Angel City FC Secures Draw in Alex Straus Coaching Debut

Kennedy Fuller, the player of the match, is shown warming up in a photo by Nicholai Roska for Tangent Zine.

Kennedy Fuller initiated the scoring, and defender MA Vignola scored the equalizer in the 80th minute, allowing Angel City FC to secure a 2-2 draw against the Chicago Stars at BMO Stadium on Saturday night.

Angel City (4-4-3) went into halftime leading 1-0, courtesy of Kennedy Fuller's goal in the 29th minute from inside the box. Defender Sarah Gorden delivered a line-breaking pass to forward Julie Dufour, who executed a quick one-two with defender Miyabi Moriya on the right wing. Dufour then crossed the ball into the six-yard box, where midfielder Kennedy Fuller struck it into the net.

Forwards Nádia Gomes and Ally Schlegel scored the goals for the Stars. Chicago (1-8-2) leveled the score at 1-1 just before the 60-minute mark when a cross attempt by substitute Nadia Gomes took an unexpected deflection, looping over goalkeeper Angelina Anderson's head.

In the 66th minute, Chicago took the lead when forward Ally Schlegel seized a midfield turnover, advanced towards the goal, and fired a powerful shot from 25 yards. Anderson dived and managed to get a hand on the ball but couldn't prevent it from finding the back of the net.

Vignola blasted in a rebound from close range to equalize at 2-2. MA seized a deflected shot by Tiernan that landed at the corner of the six-yard box and drove it into the top of the net with her left foot, leveling the score in the 80th minute.

The match signified Alex Straus' first appearance as the coach of Angel City. Straus, a newcomer to coaching in the NWSL, arrived from Bayern Munich last week.

Angel City will play at home again next Saturday, June 14, at 7:00 p.m., facing the North Carolina Courage live on ION.