(East Los Angeles, CA) July 9, 2022 [From The Editor’s Desk]: Saludos and Greetings To All of our followers. We are very glad and proud to announce that we have obtained our “game-to-game” media credentials that will allow us to bring you, “match” coverage of the Angel City Football Club (ACFC), an expansion team member of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). The team will co-share the Banc of California Stadium with the LAFC.

And now, away we go with our inaugural coverage of just their sixth regular season home match here in our City of the Angels, on July 1st, as they took on the Portland Thorns (4-1-4)

Here is what occurred in pre-match festivities just outside the Stadium. The ACFC Street Fair was held in Banc of California Northwest Plaza that began at 4:30 p.m. The following activities took place for fans arriving to the match.

• – Celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Title IX with interactive fan wall, CONCACAF-W Fan Zone with U.S. Soccer Legends Julie Foudy and Joy Fawcett, USWNT Legend Briana Scurry book signing, “My Greatest Save”, Live Attacking Third Podcast with Sandra Herrera, Lisa Roman, and Poppy Miller, Photo Booth and swag giveaways from Marvel Studios’ Thor: Love and Thunder, ACFC Spirit Station with sol rosa hair spray, face painting, and temporary tattoos, Beer Garden featuring Tecate Alta and Heineken products.

• On the Banc of California Stadium pitch, from 7:00 p.m. the following festivities took place before the 7:30 p.m. Kickoff:
• – Dani Weatherholt’s 100th NWSL Game Presentation, a Ceremonial 3-Clap performed by actress and ACFC founding investor America Ferrera, the U.S. National Anthem performed by the Expo Center Youth Orchestra in partnership with Harmony Project & L.A. Phil, and the traditional “Coin Toss” at midfield conducted by the Sonoma Valley Fire District Firefighters.
  

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[Photo Gallery Credit]: Javier Perez, Student Intern, Cal State Dominguez Hills University, East L.A. Sports Scene Productions, LLC – EastLASportsScene.Com

[MATCH SUMMARY]

[1st Half]: Fans were still coming into the Banc of California Stadium to find their seats, when at the (2:00) minute mark, ACFC struck gold after mid-fielder, #37 Savannah McCaskill was fouled inside the Box and in front of the goal. A Penalty Kick (PK) was awarded, and then taken. Her first attempt was blocked and caromed away in a quick arcing trajectory, luckily to be recovered by McCaskill. Upon recovery she then blasted it directly into the goal for the first score of the match.

For the remainder of the first half, both teams played with much intensity, very evenly, and near-equal competitiveness. Angel City and their supportive fans continued with drumming, chanting, and at some points, even some singing as they enjoyed every minute of the match in strong support of their home team.

[HALFTIME SCORE]: Angel City FC  1  Portland Thorns   0

This period was basically a back-and-forth tussle with both teams pacing themselves according to their game plan. However, neither squad totally controlled or dominated the other. Therefore, it was a great opportunity for the Angel City fanbase to watch their team who was winning by the (1-0) score in an evenly matched situation for this 2nd half. But, lo and behold, as the clock was winding down in the last minute of stoppage play, and of course, with Angel City in front by the slim margin of the one point, a lightning bolt of a play occurred when the Thorns mounted a long distance and developing sideline attack while the defense was trying to close it down for the win.

The apparent strategy was to advance the ball as far as possible and then look for their mid-fielder, #23/ Yazmeen Ryan to advance into the Box expecting to receive a long pass and attempt to score on a short distanced “header.” Voilá. The plan worked perfectly as the tying goal made it into the back corner of the netting with hardly any time left in the match. The goal was officially recorded at the (96:00) minute.

[FULL-TIME SCORE]: Angel City  1   Portland Thorns  1

(ATTENDANCE): 17,492

[OF SIGNIFICANCE]: At match minute (64:00), newly acquired Forward, Sydney Leroux, made her return home to Los Angeles and Southern California a huge welcoming party. She received a gigantic standing ovation from the crowd as she entered the match. The former UCLA Bruin was anxious to compete for all of her family members, good friends,  longtime hometown fans, and now, her new Angel City Fans.

(NEXT UP): The San Diego Wave, with a (6 W-2 L-3 Draws = 21 points), currently ranked at the top of the NWSL Standings, at 7:30 pm, Banc of California Stadium. [Follow on Paramount+, iHeart (English), and KFWB 980 AM (Spanish)]