VAR, Gotham spoils Angel City season opener

Alyssa Thompson got the sellout crowd at BMO Stadium going 11 minutes into the game, as she scored a spectacular goal to open the season, and it looked like it was going to be smooth sailing for the second-year franchise.

However, the momentum quickly swung against them, and Video Review was the main factor. VAR turned back a second Angel City goal, then in the second half awarded a penalty to Gotham New Jersey/New York, which got the visitors going, and goals from Midge Purce and Lynn Williams enabled Gotham to steal the three points from Angel City with a 2-1 win.

“We have to manage those moments,” Angel City head coach Freya Coombe said. “We were all fairly shocked, but we have to push on and be relentless in those moments. We let that get to us, but we needed to do better and continue to play as we were. We caused a lot of problems for them and although they dropped deeper and defended in a 4-5-1, trying to solve it. We still caused them problems when we were moving and showing up in pockets, moving the ball and creating new medical superiorities. We just stopped doing that when we got a bit deflated.”

Thompson, who made the jump to NWSL straight from high school, showed not only why she made the jump, but also justified her being the No. 1 selection, not to mention Angel City’s decision to maneuver to acquire the top pick in the draft to get her. Thompson, on the left side of the field, received a ball from Dani Weatherholt, Thompson made a cutting move, then fired a right-footed volley just outside the penalty area, keeper Abby Smith actually got a piece of the ball, but not enough to stop the shot, the ball hit off the crossbar, but went across the goal line.

“You saw it in the first 20 minutes tonight, she was an absolute handful down that left hand side,” COombe said of Thompson’s performance. “We knew from the game plan, we wanted to try and draw out their outside back and create that hole for Alyssa to go in and she filled the hole brilliantly. They cut inside and obviously the great, great finish that she got. She’s really happy on the ball. Being able to face up, being able to go at defenders and I think she causes some problems.”

Angel City looked like they were going to make it their evening. Angel City got a second goal in the 15th minute, also in spectacular fashion, as Jun Endo got the ball, dribbled forward, then saw Smith off her line, and Endo let loose a 40-yard volley that sailed past a scrambling Smith and into the back net. However, the play soon went to Video Review, and the referee saw that Weatherholt appeared to make contact with a Gotham player while trying to maintain possession in the buildup to the goal, therefore the referee made the decision to waive off the goal.

Angel City managed to take the lead into halftime, but the VAR would soon have another say. It started in the 50th minute, as Gotham’s Svava Guðmundsdóttir pounced on a poor back pass and chased a ball into the penalty area. Keeper Didi Haracic came off her line to contest Guðmundsdóttir, who tried to outmaneuver her by taking a quick touch, Haracic reached out, Guðmundsdóttir went to the ground, but no call was initially made. However, the call to the VAR was soon made, and during that scenario, Haracic did reach both her hands out at Guðmundsdóttir, though it wasn’t quite clear if contact was made. The referee apparently thought otherwise, as he did award the penalty to Gotham, which Purce converted in the 56th minute to level the match.

Energized by the goal, Gotham was given new life, and capitalized in the 64th minute, as Yazmeen Ryan forced an Angel City turnover, passed to Purce, who then led a fast break, Purce played Williams into the penalty area, and Williams fired a left-footed volley out of Haracic’s reach, beating her far post to put Gotham into the lead.

“When we didn’t get the VAR decision our way, we let down some momentum and that’s something we have to learn to be better,” Angel City captain Ali Riley said. “We have to be able to be more consistent through 90 minutes, because I do think there were times where we looked really good and we looked dangerous.”

Angel City will try to bounce back next weekend when they travel to Florida to face the Orlando Pride.