Angel City 3 Racing 2 Post Match Thoughts
Courtesy USA Today Sports Images
Unable to string together two decent halves of football, Racing now finds themselves on a 2-match losing skid. For once, it was a sloppy defensive performance that let the team down. Racing has a short turnaround to try to get things right before facing the Seattle Reign.
Angel City got on the board fairly early with a goal that really only took one very good pass and one very good first-time touch in order to find the back of the net. While it is hard to fault a single Racing player here, I think it was Flint who likely was out of position on Curry which allowed her to perfectly split Wright and Erceg for Fuller to finish. The second Angel City goal really should have been dealt with better. It was a low ball that should have never been allowed to get into the position it did when Rodriguez finished it off. On the third, Angel City got some fortunate bounces, but Wright had the touch that set off the sequence leading to the goal. You won’t win many matches giving up 3 goals.
In the end, Angel City was simply more clinical than Racing. There were plenty of chances for Racing to get additional goals, but they couldn’t capitalize. A great save by Haracic on Erceg’s header was probably the best chance, but it certainly wasn’t the only one. DeMelo, Sears, and Bahr all could have done better with their opportunities.
Through 13 matches, I think we have a pretty clear picture of what Racing is. They are a playoff contender and nothing more. That will be considered progress if they manage to ultimately finish in the 7th or 8th spot. I can’t imagine a scenario where they could climb much higher. I could see the bottom falling out, but I don’t think that is very likely either. The team doesn’t yet seem capable of going on any extended run of good form. Flint commented after the match that mentality, or at least the mentality associated with starting better, was “something we’re struggling with.” Right now, this team just doesn’t’ seen capable of putting together a 90 minutes that I would call “mentally tough.” You don’t always need it, but the ability to demonstrate it sure would be nice to see.
How Kayla Fischer keeps finding her way into the lineup I just don’t get. She is obviously capable of some brilliant stuff. What she seems incapable of is not committing at least one dangerous foul per match. Right now, I don’t think she is offering enough to overcome the fact that she plays too out-of-control. I hope it doesn’t take a sending off for her to either get the message, or for Bev to find a calmer option. I liked Sears getting a 45-minute break, but Racing needs better wing options than Fischer at the moment.
