Angel City defeated the Orlando Pride, 2-0 on Friday in the debut match for interim head coach Leif Gunnar Smerud. The club fired Alexander Straus June 17 and named Smerud interim coach. The win snapped a two-game losing streak and was only the 2nd for Angel City since their 3-0-0 start to the campaign.
Maiara Niehues scored in the 36th minute and Sveindis Jonsdottir got on the scoresheet in the 56th. Niehues has goals in the last three Angel City matches, equaling the club record previously set by Claire Emslie and Alyssa Thompson. Jonsdottir had not played since May 9 due to a foot injury. Angel City are 4-0-0 when the Icelandic has a goal or assist.
Ally Sentnor, who the club acquired from the Current for $850,000 during the recent break, played the full 90 minutes in her Angel City debut.
Elsewhere in Friday night NWSL action, Trinity Rodman netted a brace including the winner in stoppage time to lift the Spirit over the Dash, 2-1. In Denver, the Current rolled over the Summit 3-0.
