Angel City FC midfielder Madison Hammond, center, heads the ball against NJ/NY Gotham FC forward Katie Stengel, right, during the second half of an NWSL match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Saturday, July 6, 2024. NJ/NY Gotham FC won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC forward Sydney Leroux, bottom right, slide tackles NJ/NY Gotham FC midfielder Emily Sonnett during the first half of an NWSL match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Saturday, July 6, 2024. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC forward Claire Emslie (10) kicks the ball against the NJ/NY Gotham FC during the first half of an NWSL match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Saturday, July 6, 2024. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC defender Madison Curry, left, controls the ball against the NJ/NY Gotham FC during the first half of an NWSL match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Saturday, July 6, 2024. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC forward Claire Emslie, right, controls the ball chased by NJ/NY Gotham FC defender Mandy Freeman during the first half of an NWSL match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Saturday, July 6, 2024. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
NJ/NY Gotham FC midfielder Rose Lavelle, front, recovers the ball defended by Angel City FC defender Gisele Thompson during the first half of an NWSL match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Saturday, July 6, 2024. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC defender Gisele Thompson moves the ball up the pitch against the NJ/NY Gotham FC during the first half of an NWSL match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Saturday, July 6, 2024. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC goalkeeper DiDi Haračić, back, deflects the ball against the NJ/NY Gotham FC during the first half of an NWSL match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Saturday, July 6, 2024. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC midfielder Madison Hammond, left, move the ball chased by NJ/NY Gotham FC midfielder Yazmeen Ryan during the second half of an NWSL match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Saturday, July 6, 2024. NJ/NY Gotham FC won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC forward Claire Emslie converts a penalty kick for a goal against the NJ/NY Gotham FC during the second half of an NWSL match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Saturday, July 6, 2024. NJ/NY Gotham FC won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC defender Sarah Gorden, left, kicks the ball against the NJ/NY Gotham FC during the second half of an NWSL match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Saturday, July 6, 2024. NJ/NY Gotham FC won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC defender Jasmyne Spencer, left, dribbles the ball against NJ/NY Gotham FC forward Katie Stengel during the second half of an NWSL match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Saturday, July 6, 2024. NJ/NY Gotham FC won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC head coach Becki Tweed, center, reacts during the second half of an NWSL match against the NJ/NY Gotham FC at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Saturday, July 6, 2024. NJ/NY Gotham FC won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC midfielder Madison Hammond, center, heads the ball against NJ/NY Gotham FC forward Katie Stengel, right, during the second half of an NWSL match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Saturday, July 6, 2024. NJ/NY Gotham FC won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC forward Messiah Bright, left, reacts during the second half of an NWSL match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Saturday, July 6, 2024. NJ/NY Gotham FC won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC midfielder Rocky Rodríguez, left, vies for the ball against NJ/NY Gotham FC midfielder Nealy Martin (14) during the second half of an NWSL match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Saturday, July 6, 2024. NJ/NY Gotham FC won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC forward Claire Emslie, not pictured, converts a penalty kick for a goal past NJ/NY Gotham FC goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger during the second half of an NWSL match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Saturday, July 6, 2024. NJ/NY Gotham FC won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC defender Merritt Mathias (12) kicks the ball against the NJ/NY Gotham FC during the second half of an NWSL match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Saturday, July 6, 2024. NJ/NY Gotham FC won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC forward Sydney Leroux kicks the ball against the NJ/NY Gotham FC during the second half of an NWSL match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Saturday, July 6, 2024. NJ/NY Gotham FC won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Fans cheer after Angel City FC scores a goal against the NJ/NY Gotham FC during the second half of an NWSL match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Saturday, July 6, 2024. NJ/NY Gotham FC won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC forward Sydney Leroux, second from right, attempts to block a shot against the NJ/NY Gotham FC during the first half of an NWSL match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Saturday, July 6, 2024. NJ/NY Gotham FC won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC goalkeeper DiDi Haračić misses blocking a goal shot by NJ/NY Gotham FC midfielder Rose Lavelle, not pictured, during the first half of an NWSL match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Saturday, July 6, 2024. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC forward Alyssa Thompson kicks the ball against the NJ/NY Gotham FC during the first half of an NWSL match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Saturday, July 6, 2024. NJ/NY Gotham FC won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC defender Merritt Mathias goes up for the ball against the NJ/NY Gotham FC during the first half of an NWSL match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Saturday, July 6, 2024. NJ/NY Gotham FC won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC forward Alyssa Thompson moves the ball up the field against the NJ/NY Gotham FC during the first half of an NWSL match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Saturday, July 6, 2024. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
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Angel City FC forward Sydney Leroux, bottom right, slide tackles NJ/NY Gotham FC midfielder Emily Sonnett during the first half of an NWSL match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Saturday, July 6, 2024. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LOS ANGELES — The good news for Angel City Football Club is that there is still time and the team remains within striking distance of a playoff spot.
The reality, however, is that with its current form, Angel City doesn’t have the look of a playoff team and has a lot of work to do.
Gotham FC (9-3-4, 31 points) scored twice in the first half and held for a 2-1 win on Saturday, despite a spirited second-half effort from Angel City in front of 16,542 at BMO Stadium.
“We have to take that second-half scrappiness and desire and willing to compete into the second half (of the season),” ACFC coach Becki Tweed said. “We saw it in the second half (Saturday), but it was 45 minutes late.”
Angel City (4-9-3, 15 points) caught a big break in the 68th minute as Gotham FC’s Mandy Freeman fouled Gisele Thompson in the penalty area. After video review, referee Katja Koroleva confirmed the foul, giving Angel City a penalty kick. Claire Emslie stepped up and converted the kick, making the score 2-1.
Unfortunately for Angel City, after that, they were unable to put Gotham under any sustained pressure. On the other end, Gotham nearly put the game away in the 88th minute on a Lynn Williams strike that hit the crossbar.
Gotham opened the scoring in the 16th minute on a goal from Rose Lavelle. In the 40th minute, Delanie Sheehan made it 2-0 with an easy tap-in, setting up what appeared to be an easy Gotham FC evening.
Angel City didn’t create enough series chances to put the Gotham FC defense under any serious pressure. Angel City had just two shots on goal, while Gotham FC had nine.
“We want to win every game, we want to strive to win every game that we play,” Tweed said. “The best part with this league, you can’t be disappointed for long and we have a real opportunity the second half of this season. We know what we have to.”
Gotham FC won the first meeting between the teams 3-0, June 8.
Angel City lost last week to Orlando Pride 3-0. The Pride is tied for first place in the NWSL. Gotham is in fourth place.
Despite the loss, the only hope that Angel City can cling to is in the NWSL standings. With two teams joining the league this season, there are two additional playoff spots, so instead of six qualifying for the playoffs in a 12-geam league a year ago, there are now eight. Angel City currently sits three points behind the eighth and final playoff spot, with 10 games remaining.
After next week’s mandatory break across the league, Angel City will begin preparation for the NWSL-Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup. Angel City will open group play against Club America on July 20 at Cal State Fullerton’s Titan Stadium.
Angel City will return to NWSL play on Aug. 24 against the San Diego Wave FC, resuming their chase for consistency and possibly a playoff berth.
