LOS ANGELES (July 9, 2023) — The North Carolina Courage fell on the road, 2-1, to Angel City FC Sunday afternoon at BMO Stadium. The Courage saw their four-match unbeaten streak in league play snapped but remain atop the table entering the international break.
The Courage weathered the storm for much of the first half, fighting off 13 shots from Angel City. After defending a flurry of corner kicks 10 minutes in, the Courage scored against the run of play a few minutes later when Frankie Tagliaferri carried through the right side and played a perfect middle ball for Brianna Pinto, who tapped home her first goal of the season. It was the first assist of the year for Tagliaferri.
Angel City responded just a minute later after the Courage defended an initial corner insert, a second entry from Scarlett Camberos glanced perfectly off the head of Savannah McCaskill and into the net to draw even. That 1-1 scoreline would carry into the halftime break. The Courage had a better bulk of possession and chances in the second half, but a quick counter attack by Angel City forced an own goal with a quarter-hour to play. Which would prove to be the difference.
Match Notes
- The Courage enter the six-week break from league play in first place in the NWSL standings
- Sunday was the first time in 2023 the Courage have lost when scoring first
- The Courage streak of shutout minutes ended at 460, the fourth-longest in NWSL history
- The Courage conceded multiple goals for the first time since May 6
Next Match: The North Carolina Courage get a well-deserved bye week before returning to UKG NWSL Challenge Cup action on Saturday, July 22, when they host the Washington Spirit at 7:00 p.m. ET at WakeMed Soccer Park.
Box Score:
NCC (4-3-3): Katelyn Rowland, Kiki Pickett (Sydney Collins – 84′), Malia Berkely, Kaleigh Kurtz ©, Ryan Williams, Brianna Pinto (Haley Hopkins – 84′), Narumi, Brittany Ratcliffe, Frankie Tagliaferri (Victoria Pickett – 56’), Tyler Lussi, Millie Farrow (Olivia Wingate – 46’)
Subs Not Used: Marisa Bova, Sarah Clark, Nikia Smith, Tess Boade, Estelle Johnson
ACFC (4-3-3): DiDi Haracic, Megan Reid, Paige Nielsen, Sarah Gorden, Madison Hammond (Lily Nabet – 90+3′), Dani Weatherholt ©, Savannah McCaskill, Jun Endo (Sydney Leroux – 63’), Scarlett Camberos (Elizabeth Eddy – 63’), Clarisse Le Bihan (Katie Johnson – 73’), Jasmyne Spencer
Subs Not Used: Brittany Isenhour, Angelina Anderson, Mackenzie Pluck, Kelsey Hill
Score:
NCC: 1
ACFC: 2
Goals:
NCC: B. Pinto – 16’ (Tagliaferri)
ACFC: S. McCaskill – 18’ (Camberos), K. Kurtz – 77’ (OG)
Cautions:
NCC: R. Williams – 56’
ACFC:
Ejections:
NCC: –
ACFC: –
