BMO Stadium | Los Angeles, California – Monday, June 5 at 7:00 PM ET
Players to watch:
Angel City forward Claire Emslie scored her side’s lone goal in its loss to OL Reign last Sunday directly from a corner kick. It was the first goal directly from a corner kick in all NWSL competitions since Jordan Baggett did so for the Spirit against Portland in May 2019.
Chicago attacker Yuki Nagasato scored the lone goal in Chicago’s 1-0 win over Orlando Pride on Sunday, her 20th career regular season goal to go along with 22 assists. Nagasato is the fourth international player to record 20 goals and 20 assists in regular season play after Sam Kerr, Nahomi Kawasumi, and Jess Fishlock.
Match facts: Angel City plays host to the Chicago Red Stars on a rare Monday evening matchup in a contest that caps off a full six-game slate across the league over the weekend. Angel City is seeking a first league win since May 8 (L3 since), while Chicago is coming off its first league win April 16 after beating Orlando last weekend. Angel City currently sits in 10th place with 9 points, while Chicago sits just below it in 11th place with 7 points.
Angel City has lost four of its first six home matches in all NWSL competitions this season (W1 D1), only one fewer than it had over 14 home matches in its inaugural 2022 season (W6 D3 L5). Angel City has failed to score in three of its last four home matches after scoring in its previous eight home matches.
The Red Stars have lost seven straight away matches in all NWSL competitions dating back to last September after having never lost more than three in a row on the road before. In five road matches this season, Chicago has allowed 3.4 goals per match (17 total), and its 22 goals conceded are the worst of any team in the league.
Angel City and Chicago split their two meetings last season, with both sides winning at home. Angel City won, 1-0, in August on a Savannah McCaskill goal while Chicago recorded a 2-0 home win in October on goals from Mallory Swanson and Yuki Nagasato.
Noted (via Jen Cooper, The Kicker):
- The next game for Chicago’s Casey Krueger will be her 100th in regular season play. She will become the 6th player to play 100 regular-season games all for Chicago (NWSL era).
- This game marks the first time Angel City midfielder Julie Ertz will face her former club. She was drafted with the #3 overall pick in the 2014 draft and won Rookie of the Year honors. Played in the 2019 NWSL final for Chicago against North Carolina, and in the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup final vs. Houston.
- Next goal for Angel City’s Sydney Leroux will be the 40th of her NWSL regular-season career. Only 10 players have scored 40. Last time Leroux appeared for Angel City — July 30, 2022 vs. RGN.
