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Angel City FC midfielder Lily Nabet attempts to recover the ball against FC Juárez Femenil during the second half of an international friendly match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024. Angel City FC won 7-0. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LOS ANGELES — Angel City Football Club closed their Olympic break with a dominant performance Sunday night.
Angel City scored four goals within the first 20 minutes of their friendly against FC Juarez at BMO Stadium on the way to a 7-0 halftime lead and win by the same score in front of 11,090.
Messiah Bright, who had yet to score this season, recorded a first-half hat trick. Bright scored six goals as a rookie last season with the Orlando Pride, but in her first season with Angel City, she had yet to score in 15 total games (11 regular season, four Summer Cup).
“Once you get one, you’re looking for another and another,” Bright said. “I was just hungry to be in that position to do that for my team.
“My team has been doing a good job supporting me and I’m trying to be resilient in every aspect and not taking anything for granted.”
Bright eventually gave way to Christen Press. Press, who returned during the Summer Cup, came on in the 40th minute, making her first home appearance since 2022. Press was subbed off in the 57th minute, giving her approximately 20 minutes of action. She played in 10 minutes the Summer Cup semifinal against Gotham FC Aug. 6.
It was also a night of firsts for Alyssa Thompson. Thompson converted a penalty kick in the 19th minute, for her first goal of the season.
Claire Emslie finished with two goals and Megan Reid had the other for Angel City.
“At one time I looked up and we had five shots on goals and five goals and that’s what we’ve talked about being clinical in the final third,” Angel City coach Becki Tweed said. “When you’re scoring goals early, it allows you to get momentum and you see the joy and happiness and freedom that this team has started to play with.”
While the stats don’t count toward the regular season, the win and performance sends Angel City into the final stretch of league games riding a high. Angel City resumes NWSL play Saturday on the road against San Diego Wave FC at Snapdragon Stadium.
Including next Saturday’s clash with San Diego, Angel City has 10 games remaining in the regular season. Angel City is currently outside of the playoff picture, sitting in 11th place, but just three games off of the eighth and final playoff spot.
