Angel City Football Club Celebrates Juneteenth with Victorious Match On a historic Juneteenth weekend, Angel City Football Club (ACFC) notched two impressive victories against Racing Louisville FC in a special celebration match. The first match, played in Louisville, saw ACFC dominate with a commanding 3-0 win. Midfielder Denise O’Sullivan struck first with a goal in the 35th minute, setting the tone for the match. Forward Christen Press doubled the lead in the 65th minute, showcasing her clinical finishing skills. Defender Ali Riley sealed the victory with a header in the 75th minute. The second match, played at Banc of California Stadium in Los Angeles, was equally thrilling. ACFC once again controlled the tempo, earning a 2-0 win. Forward Simone Charley opened the scoring in the 14th minute, giving the home team an early advantage. Defender Sydney Leroux added the insurance goal in the 52nd minute, securing the victory. The Juneteenth Celebration Match held special significance for both teams and the soccer community. Juneteenth, commemorating the end of slavery in the United States, is a day to celebrate freedom, equality, and the resilience of Black Americans. “We were honored to play this match on Juneteenth and to use our platform to amplify the voices of those who have been marginalized,” said ACFC head coach Freya Coombe. “Our players and staff were committed to creating a meaningful experience for all involved.” The matches also served as a showcase for ACFC’s growing talent. The team has quickly established itself as a force in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), with a perfect record in their inaugural season. “We’re thrilled with these victories and proud of the way our team played,” said ACFC general manager Angela Hucles Mangano. “We’re excited to continue building on this momentum and making a positive impact both on and off the field.” The Juneteenth Celebration Match was a testament to the power of soccer to bring people together and celebrate important milestones in history. ACFC’s victories were not only a triumph on the scoreboard but also a symbol of hope and progress for all who strive for equality and justice.Angel City FC Earns Hard-Fought 3-2 Win Over Racing Louisville on Juneteenth
Angel City FC Earns Hard-Fought 3-2 Win Over Racing Louisville on Juneteenth LOS ANGELES – Angel City Football Club (ACFC) defeated Racing Louisville 3-2 on Wednesday night, June 20, 2024, in a National Women’s Football League (NWSL) match highlighted by goals from Kennedy Fuller, Rocky Rodríguez, and Sydney Leroux. Louisville’s goals were scored by Taylor Flint and Carson Pickett. First-Half Dominance ACFC dominated possession in the early stages of the match and opened the scoring in the 17th minute. Defender Madison Curry played a pinpoint ball to Fuller, who one-timed it into the back of the net for her first professional goal. Midfielder Rodríguez doubled the lead in the 32nd minute with a left-footed strike from the edge of the six-yard box. Louisville Responds Louisville pulled one back in the 41st minute when midfielder Taylor Flint converted a penalty kick after ACFC defender Megan Reid was shown a yellow card for a foul in the penalty area. Second-Half Thriller Racing came out strong in the second half and equalized in the 64th minute through forward Carson Pickett, who sent a cross from the left into the 18-yard box where Pickett squared the ball and sent it into the back of the net. ACFC pressed for a winner and eventually found it in the 85th minute when Leroux took a touch to burst into the 18 and placed a driven shot into the far post past a diving Katie Lund. ACFC Milestones * Fuller earned her first career NWSL regular-season goal. * Curry earned her first NWSL regular-season assist. * Rodríguez earned her first ACFC goal, 14th NWSL regular-season goal. * Leroux earned her 45th regular-season NWSL goal, tying her with Kansas City midfielder Debinha for ninth all-time. * Forward Alyssa Thompson earned her fifth assist this season, equaling the club record with her seventh career assist. Post-Match Quotes ACFC striker Sydney Leroux: * On scoring the winning goal and her 45th career goal during the club’s Juneteenth Celebration: “It’s poetic. Juneteenth. I got the game-winner. It’s amazing, I’m so happy to be here and still helping my team in any way I can.” * On the counter-attack and their efforts in the second half: “We struggled to put the ball in the back of the net. Our first thought was: let’s go forward and try to make it as difficult as possible. We have the players to do it. We did that today. and you saw a different Angel City team, even against Houston. It was 113 minutes of really hard work.” ACFC midfielder Kennedy Fuller: * On her first career NWSL goal: “I saw the ball from Madi (Curry) and we really worked on that connection. That ball was perfectly placed and then after a lot of hugs and celebrations I can’t really remember anything anymore. This is what I personally experienced. As a team it was good to get us going so early and that also led to the second goal. It was great.” ACFC head coach Becki Tweed: * General thoughts about the competition: “It was a hard-fought win. We never make it easy on ourselves. We were brilliant in the first half. To go two-nil up, we played some really good football, but we let the penalty decision control the game. It’s something we’ve been working on and I’m proud of the whole group for coming away with three points.” * About Sydney Leroux’s winning goal: “It’s so fitting that Sydney (Leroux) scored the winning goal. For two games, she left everything she had on the field.” * About Kennedy Fuller’s performance: “We knew we still had a lot of minutes left this week. Kennedy (Fuller) and Clarisse (Le Bihan) are both very similar players as 10s with their own spin on the game. Kennedy is so reliable whether coming off the bench comes, starts or doesn’t play, she’s the same person. She shows up every day and gives it everything she has.” The win improves ACFC’s record to 5-3-4 this season, while Louisville falls to 4-4-5. ACFC next plays on Saturday at Bay FC, while Louisville hosts the Chicago Red Stars on Sunday.
Angel City Football Club Triumphs over Racing Louisville FC in Juneteenth Celebration Match Los Angeles, CA – In a historic match held in celebration of Juneteenth, Angel City Football Club emerged victorious over Racing Louisville FC with a thrilling 2-0 scoreline. The match, held at Banc of California Stadium, drew a crowd of over 20,000 spectators. Angel City dominated the first half, keeping possession for most of the period. The breakthrough came in the 25th minute when forward Mallory Pugh fired a shot into the far corner from outside the box. Racing Louisville pressed hard in the second half, but Angel City’s defense held strong. In the 80th minute, Angel City sealed the victory when forward Christen Press scored after a brilliant assist from midfielder Dani Weatherholt. The goal sparked jubilant celebrations among the home crowd. The match had significant historical importance. Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery in the United States, and Angel City is the first professional women’s soccer team to host a match in honor of the holiday. “This match was more than just a game for us,” said Angel City head coach Freya Coombe. “We are proud to celebrate Juneteenth and to use our platform to highlight the importance of equality and social justice.” Racing Louisville head coach Kim Björkegren praised Angel City’s performance. “They were the better team today,” he said. “We will learn from this experience and come back stronger in the future.” The win is a major boost for Angel City, who have now won four of their first five matches in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). The team will look to continue their winning ways when they face the Kansas City Current on June 26th.
