LOS ANGELES — They scored early. They scored late. And that was enough for the North Carolina Courage to defeat Angel City FC 2-1 on Saturday.
During North Carolina’s previous two matches, also on the road, the Courage combined for 11 goals with their hosts. Unfortunately for the two-time NWSL champions, the Courage conceded eight times at San Diego and Washington D.C., losing twice ahead of a showdown with Angel City.
However, a stoppage-time goal by Courage midfielder Brianna Pinto at BMO Stadium capped a chaotic scramble in front of Angel City, sealing the result.
Attempting to avoid a fate similar to its last two games, the visitors jumped out of the blocks and grabbed the lead 42 seconds after kickoff.
Before an announced crowd of 14,933 could settle in, the Courage pushed the ball down the left flank, where Angel City captain Sarah Gorden mistimed an interception. That allowed Shinomi Koyama the chance she needed to feed fellow Japanese player Manaka Matsukubo, whose cross connected with a sliding Cortnee Vine at the six-yard box for the Australian’s first goal of the year.
Playing its second match under head coach Alex Straus, who took over the position on June 1 and earned a draw in his debut last week against Chicago, the shock start did not rattle ACFC (4-5-3).
Ten minutes later, Angel City sensation Riley Tiernan connected on her seventh goal in 12 appearances, tying her for the third-most scores by an NWSL rookie.
Tiernan needs five goals over Angel City’s remaining 14 league games to break the rookie record of 11.
Her equalizing header at the far post against the Courage (4-5-3) came off a perfect delivery from Gisele Thompson, who worked a give-and-go to free up space down the right side prior to her fourth assist.
The early fireworks fizzled away despite both teams pushing for game winners over the next 80 minutes.
As the hour mark approached, Vine tried to return the favor following Matsukubo’s assist to her in the opening seconds. The forward duo worked through ACFC defense, leading to a one-on-one encounter deep in the box against goalkeeper Angelina Anderson, who sprawled to deny Matsukubo a fifth goal in four matches.
A couple minutes later, it was Angel City on the run, when a back-heel by Tiernan along the left sideline freed Alyssa Thompson to a run down three-quarters of the pitch into the box, where her shot was deflected out for a corner kick.
Anderson kept it level in the 82nd minute, denying a shot off the foot of Ashley Sanchez before getting help from M.A. Vignola, who got in the way of what looked like a sure-thing rebound effort.
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