Angel City Football Club went into the international break with a scoreless draw against San Diego Wave FC.
The club returns with a cross-country trip to New Jersey face Gotham FC, the first of consecutive road games for Angel City.
“Any time you come off of an international break for both teams and for everybody this weekend, you just don’t know what you’re going to get,” ACFC coach Becki Tweed said. “You haven’t had time to work with your internationals. They’ve been away, but it’s the same for everybody in some capacity.”
Angel City had five players away, with Gisele Thompson joining the U.S. U-20 team; Claire Emslie joined Scotland for games in Scotland and Hungary; Casey Phair joined South Korea for games against the USWNT; Ali Riley traveled to Spain for New Zealand’s games against Spain; and Rocky Rodriguez joined Costa Rica for games in Argentina.
“I know that Gotham obviously has a decent amount of internationals that have been gone and they’re a really strong squad,” Tweed said. “Form in this league is important, but in the NWSL it doesn’t really mean too much. It’s one of those leagues where anyone can beat anyone on a given day.”
Gotham FC (5-2-3, 18 points) returns on a six-game unbeaten streak. Forward Ella Stevens has scored four goals in the last three games and goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger has recorded three shutouts in her last six games.
Gotham had several players away on international duty with Tierna Davidson, Jenna Nighswonger, Emily Sonnett, Crystal Dunn and Rose Lavelle with the USWNT, Bruninha with Brazil and Berger with Germany.
“They’ve obviously had a run of form, but a place that we’re going to be looking to go to and pick up three points,” Tweed said. “We’ve had some time to reflect on the San Diego game, work on ourselves and look at what we need to do and how we can continue to grow. It’s something that I say every week, you have to continue to grow and you have to continue to pick up points.”
“We had a good amount of time to prepare, but same for everybody. Your internationals have been gone. You have to continue to grow and move forward. Then, how do you fill them in and catch them up, especially being away. We’ll meet them (players on international duty) in New York, catch them up with everything and get them on the field.”
Related Articles
Angel City FC’s team in The Soccer Tournament kicks off play Friday
Angel City FC, San Diego Wave FC play to a scoreless draw
Angel City FC and San Diego Wave FC have room for improvement
Angel City falls to Trinity Rodman, Washington Spirit
Lily Nabet’s road to Angel City FC paved with passion
Injury updates
Sarah Gorden, who suffered an ankle injury May 18 against Washington Spirit, is still out.
Tweed said Gorden has progressed, but didn’t have a timetable for her return.
Also out this week are Meggie Dougherty Howard and Riley with what the team called “upper leg” injuries and Katie Johnson (knee).
ANGEL CITY FC at NJ/NY GOTHAM FC
When: 9:30 a.m. Saturday
Where: Red Bull Arena; Harrison, N.J.
TV: CBS
