Rivalry Game Between the San Diego Wave FC and Angel City FC Ends in a Draw

Tonight, California rivals, San Diego Wave FC and Angel City FC, played against each other at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, California. Both teams assembled a 4-3-3 formation. Overall, throughout the first half of the game, San Diego maintained possession. With six corners against Angel City and various plays created throughout the first half, the Wave bounced off each other's momentum and continued to execute plays with aggressive speed. This speed, though their biggest advantage throughout this first half, was also overused, leading to many mistakes. Instead of choosing to slow down their speed-of-play, to maintain more control of the overall half, their speed led to rushed plays that were either given away to or shut down by Angel City. Nonetheless, that doesn’t deny the fact that San Diego maintained more possession in the first half. When using their speed to their advantage, the Wave looked toward their wings, mainly utilizing the speed of #20 Delphine Cascarino. The French player used her speed in order to create breakaway plays toward the goal. Although Cascarino was mainly focused on connecting these plays with her teammates, Adriana Leon and Kimmi Ascanio. However, these attempted crosses were either unsuccessful or completely shut down by Angel City’s defender, Evelyn Shores. Their rivalry in this game was nothing short of entertaining, filled with repeated anticipation. All of these women, from San Diego and Angel City, possessed a competitive nature in the first half, a trait that proved their passionate love for the game. 

Angel City, in comparison, started this game off calmly. They started off assessing the Wave’s plays, but sadly, their observance lacked enough pressure on the ball, therefore allowing San Diego to create those attacking plays up the line and create opportunities for numerous corners and possibly goals in the penalty box. It wasn’t until Angel City’s captain, #11, Sarah Gorden, received an injury to the head that Angel City’s speed of play began to change. They began to close off the Wave’s space, forcing them to think quicker, creating more possibilities for mistakes or interceptions. The first half concluded after an additional nine minutes were added to the clock. The score remained 0-0. 

The second half began with fiery aggression that was demonstrated by both teams, but mainly created in order to guard the ball defensively. This aggressive spirit and speed of play set the tone for the second half of the game. For instance, the Waves midfielder, #21, Savannah McCaskill, was injured on multiple occasions throughout this half. Though many of her falls appeared to hurt, she continued on. Another big injury that worried many was Shore’s hit to the back of her head. This will be the second possible concussion scare for Angel City during tonight’s game, but like McCaskill, Shore continued to play on. The majority of this half was comprised of fast passes and high aggression; however, two players in particular stood out due to their calm composure and ability to take advantage of the limited space they had: Angel City’s #29 Miyabi Moriya and San Diego’s #10 Kenza Dali. Though they did not create the “flashiest” of plays, they remained consistent and smart with the ball. Simple, yet logical. Within the last 20 minutes of the game, #15, Makenzy Robbe, forward for San Diego Wave, scored a goal by demonstrating beautiful footwork. After a failed attempt for a cross with her right foot, Robbe received another chance when the ball bounced right back into her possession, and by lightly touching the ball with the outside of her left foot, she created enough space to cross the ball incredibly into the back of the box. San Diego roared with happiness, thinking that they were moments away from winning a game at home, until, with the additional seven minutes of stoppage time, Angel City’s Alanna Kennedy was able to head the ball into the back of the net. With this, the game concluded with a 1-1 final draw. 

Both of these teams have a lot to learn from this game. San Diego should’ve taken advantage of Angel City’s slow start to the game, aiming the ball and their plays toward the opposite goal. Angel City hoped that tonight would help turn the second half of their season around, and although this game helped them secure a goal, this final draw teaches them that there is still more room to improve. However, tonight’s game was incredibly exciting and both teams demonstrated that passion, that love, for the game. There are still more weeks to go until the end of the season and more opportunities to see how each of these teams will achieve their individual goals.