The San Diego Wave arrived at BMO stadium as a top-three team in the NWSL, looking to rebound after back-to-back losses. Angel City looked to defend their home turf and turn their season around as their struggles have them on the outside looking in of the NWSL playoffs.
The Wave came out aggressive immediately. After a tightly contested first half with chances limited on both sides, Brazlian forward Dudinha broke the deadlock in the 49th minute. The San Diego forward showcased sharp footwork before finishing calmly to give the Wave a 1–0 lead.
Angel City responded with tenacious defending throughout the second half, closing down space and limiting San Diego’s attacking opportunities. Their defensive resilience helped keep the match within reach as they pushed for an equalizer.
Angel City defender Emily Sams responded quickly, scoring in the 54th minute to put Angel City back in the game.
After nearly 30 minutes of scoreless play, the Wave eventually answered back. Mimi Van Zanten found the back of the net with a header in the 81st minute, putting the Wave up 2-1. “I saw Dudinha one-on-one with the outside back,” said Van Zanten. “I made eye contact with her and I knew that she was going to look for a crossing behind so I started my run and she played a beautiful perfect ball.”
Angel City pressed forward in the closing minutes, committing numbers in search of a late equalizer. Despite their efforts and energy, they were unable to break through San Diego’s defense and even the score.
At the final whistle, San Diego walked away with a hard-fought road win, improving to 6–3 on the season. The result lifts them into second place in the NWSL standings and marks a strong response after consecutive losses.
Photos and writing by Dakota Gray.
