Angel City FC knocked out by late goal in NWSL Challenge Cup loss to Portland – Orange County Register

PORTLAND, Ore. — Angel City FC erased a two-goal deficit, but the Portland Thorns scored in stoppage time to win their NWSL Challenge Cup match, 3-2, at Providence Park.

Portland opened the scoring in the 23rd minute when forward Izzy D’Aquila sent a perfect cross from deep on the right wing to forward Michelle Vasconcelos as she sprinted into the penalty area on the left. Vasconcelos passed Angel City midfielder Madison Hammond, beat goalkeeper Brittany Isenhour to the bouncing ball and headed it once into the goal.

Angel City rookie Alyssa Thompson almost tied the game in the 38th minute when she capitalized on a giveaway from Thorns but fired a powerful shot just over the crossbar.

The Thorns doubled their lead in the first minute of the second half. Midfielder Olivia Moultrie sent a free kick towards the penalty area, where D’Aquila made a play for the ball but couldn’t quite connect – but Moultrie’s attempt grazed her and landed in goal.

Angel City halved the margin in the 61st minute, when striker Scarlett Camberos sent a pass to midfielder Clarisse Le Bihan, who maneuvered into the box and sent a hard left-footed shot towards the far post and in the back of the net. .

Two minutes later, shortly after Portland’s D’Aquila fired a shot from the bottom of the crossbar, Angel City striker Alyssa Thompson sprinted into the box on a transition play. Goalkeeper Shelby Hogan dived for the ball but failed to gain control. As Thompson made a play for the ball, Hogan dived again, knocking Thompson down. No fouls were called on the play, but after a review Angel City were awarded a penalty shot. Claire Emslie buried her hip-high shot to the left and into the net to level the score in the 66th minute.

Portland brought in forward Morgan Weaver to replace Vasconcelos in the 69th minute and she provided a spark right away. Weaver beat Moultrie in the 77th minute, but she put her shot wide of the net.

The Thorns brought on Sophia Smith in the 80th minute for D’Aquila, and she made a dangerous run into the box but was unable to catch a cross from Weaver.

Angel City threatened in the 84th, but Katie Johnson’s hard shot sailed just high.

Late in stoppage time, Portland striker Christine Sinclair floated a ball up the 6-yard box, where Weaver sent it into the net from a side angle with a flick touch of scorpion foot.

Portland (1-1-0, three points) sits second in the Challenge Cup Group B standings behind OL Reign (2-0-1, seven points), while Angel City is fourth (0-2- 1, an indicate). Third-placed San Diego Wave FC are 1-1-0 but trail Portland in goal differential.