Another Sunday, another challenge coming up for Angel City Football Club.
Last weekend, Angel City survived a clash with second-place Washington Spirit with a 1-1 draw. Up next is the league’s top team. Gotham FC (13-3-4, 43 points), which is unbeaten in its past eight games, entered the week with a six-point lead on Washington and continues to be one the stingiest clubs, allowing just 13 goals through 20 games.
“I think it just comes down to you have to respect every opponent,” Angel City defender Evelyn Shores said. “They’ve obviously really good at defense this year, but that doesn’t change our game plan. That doesn’t make us scared to play them or anything.
“We just have to go at it and finish our chances and I think that’s how we’re all feeling. We’re all ready to step on the gas and just go for it.”
Angel City probably should have had more than a draw last week.
Ally Sentnor, acquired from Kansas City on June 17 during the league’s summer break, appeared to score her first Angel City goal in the 37th minute against the Spirit, but after a lengthy video review, the goal was disallowed on a handball infraction by Prisca Chilufya.
However, the Pro Referee Organization said on its website that the goal should have stood.
The organization said: “Although the ball deflected off the arm of Chilufya (LA) as she contested a header with Élisabeth Tsé (WAS), the position of her arm was justifiable due to the natural movement of the attacker when she jumped. The decision to disallow the goal after video review was subjective because the attacker’s infringement did not affect the outcome. PRO would have preferred that the goal be awarded.”
Sentnor eventually scored again, but instead of a 2-1 scoreline, the game ended even. The full three points might be something Angel City will need down the stretch.
“That goal shouldn’t have been disallowed,” Angel City interim coach Leif Smerud said Friday.
After facing Gotham FC (13-3-4, 43 points), Angel City heads out on a two-city trip starting Wednesday against the North Carolina Courage and then it’s off to Boston for a Monday game with Boston Legacy FC.
Angel City (7-7-4, 25 points) sits two points behind the eighth and final playoff spot.
What the team has shown lately is a willingness to battle for points. The team is 3-1-3 under Smerud and has allowed just five goals.
“We have some injuries in these games, but I’m very happy with us being competitive,” Smerud said. “Being able to compete in the last minutes of these games, being on the front foot of playing and creating, instead of having to defend very deep and a lot is a signal and a tendency that I like.”
Smerud said he expects Maiara Niehues and Sveindís Jónsdóttir to return from their injuries on the trip.
GOTHAM FC (13-3-4, 43 points) at ANGEL CITY FC (7-7-4, 25 points)
When: 5 p.m. Sunday
Where: BMO Stadium
How to watch: ION