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    Angel City FC clinches playoff berth with win over Portland
    • October 15, 2023

    Angel City FC midfielder Jun Endo brings the ball up the pitch before scoring a goal against the Portland Thorns FC during the second half of an NWSL soccer match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023. Angel City FC won 5-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)

    Angel City FC defender M.A. Vignola, right, kicks the ball past Portland Thorns FC midfielder Crystal Dunn during the first half of an NWSL soccer match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)

    Angel City FC forward Scarlett Camberos, left, celebrates with teammates after she scores a goal against the Portland Thorns FC during the first half of an NWSL soccer match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)

    Angel City FC forward Scarlett Camberos, center back, headers the ball for a goal against the Portland Thorns FC during the first half of an NWSL soccer match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)

    A ball kicked by Angel City FC defender M.A. Vignola, not pictured, gets past Portland Thorns FC goalkeeper Bella Bixby for a goal during the first half of an NWSL soccer match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)

    Angel City FC midfielder Jun Endo (18) celebrates with teammates after she scores a goal against the Portland Thorns FC during the second half of an NWSL soccer match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023. Angel City FC won 5-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)

    Angel City FC defender M.A. Vignola, left, celebrates after scoring a goal against the Portland Thorns FC during the first half of an NWSL soccer match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)

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    LOS ANGELES – The Angel City Football Club had to wait a year, but finally made their own piece of history.

    Angel City FC reached the final day of the regular season needing a win and some help around the league to clinch their first playoff berth.

    By the time the dust settled, Angel City had a lot of goals and most importantly a 5-1 win over the Portland Thorns, clinching fifth place and spot in the NWSL playoffs in front of a sellout crowd of 22,000 at BMO Stadium.

    With all of the games in the league played at the same time, it allowed for some wild moments for fans and team executives watching the live standings.

    At start of the day, Angel City was in eighth place and by halftime, the club was in sixth.

    After tense early moments of the first half, Angel City broke through on the scoreboard on M.A. Vignola’s strike from the left wing that eluded Portland goalkeeper Bella Bixby in the 36th minute. Two minutes later, Scarlett Camberos’ header made it 2-0 and the celebration was just getting underway.

    Savannah McCaskill (47th minute) and Sydney Leroux (51st minute) gave Angel City a 4-0 lead early in the second half.

    Despite the large lead, it wasn’t all safe on the standings watch for Angel City. Portland scored in the 79th minute on a goal by Hina Sugita and that bumped Angel City from fifth to sixth in the standings. However, in the 80th minute, Jun Endo restored Angel City’s four-goal lead and moved the club back into fifth place.

    Portland entered the game in with a chance to win the Shield as the best team in the league, but with Angel City’s outburst and San Diego Wave’s win over Racing Louisville FC 2-0, it was the Wave, in their second season, winning the Shield.

    The teams split the two Challenge Cup meetings this season. The first regular-season meeting (April 29), ended in a 3-3 draw. Entering the game, Angel City had two wins against the Thorns and both came in the Challenge Cup (April 24, 2022 and July 29 of this season).

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    ​ Orange County Register 

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