LOS ANGELES — The bigger and improved NWSL Challenge Cup kicked off for Angel City FC on Wednesday night.
The tournament, which used to be played in the preseason, is now being played throughout the regular season and carries with it a prize pool of $1 million.
After a scoreless first half, Angel City allowed two fluke goals, which ended up costing the club in its 2-0 loss to Seattle-based OL Reign at BMO Stadium in front of 10,021.
The first mistake came in the 64th minute as backup Angel City goalkeeper Brittany Isenhour misplayed a ball. She slipped as she tried to recover and that was more than enough time for the Reign’s Jordyn Huitema to get to the ball and slot it in for the first goal of the match.
In the 77th minute, off of a corner kick, Jess Fishlock’s hit was deflected off of Angel City defender Clarisse LeBihan and into the goal for a 2-0 lead.
“We feel a little bit sort of unlucky,” Angel City coach Freya Coombe said. “In those moments we also need to make sure that we’re not putting ourselves in those positions and we need to be focused and able to move the ball quickly throughout. I think we need to be in control of our own destiny as well.”
Defender Jasmyne Spencer said the club wants to be stingy defending set pieces and will look to work on ways to avoid allowing goals on those opportunities.
Angel City’s Challenge Cup opponents are all familiar ones. They’re in the West Division, along with their West Coast rivals – San Diego Wave FC, the Portland Thorns and the Reign. That also means an additional two games each against those clubs.
After the first of six rounds, San Diego is in first place in the West Division thanks to its 1-0 victory over Portland.
Angel City’s game went into halftime scoreless. The hosts had the better run of play in the first 45 minutes, leading to eight shots (four on goal), but none of them proved to be especially threatening to OL Reign goalkeeper Claudia Dickey.
With a match on Sunday, Angel City made three substitutions to begin the second half, bringing on Megan Reid, Lily Nabet and Katie Johnson, with Paige Nielsen, Dani Weatherholt and Claire Emslie departing. A little past the 60-minute mark, Alyssa Thompson and M.A. Vignola were subbed off for Ali Riley and Savannah McCaskill.
Angel City finished with 14 shots (seven on goal). In her limited time, McCaskill was credited with three chances created.
“I felt like we rushed some of our opportunities,” Coombe said. “We wanted to get at them a little more and we wanted to move the ball a little quicker and be patient in possession.”
Angel City returns to league play Sunday against San Diego. The club’s next Challenge Cup game is May 3 on the road against OL Reign in Seattle.
U.S., MEXICO WILL BID TO CO-HOST 2027 WOMEN’S WORLD CUP
The U.S. Soccer Federation and Mexico Football Federation plan to bid to co-host the 2027 Women’s World Cup.
The bid was announced Wednesday night, the deadline set by FIFA to submit expressions of interest. Bid agreements are due by May 19 and official bids by Dec. 8. FIFA plans to publish an evaluation report in May 2024 ahead of a vote by FIFA’s Congress that May 17.
South Africa has announced a bid, and Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands have announced a joint bid. Brazil’s sports minister has said that nation will bid.
The U.S. hosted the tournament in 1991 and 1999. The Americans are a four-time champions, winning in 1991, 1999, 2015 and 2019.
Australia and New Zealand are the co-hosts of this year’s tournament, which will be played from July 20-Aug. 20.
The U.S., Mexico and Canada are the co-hosts of the men’s World Cup in 2026. The U.S. hosted that tournament in 1994, and Mexico hosted in 1970 and 1986.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
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