Match Forecast: OL Reign Back at Lumen for Second UKG NWSL Challenge Cup Match Against Angel City

OL Reign is set to play its second 2023 UKG NWSL Challenge Cup match tonight, against Angel City FC. The teams clashed just two weeks ago in their opening match of the Challenge Cup. The Reign will be looking to continue their winning ways in front of their home fans at Lumen Field tonight.

WHEN AND WHERE: Kickoff is at 7:00 p.m. PT on Wednesday, May 3 at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington.

WHERE TO WATCH: Gates open at 6:00 p.m. and fans can get tickets HERE. For fans wanting to keep up with the match at home, tune in to Paramount+.

2023 UKG NWSL CHALLENGE CUP RECORDS AND STANDINGS (W-L-D): OL Reign: 1-0-0 (3 points), Angel City FC 0-1-0 (0 points)

Key Points Ahead of the Match:

1. LAST MEETING – Most recently, the teams met in a UKG NWSL Challenge Cup match, just two weeks ago. The match was another midweek meet up, played in Los Angeles. The first half was a scoreless deadlock, featuring heavy squad rotation. The second half was when OL Reign finally found their breakthrough goal, in the 64th minute of the match. Forward Jordyn Huitema used her speed to pressure Angel City’s goalkeeper into making a mistake on the ball, winning possession and, one-touching it into the back of the open net.

OL Reign doubled the lead 13 minutes later when forward Megan Rapinoe served a corner kick into the box. Midfielder Jess Fishlock got onto the end of the driven ball, flicking it toward goal, off the back of an Angel City player and into the back of the net. The match ended 2-0, earning three points and a clean sheet for the Reign.

2. SCOUTING ANGEL CITY FC – Most recently, Angel City took the Portland Thorns and came away with a 3-3 draw. In a back-and-forth game, Angel City forward Alyssa Thompson and midfielder Julie Ertz scored a goal apiece, in addition to a Portland own goal. Angel City’s goals were scored in the 10th, 74th and 79th minutes, while Portland scored in the 32nd, 65th, followed by a late game-tying goal seven minutes into stoppage time.

“I think it’s definitely just important to learn from that first game, just keep momentum on some of the things that we did well. Since we won that game, I feel like we have some momentum there, but I feel like it’s also important that we just continue to stick to the plan that (Head Coach) Laura (Harvey) and the rest of the coaches have for us, just to try to get another positive result,” said OL Reign defender Ryanne Brown.

“Anyone who can go to Portland (Thorns FC) and score three goals, you would think would come away with a result, but I think they’re obviously dangerous off set pieces, scored an early goal and then Portland worked their way back into it. I think that Angel City, they’re a good side, they play good football, scoring goals has maybe been the thing they haven’t, maybe, hit the nail on doing yet, but they did on Saturday night. So, I’m sure that they’re going to lean on that in their preparation for this game,” said OL Reign head coach Laura Harvey.

3.  BUSY SCHEDULE – OL Reign has been on a tough stretch of matches and is in the middle of a three-game week. It’s likely that the squad will see some rotation again this match but will continue to focus on the basics and setting the tone of the match.

“Our schedule, specifically since the start of the season, has been rough,” said Harvey. “We’ve traveled the most, we’ve been everywhere, so I think we see this game and the Houston (Dash) game sort of the end of a really tough period for us. But the players have been digging in and working really hard to put on performances and getting results. Obviously, Saturday’s performance wasn’t exactly what we wanted but we were proud that we were able to come back. I think we need to set the tone again tomorrow, trying to win your home games is always important so that’s sort of where we set our standard for [the] game.”

OL Reign is also back home at Lumen Field where they have a dominate record and a crowd of home fans behind them.

“It feels good to be back home. I feel like it’s going to be really nice to play in front of all the fans at Lumen. It’s just a different feeling, different atmosphere that I think really drives us. So, I think it will be good,” said Brown.

MultiCare Availability Report:

OUT

Angelina (SEI - knee)

Rose Lavelle (leg)

Phoebe McClernon (back)

Quinn (leg)

Olivia Van der Jagt (excused absence)

QUESTIONABLE

None