Angel City FC’s Alyssa Thompson makes instant impact in home debut
Angel City FC forward Alyssa Thompson, center, celebrates with teammates Jun Endo, left and Natalia Mauleon, right, after a goal during the first half of their exhibition match against Club América Femenil on Wednesday night at BMO Stadium. Angel City won, 3-0. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC midfielder Claire Emslie dribbles the ball during the first half of their exhibition match against Club América Femenil on Wednesday night at BMO Stadium. Angel City won, 3-0. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC midfielder Jun Endo movs the ball past a Club América Femenil defender during the first half of their exhibition match on Wednesday night at BMO Stadium. Angel City won, 3-0. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC forward Alyssa Thompson, center, gets past Club América Femenil goalkeeper Itzel González, left, to score a goal during the first half of their exhibition match on Wednesday night at BMO Stadium. Angel City won, 3-0. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC midfielder Savannah MccCaskill moves the ball past a Club América Femenil defender during the first half of their exhibition match on Wednesday night at BMO Stadium. Angel City won, 3-0. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC defender Paige Nielsen kicks the ball during the first half of their exhibition match against Club América Femenil on Wednesday night at BMO Stadium. Angel City won, 3-0. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC forward Simone Charley, center, gets past Club América Femenil goalkeeper Itzel González, back, to score a goal during the second half of their exhibition match on Wednesday night at BMO Stadium. Angel City won, 3-0. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC forward Simone Charley celebrates after scoring a goal during the second half of their exhibition match against Club América Femenil on Wednesday night at BMO Stadium. Angel City won, 3-0. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC defender Megan Reid, center, heads the ball during the second half of their exhibition match against Club América Femenil on Wednesday night at BMO Stadium. Angel City won, 3-0. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC forward Katie Johnson kicks the ball during the second half of their exhibition match against Club América Femenil on Wednesday night at BMO Stadium. Angel City won, 3-0. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC defender Sarah Gorden, right, dribbles the ball during the second half of their exhibition match against Club América Femenil on Wednesday night at BMO Stadium. Angel City won, 3-0. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC forward Simone Charley chases the ball during the second half of their exhibition match against Club América Femenil on Wednesday night at BMO Stadium. Angel City won, 3-0. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC defender Madison Hammond kicks the ball during the second half of their exhibition match against Club América Femenil on Wednesday night at BMO Stadium. Angel City won, 3-0. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC midfielder Jun Endo, right, dribbles past Club América Femenil midfielder Casandra Cuevas during the second half of their exhibition match on Wednesday night at BMO Stadium. Angel City won, 3-0. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC midfielder Jasmyne Spencer, right, kicks the ball while under pressure from Club América Femenil midfielder Andrea Falcón during the second half of their exhibition match on Wednesday night at BMO Stadium. Angel City won, 3-0. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC midfielder Claire Emslie chips the ball past Club América Femenil goalkeeper Itzel González for a goal during the second half of their exhibition match on Wednesday night at BMO Stadium. The goal was disallowed after a video review ruled that Emslie was offside. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC forward Alyssa Thompson brings the ball up the field during the second half of their exhibition match against Club América Femenil on Wednesday night at BMO Stadium. Angel City won, 3-0. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC defender Paige Nielsen, right, celebrates with teammates Madison Hammond, left and Alyssa Thompson, center, after Nielsen scored a goal during the second half of their exhibition match against Club América Femenil on Wednesday night at BMO Stadium. Angel City won, 3-0. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC supporters cheer after their team scored a goal during the second half of their exhibition match against Club América Femenil on Wednesday night at BMO Stadium. Angel City won, 3-0. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC head coach Freya Coombe looks on prior to their exhibition match against Club América Femenil on Wednesday night at BMO Stadium. Angel City won, 3-0. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC forward Sydney Leroux takes a selfie with her kids prior to the start of their exhibition match against Club América Femenil on Wednesday night at BMO Stadium. Angel City won, 3-0. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC starters pose for a portrait prior to the start of their exhibition match against Club América Femenil on Wednesday night at BMO Stadium. Angel City won, 3-0. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Yellow smokes fills the stadium emitted from the Club América Femenil supporters section during the second half of an exhibition match against Angel City FC on Wednesday night at BMO Stadium. Angel City won, 3-0. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LOS ANGELES — Alyssa Thompson opened her home debut perfectly on Wednesday night.
The No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NWSL Draft scored the first goal of the game, in spectacular fashion in the fifth minute, navigating her way through and past four defenders, dribbling around the goalkeeper and slotting the ball into the goal on a tight angle.
“This morning, I kind of woke up early, I was a little anxious,” said Thompson, a senior at Harvard-Westlake High. “I went to school, had English, then I went back home and I was getting more nervous and as time progressed, I was trying to not think about it (the game) that much.
“When I got here, I was trying to focus, just trying to feel comfortable and once I stepped on the field, I felt better and I felt comfortable with my teammates and I felt prepared for the game and what was going to happen.”
Angel City added second-half goals from Paige Nielsen and Simone Charley for a 3-0 exhibition victory over Club America from Liga MX Femenil. This was the first meeting between the two teams.
Thompson was set to attend Stanford as part of a highly-touted recruiting class. However, she decided to forgo her college eligibility and declared for the draft. Angel City then pulled off a four-team trade to secure the top pick, eventually taking Thompson.
“When I heard she was going into the draft, there was only one team I wanted her to go to,” Angel City defender Ali Riley said. “It is so exciting having her and I think she’s really going to change the future for young, talented soccer players.”
Just like Thompson, Riley attended Harvard-Westlake and also went to Stanford.
“For so many years, for the most part, we’ve had one path in this country … play in high school, go to college and then playing pro and now you’re seeing Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit), Olivia Moultrie (Portland Thorns) and now Alyssa Thompson, this is very iconic what they’re doing,” Riley said. “You’ve already seen how successful the other two have been and I think she’s going to be another player who really shows when you have talent, anything is possible.”
Early in the second half, Thompson played a perfect diagonal ball toward Claire Emslie, who went to finish with a chip over the goalkeeper. However, the goal was disallowed after a video review ruled that Emslie was offside on the pass from Thompson.
Angel City FC opens second season March 26 at home
Thompson ended up logging 75 minutes. She played center forward and also spent time on both wings. It was apparent that adding her speed will be a significant boost for Angel City’s offense this season. Angel City scored just 23 goals in its 22 matches last season, one of the lowest totals in the league.
“I felt it was a fantastic debut for her,” Angel City coach Freya Coombe said. “In front of the home support. Her goal she took, so coolly, like she had played in a 100 games in this stadium.”
Angel City FC will begin its second season on March 26 at home against NJ/NY Gotham FC.
Club America is currently 6-0-2 in Liga MX Femenil and will return to league play Monday against Atlas.
Karina Rodriguez (Torrance High, UCLA) and Sabrina Enciso (Moreno Valley’s Valley View High) were in the starting lineup for Club America.
