Seattle Reign went on the road to face another tough opponent, taking on an Angel City team also riding a two-game winning streak. While they had to absorb a lot of late pressure, the Reign are heading back to Seattle with a 3-2 win – extending their unbeaten streak to seven straight regular-season games.
The Reign became the first team in league history to come from behind twice in a row after giving up a goal before the 10th minute. It also marks the first time in club history that the Reign have scored three goals in back-to-back road games.
The Reign (5-9-5) now sit one point out of a playoff spot, although plenty of results are still to come this weekend. The Reign are back at Lumen Field for their next match, hosting Gotham FC on Monday, September 16. That match starts at 7 PM PT and will air on CBS Sports Network.
Highlights
Stats
SCORING SUMMARY
8' - Alyssa Thomspon (Assist: Sydney Leroux) - ACFC
31' - Sofia Huerta (penalty) - SEA
45+6' - Ji So-Yun - SEA
68' - Tziarra King (Assist: Ana-Maria Crnogorčević) - SEA
90+9' - Sydney Leroux (Assist: M.A. Vignola) - ACFC
LINEUPS
17' - Angharad James-Turner for Jess Fishlock
71' - Lauren Barnes for Shae Holmes; Veronica Latsko for Jordyn Huitema
92' - Nerilia Mondésir for Tziarra King; Ainsley McCammon for Ji So-yun
71' - Christen Press for Claire Emslie; Messiah Bright for Rocky Rodriguez; Madison Hammond for Katie Zelem
82' - Madison Curry for Jasmyne Spencer
ATTENDANCE
16,023 (BMO Stadium, Los Angeles)
POSSESSION
Angel City: 62.3%
Reign: 37.7%
EXPECTED GOALS
Angel City: 1.33
Reign: 2.28
TOTAL SHOTS
Angel City: 12
Reign: 12
SHOTS ON TARGET
Angel City: 7
Reign: 7
SHOTS OFF TARGET
Angel City: 2
Reign: 2
SHOTS BLOCKED
Angel City: 3
Reign: 3
SHOTS FROM INSIDE THE BOX
Angel City: 9
Reign: 9
TOUCHES INSIDE THE OPP. BOX
Angel City: 32
Reign: 21
PASSES
Angel City: 551
Reign: 325
PASSING ACCURACY
Angel City: 82.4%
Reign: 70.2%
PASSES IN FINAL THIRD
Angel City: 156
Reign: 101
PASSING ACCURACY IN FINAL THIRD
Angel City: 66.7%
Reign: 60.4%
CROSSES (EXCLUDING CORNERS)
Angel City: 14
Reign: 15
CORNERS WON
Angel City: 8
Reign: 5
OFFSIDES
Angel City: 4
Reign: 3
FOULS
Angel City: 9
Reign: 9
YELLOW CARDS
Angel City: 1
Reign: 1
Quotes
Laura Harvey
On her overall thoughts on the team's performance: "I thought after they scored, our first half performance was really good. We created enough chances to score way more than we did. Obviously, the third goal really helps, and it was tough at the end. I think we've probably not been in a game where we've had to sort of defend at that level for a while where the team is just putting ball after ball after ball in the box. And I think I messed up a little bit, but I'll reflect on that. But really proud of the group. I thought they dug in. I thought we haven't had much luck this year. I'm not saying any of the stuff that happened was luck, but I do think we deserved a little bit of the rub of the green after some of the things that have happened to us this year. And yeah, just really, really proud of the group."
On Tziarra King's performance and getting rewarded with the goal: "First and foremost, she's worked so hard to get into the position she's got herself in, and she's got herself there. I feel me and Zee have had a lot of conversations since I came in 2021, but we're both sort of sitting and talking and saying we feel like we've just been missing this one thing for her to really take the next level up. And I think in recent months she's done that – and I think she has to take all credit for that. I think her mentality's changed. The thing she's always been brilliant at, and the reason why we know we can rely on that, is she really understands how we need our forwards to defend. And she executes it, and I think in previous years, she could maybe execute it for 20 minutes. Now, she can execute it for 75-80 minutes, which I think says a lot about where she's at. You know me, I'm always really happy when players like that get the reward that they deserve by scoring some goals. But I honestly think Ana and Jordan and Zee bring a real defensive presence to our team that you need in this league. And I thought all three of them tonight did a great job of making that as difficult as possible. And the fact we scored two goals in transitional moments is a real positive for our team because that's something that we prided ourselves on in some really positive years for this team. And we haven't really done that as much of late. But to do that tonight was great."
Tziarra King and Ana-Maria Crnogorčević
On back-to-back road wins: Tziarra King: "I mean, it just goes to show the depth that we have right now. Everybody that comes off the bench has helped contribute to the wins or stepped up for a start, and so we're super proud. We're obviously really riding the momentum that we have right now, and we just hope that we can continue to carry it through the rest of the season."
Ana-Maria Crnogorčević: "And you can also see that in the last couple of games, the people that are coming off the bench, they literally decide also the game. So they're coming off, they're coming on into the game, and they're scoring, making assists and whatever. So I think that just shows that everyone is kind of on the same page and we try to get the momentum going and get another point. I mean our goal is to reach the playoffs, and we are going to the last game."
On Ji's goal: King: "The ball came back diagonally. So I was like, 'Okay, she's going to step right on and hit it one time, and then she didn't. So I was like, 'So now what? So now what?' And she said, 'I got this, you guys, everybody be cool. I'm going to place it right there.' And she's been on one lately. I don't know what she put in her cereal in the morning, but she is on one, and I'm like, keep that train rolling girlfriend."
On the defensive assignments and how tough it was in the heat: Crnogorčević: "I mean, travel is hard. The temperature. Even yesterday we couldn't even practice because it was too hot. We had to cancel the practice. So you also have to have that in mind. It was hard to prepare for this game, and I think to come here, get three points. Big credit to the team."