Katie Johnson scores on final play to lift Angel City over Orlando Pride
Katie Johnson’s goal on the final play of the match gave Angel City a 2-1 victory against the Orlando Pride in the lone National Women’s Soccer League contest Sunday.
Claire Emslie converted a penalty kick for Angel City (1-1-0) in the first half at Orlando’s Exploria Stadium after Alyssa Thompson, selected first in the 2023 NWSL draft, was taken down on a breakaway in the box. Emslie sent Pride goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse diving in the other direction and slotted her shot to the right corner.
Teenager Alyssa Thompson scored minutes into her NWSL debut for Angel City, but it wasn’t enough to hold off Gotham FC in a 2-1 season-opening loss.
Rookie Messiah Bright scored her first NWSL goal in the 51st minute for Orlando (0-2-0), dribbling between two Angel City defenders before sliding it to the left corner to tie the score.
Emslie got a second chance from the penalty spot in the 89th minute when a handball was called in the box, but Moorhouse came up with a big save. Angel City nearly won another penalty, but it was called off due to an offside violation in the build-up.
On the final play of the match, substitute Johnson headed in Emslie’s corner kick, giving Angel City the win. It was the latest game-winning goal in a regular-season NWSL match.
America Ferrera is among the Hollywood celebrities who’ve used their Angel City soccer club ownership stakes as a way to help people and the community.
