’s what’s hard with this comeback for her, she grows every day, but it’s still has to be when she is ready and the time is right for her. She’s still making progress.
Gisele Thompson is also unavailable this week.
ANGEL CITY FC at BAY FC
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
Where: PayPal Park; San Jose
How to watch: CBSSN