HISTORY MADE! Angel City FC Clinches Playoffs in its Sophomore Year

(Angel City FC's starting lineup VS Portland Thorns. Photo Credit: Angel City FC)

The task seemed insurmountable: beat the league's number one seeded team and defending title holders Portland Thorns and accumulate goals to clinch the final playoff spot on the NWSL.

Their game began slightly off. Playing much more on the defensive end during the early parts of the first half, Angel City FC went into full throttle and switched gears in the 36th minute starting with an M.A. Vignola goal at a very tight angle in the near post leaving Thorns keeper Bella Bixby no chance.

(Video from Angel City FC YouTube channel and used with permission)

(Angel City FC's M.A. Vignola. Photo by Jonah Breton @Tangentzine)

Feeding off energy from her goal, M.A. Vignola wasted no time and got involved again in the attack with midfield Claire Emslie as their 1-2 punch on the left side found Scarlett Camberos scoring on the 38th minute on a nifty header.

(Video from Angel City FC YouTube channel and used with permission)

(Photo Credit: Angel City FC)

The Vignola-Emslie combination remained ruthless in the attack at the start of the second half, starting off a cheeky back heel pass from Emslie and with Vignola crossing the ball allowing Savannah McCaskill to tap in a 47th minute goal putting Angel City FC up 3-0.

(Video from Angel City FC YouTube channel and used with permission)

(M.A. Vignola creates space for an ACFC attack. Photo Credit: Jonah Breton @ TangentZine)

But one of the best goals of the season is yet to come. ACFC striker Scarlett Camberos made an impressive run on the right-hand corner launching a shot saved by Thorns keeper Bella Bixby. With the ball arced up in the air, Sydney Leroux found the back of the net off a bicycle kick that erupted the home crowd of 22,000 on their feet and making it 4-0 for Angel City FC.

(Video from Angel City FC YouTube channel and used with permission)

(ACFC's Sydney Leroux shields the ball against Thorns' Hina Sugita. Photo Credit: Jonah Breton @TangentZine)

Portland Thorns tried to make a comeback in the 79th minute courtesy of an Hina Sugita goal in the 79th minute. But the Japanese international’s goal was answered right back via ACFC’s Jun Endo goal in the 80th minute from an Alyssa Thompson assist. The goal sealed the game with a 5-1 win for Angel City FC. Both players played as teammates on the Japan national squad in the recent FIFA Women’s World Cup.

(Video from Angel City FC YouTube channel and used with permission)

(Angel City FC's Alyssa Thomspon dribbles the ball. Photo by Jonah Breton @TangentZine)

(Angel City FC's French midfielder Amandine Henry. Photo by Jonah Breton @TangentZine)

(Angel City FC's Scarlett Camberos fights for position against a Thorns defender. Photo by Jonah Breton @TangentZine)

With the win, Angel City FC assured themselves of a playoff spot finishing in fifth place at the end of the season and will face the OL Reign next in the quarterfinals. This will be the first time Angel City FC will appear in the playoffs since entering the NWSL in 2020. The five-goal scoring spree is a club record with 13 different players contributing on the scoresheet this season making Angel City FC a well-balanced team.