Before Friday, Angel City FC was perfect.
They were 3-0 for the start of the 2026 NWSL season, coming back from a tough end of the 2025 season and failing to make the NWSL tournament.
However, a late goal from the Orlando Pride left the LA-based team with no time to tie it up, leading to a 2-1 loss. Their first of the 2026 season.
Both Orlando and Angel City brought the energy at Inter&Co Stadium. The match was scoreless up until the last part of the second half, with the Pride taking 17 shot attempts and Angel City taking 15.
In the 84th minute, finally a shot went through. But not for LA’s Angel City.
Pride defender Hannah Andersen passed the ball to forward Barbara Banda on the left side. Banda took on her defender and fired a low cross into the Angel City box. Captain and midfielder Haley McCutcheon received the ball from a deflection and finished into an open net to give the Pride a 1-0 lead.
But Angel City clapped right back in the second minute of stoppage time when defender Evelyn Shores’ free kick was blocked by Orlando and the ball bounced out to the feet of defender Gisele Thompson at the edge of the penalty box. Thompson easily fired a shot right under the crossbar past Pride goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse.
It was Angel City’s only shot on net all night, a statement to the Pride’s defense.
With the game tied in the last minutes of stoppage time, both teams became ruthless for scoring opportunities. Angel City acquired two penalties that resulted in Orlando free kicks in the 12 minutes of stoppage time and Orlando grabbed a yellow card.
In the 98th minute, McCutcheon took home her second goal of the night and the ultimate game-winner when a corner kick from Pride midfielder Marta rebounded off multiple players within the box and ended up at the feet of McCutcheon.
An easy poke sent the Pride ahead with very little time for an Angel City comeback or tie opportunity.
Despite grit from the away team, Orlando prevailed to take home the win and their undefeated streak extended to four games. They now sit sixth in the NWSL standings and with a record of 2-1-2.
With the loss, Angel City dropped to fourth in the NWSL standings and to a record of 3-1-0.
The NWSL are now on their international break, with roster members across the entire NWSL playing for their home countries. NWSL play will resume for Angel City when they play the Portland Thorns FC on April 26th.