Match Forecast: OL Reign Ready for Match Against Angel City

OL Reign and Angel City FC are set to meet for the fourth time across all competitions, but the second time in the regular season, after a weeklong break and the return of the majority of their international players.

WHEN AND WHERE: Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. PT on Saturday, July 30 at Banc of California Stadium in Los Angeles

WHERE TO WATCH: The match will be available on Paramount+, FOX13+ locally and Twitch internationally.

2022 REGULAR SEASON RECORDS AND STANDINGS (W-L-D): OL Reign: 4-3-5 (17 points, 6th place), Angel City FC 5-4-2 (17 points, 7th place)

Key Points Ahead of the Match:

1. LAST MEETING – The Reign have won all three meetings all-time against Angel City FC, outscoring them 6-2. The last time the two clubs met, there were a total of six yellow cards issued and a combined 29 fouls. OL Reign pulled off a 1-0 win after a Bethany Balcer notched the only goal of the match in the 31st minute. The play started when midfielder Angelina played a cross into forward Veronica Latsko from the edge of the box. Angel City’s defense block the cross, but in doing so played the ball straight into the path of forward Bethany Balcer, who one touched the ball into the back of the net to put OL Reign ahead.

2. SCOUTING ANGEL CITY – Currently, Angel City FC are in 7th place in the NWSL standings, with 17 points. They most recently defeated their biggest rival San Diego Wave FC by a score of 2-1. Angel City opened the scoring in just the ninth minute of the match, when defender Ali Riley scored her first career goal. San Diego found a goal back after halftime, from the foot of midfielder Kristen McNabb. However, Angel City found the game winner in the 81st minute when forward Claire Emslie one touched a cross into the back of the net.

3. PREPARING FOR ACFC – For OL Reign, it will be important to take control of the game early and be prepared for whatever Angel City brings.

"Yeah, I think we just have to be smart,” said OL Reign head coach Laura Harvey. “I think when we played these guys previously at Lumen when Pinoe got sent off, I think we sort of fell into that trap a little bit in that game, actually. But, we've concentrated a lot on ourselves this week on trying to make sure that we can get back to being who we want to be because we believe when we do that, it doesn't matter what other teams try to do to stop us, we're always going to be able to control the game the way we want to. I think a big part of Angel City is, honestly, when they're at home, they feed off the crowd a little bit. So, I think we have to be prepared for that and what that brings and sort of try and take that down if we can, by getting on top and having the momentum early in the game, I think, will help reduce that."

4. RETURN OF INTERNATIONAL PLAYERS – Seven of OL Reign’s eight international players have returned from international duty. Angelina, who plays for Brazil, is the only player still away. In addition to the return of the international players, forward Jordyn Huitema is available for selection for the first time since she was signed by OL Reign. With the return of these players, OL Reign has their sights set on the second half of the season.

"Yeah, I think this is a really important period for us. I think we were really disappointed with Portland and the Kansas game that we weren't able to get more points there and to give us a bit more of a cushion. But having everyone back now and it was perfect timing in regard to that. Yeah, we have two huge months coming up in in August and September to go and achieve our goals, which are always the same is, try and get in the playoffs first and then what comes with that afterwards is always what you want to try and achieve and getting the trophies, always, is something that this club always prides itself on, said Harvey.”

She continued, “We had a good conversation about that, actually, at the start of this week when we came back from the break of just reminding ourselves who we truly want to try and be and we've done some really good things this year, but we've also let some points slip away, where we could have taken all three and we've got to try and set our stall out, obviously, this weekend and with the Louisville game to turn that around."

MultiCare Availability Report:

OUT

Bethany Balcer (Illness)

Megan Rapinoe (Suspension)

QUESTIONABLE

None

INTERNATIONAL

Angelina (BRA)