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⚽ Angel City FC Stuns Orlando Pride with Alyssa Thompson’s Late Heroics
- Gilbert Bita
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
LOS ANGELES (August 21, 2025) — Angel City FC snapped their eight-game winless streak in style, defeating the Orlando Pride 1-0 at BMO Stadium thanks to a fearless 86th-minute strike from Alyssa Thompson. The 20-year-old starlet took on none other than Marta — a six-time World Player of the Year — and came out on top, delivering one of the biggest wins of Angel City’s season.
🔥 The Defining Moment: Alyssa Thompson Heroics Lift Angel City
With the score deadlocked and tension thick in the air, Riley Tiernan’s blocked shot spilled wide. Thompson collected the ball, squared up Marta, and went to work. A feint, a burst of acceleration, and the Brazilian legend was left reaching. Thompson ripped her shot high into the top corner — deflecting slightly off a defender before crashing into the net past Anna Moorhouse.
The match will be remembered not just for the goal, but for the way Alyssa Thompson’s heroics powered Angel City against a Pride side led by Marta.
BMO Stadium erupted. Angel City, long frustrated against Orlando, finally had their breakthrough: their first win over the Pride since 2023 and Orlando’s first-ever loss at BMO Stadium.
🧤 Defensive Backbone
The match didn’t start in Angel City’s favor. Missing their own rhythm and facing a Pride side that nearly went up 2-0 inside the first 12 minutes, Angel City leaned on goalkeeper Hannah Seabert, making her NWSL debut. Two massive kick saves kept Orlando out, buying time for her team to settle in.
By the numbers:
Shots: Angel City 19 – Orlando 6
Expected Goals (xG): Angel City 1.02 – Orlando 0.05
Seabert + the backline set the platform. Thompson delivered the knockout.
💬 Alyssa on Facing Marta
Postgame, Thompson revealed the mindset behind taking on a legend in a 1v1 moment:
“I feel like I get into those positions a lot in the game. I usually don’t look at who is in front of me — I’m just worried about beating them. So I treated her as any other opponent and tried to score.”
It’s a quote that will echo with Angel City fans: fearless, focused, and unapologetic.
📈 Bigger Picture
Standings Impact: Angel City (5-7-5, 20 pts) climbs back into the playoff conversation.
Coach’s First Win: New head coach Alex Straus, hired June 1, earned his first NWSL victory. “This is a process, but we need consistency,” he said. “Getting our best players available week in and week out will be key.”
Thompson’s Season: Her sixth goal of 2025, second-most on the team, solidifying her as the cornerstone of Angel City’s attack.
😔 Orlando’s Side
The Pride (8-5-4, 28 pts) are now winless in five. Without injured striker Barbra Banda, Orlando struggled to convert early chances, including Ally Watt rattling the crossbar. The Pride did announce the signing of Lizbeth Ovalle from Tigres UANL earlier that day, but her arrival couldn’t shift the outcome.
📝 Fieldtalk: NEWS & NOTES
Angel City’s win was their first over Orlando at home since joining the league.
Marta, who has scored or assisted in four of her last six vs Angel City, was finally denied her influence in a Pride win.
Seabert became the first Angel City keeper to keep a clean sheet in her NWSL debut.
🚀 Final Word
Angel City needed a hero. Alyssa Thompson answered. With Marta in front of her and history on the line, she didn’t flinch — she just played. And in that fearless moment, Angel City flipped their season’s narrative.
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