Angel City’s season finale leaves fans speechless as Utah Royals push to the limit

Angel City and Utah Royals wrapped up their 2024 NWSL regular season with a 1-1 draw. A thrilling encounter that saw some beautiful goals and high moments of individual brilliance, both Angel City and Utah Royals were out of the playoff race. This might have brought a tinge of melancholy because this was both teams' last chance to show what they could have done.

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With both sides eliminated from the post-season, the match was purely a pride battle and, of course, one last chance for the fans to see their team leave everything out on the pitch.

First Half: Zornoza's Free Kick Goal

The game was balanced in its initial stages, with Utah Royals trying to assume control from the opening minutes. In the 3rd minute, Ally Sentnor carved out the first clear-cut opportunity of the match as her shot went narrowly past the post. Angel City finally replied with some good combinations between Messiah Bright, Madison Hammond, and Meggie Dougherty Howard, but it was Utah that struck first.

In the 21st minute, Claudia Zornoza-one of Utah Royals' star players-showed why her name is mentioned alongside the best. Following the free kick taken near the box, she let loose a hard shot past goalkeeper DiDi Haracic. The goal was an absolute stunner and underlined Zornoza's ability to seize the right moments. The strike continued Utah's high rate of goals this season from outside the box, placing the team among the best in NWSL history regarding that category.

Angel City Pushes, Doesn't Find Precision

Angel City didn't back down after the concession. In the 29, Messiah Bright broke down the right side and centered to Claire Emslie, whose shot was blocked by Utah's defense. That was one of few dangerous moments for Angel City in the first half, which concluded with Utah controlling possession 54% and carrying the shots on goal.

The first half saw little in the way of clear-cut chances for either side, as Utah Royals did a good job of stifling Angel City's attack.

Leroux and the Equalizer

If the first half was even, the second brought more action. In the 57th minute of play, one of Angel City's stars, Sydney Leroux, made sure her brilliance shone bright with an acrobatic goal. After a corner kick by Katie Zelem, Gisele Thompson kept the ball alive with a header, and Leroux chested it finely before firing in a precise volley. It was the 48th regular-season goal for Leroux, moving her into the top echelon among NWSL's all-time scorers.

That goal changed the pace of the game. Angel City moved up the pressure to find the winning goal. Alyssa Thompson was close in the 64 minutes with a strong shot that sailed over the bar. Los Angeles continued piling on the pressure, but without the finishing touch.

Haracic Saves Angel City

As Angel City was pushing forward, the visitors had a couple of opportunities. Forced into a spectacular save, Sentnor rounded Haracic after intercepting the pass to head to the goal in the 70th minute. Again, one-handed, Haracic tipped it over the bar to make the save. That was one of nine saves she made on the match day, establishing a single-game record in Angel City.

Haracic's playing was crucial in preventing an Angel City loss. Even though Utah outshot Angel City 21 to 14, they could not break through the wall named Haracic.

The Draw: A Season in Review

The final whistle marked the end of the regular season for Angel City and Utah Royals. The 1-1 draw didn't have any implications regarding the standing, but it sure reflected everything that both teams showed throughout the current season: moments of individual brilliance, like Leroux's goal and Haracic's performance, but without consistency enough to build and establish themselves as dominant forces in the NWSL.

The draw wrapped up a comeback season in the league for Utah Royals, who, under interim coach Jimmy Coenraets, showed signs of improvement, especially toward the latter stages of the year. Angel City departs with the sense that more could have been achieved, despite stars such as Leroux and Alyssa Thompson showing that talent is within the team, but there may be some adjustment needed to become more competitive the following season.