LOS ANGELES — For the second time this season, the Angel City Football Club had a chance to turn a three-game winning streak into four, and both times it has come up short.
To start the season, Angel City won its first three games, for the first time in club history, but lost its fourth game.
Sunday, after restarting the season from the NWSL Summer Break with three consecutive 2-0 wins, Angel City’s quest for a four-game winning streak again fell short, losing to visiting Racing Louisville FC 2-1 at BMO Stadium in front of 15,908
“I think we have to look at more than the result and when we lose, we have to find also what was good and when we win, we also have to look at what was not so good, so we can learn,” Angel City interim coach Leif Smerud said. “We need to learn today, from some things and some things were good as well, so it’s focusing on that, but I know I think everyone is very disappointed and I think it’s OK to be that.
“The players, the staff, everyone care a lot about this and that’s why we’re disappointed. It’s OK to be disappointed for a little while.”
Smerud took over as interim, replacing Alex Straus. This is just his fourth game in charge and the first setback as coach.
Maja Lardner scored both goals for Racing Louisville, who entered the week in last place in the NWSL with just two wins and eight points.
Angel City found life in the 80th minute on Sveindís Jónsdóttir’s goal to cut the deficit in half. Sophia Mattice’s ball out the back landed perfectly for Jónsdóttir, who scored through Racing goalkeeper Jordyn Bloomer’s legs. It was the eighth goal that Racing has allowed within the last 15 minutes of a game this season.
Mattice entered the game in the 74th minute, replacing Karysn Cherry, who was making her first professional start for Angel City.
Racing Louisville (3-10-2, 11 points), led by Moreno Valley native Bev Yanez, has won the last four meetings against Angel City.
Since returning from the break, Angel City (7-7-1, 22 points) had 2-0 wins over the Orlando Pride, San Diego Wave FC and the Chicago Stars. The shutout streak, however, was snapped in the 24th minute when Lardner put the visitors ahead, knocking in a spilled rebound by Angel City goalkeeper Angelina Anderson.
In the 55th minute, Lardner increased Racing’s lead, heading home a cross that she was able to get off as she found space between Angel City defenders Emily Sams and Gisele Thompson.
After Lardner’s second goal, the alarm clock went off for Angel City and its crowd. Following Jónsdóttir’s goal, Angel City pushed for the equalizer and nearly had it. Early in stoppage time, Riley Tiernan’s right-footed strike from just inside the 18-yard box hit the crossbar.
Mattice had a chance from close range that Bloomer secured and midway through the additional six minutes, Ally Sentnor’s header almost found the back of the net, but Bloomer was able to get low and push the shot wide.
Angel City finished with 25 shots, but just six on target.
“We never want to lose and definitely never want to be 2-0 down…we had the momentum in the last 30 minutes of the game, you know we always push, we never give up,” Angel City forward Claire Emslie said. “Unfortunately, we didn’t put the ball in the back of the net enough times tonight, but yeah, we’ll look at it and improve our next game.”
Bloomer was credited with five saves for Racing and Anderson had six for Angel City. The teams will meet again on Sept. 5 in Louisville.
“We couldn’t created enough in the first half,” Smerud said. “I thought we had the opportunity to roll them out on the left and get more, more clear chances and we didn’t do it. It wasn’t a good first half and maybe it (1-0 halftime deficit) was deserved.
“The goal (from Jónsdóttir) came a bit late, to be honest. I think we have the chances, but were not connecting enough passes in the final third. We attacked a lot, but it was a bit impatient and a bit wild. The goal helped because we got the crowd going and more intensity. We were really close on a couple of occasions, but it’s frustrating to lose a game like this.”
Angel City will be on the road for the next two games, visiting the Kansas City Current Saturday and the Seattle Reign Aug. 9. The next home game is Aug. 16 against the Washington Spirit.