Angel City FC midfielder Mackenzie Pluck, right, kicks the ball defended by Washington Spirit defender Dorian Bailey, left, during the second half of an NWSL soccer match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, May 13, 2023. The Washington Spirit won 1-0. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC midfielder Savannah McCaskill, right, dribbles the ball defended by Washington Spirit midfielder Paige Metayer, left, during the second half of an NWSL soccer match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, May 13, 2023. The Washington Spirit won 1-0. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC midfielder Jun Endo, right, kicks the ball against the Washington Spirit during the second half of an NWSL soccer match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, May 13, 2023. The Washington Spirit won 1-0. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC forward Alyssa Thompson, left, watches the ball after kicking it defended by Washington Spirit defender Gabrielle Carle, right, during the second half of an NWSL soccer match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, May 13, 2023. The Washington Spirit won 1-0. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC forward Alyssa Thompson closes her eyes during the second half of an NWSL soccer match against the Washington Spirit at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, May 13, 2023. The Washington Spirit won 1-0. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Washington Spirit forward Ashley Hatch (33), which scored the wining goal, moves the ball between Angel City FC defenders during the second half of an NWSL soccer match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, May 13, 2023. The Washington Spirit won 1-0. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC goalkeeper Didi Haracic (13) deflects the ball against the Washington Spirit during the second half of an NWSL soccer match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, May 13, 2023. The Washington Spirit won 1-0. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC midfielder Julie Ertz, center, looks to pass during the second half of an NWSL soccer match against the Washington Spirit at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, May 13, 2023. The Washington Spirit won 1-0. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC midfielder Claire Emslie, right, recovers the ball chased by Washington Spirit forward Ashley Hatch, left, during the second half of an NWSL soccer match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, May 13, 2023. The Washington Spirit won 1-0. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC defender Paige Nielsen directs teammates during the second half of an NWSL soccer match against the Washington Spirit at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, May 13, 2023. The Washington Spirit won 1-0. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC goalkeeper Didi Haracic, center, catches the ball during the second half of an NWSL soccer match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, May 13, 2023. The Washington Spirit won 1-0. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC midfielder Savannah McCaskill chases the ball down against the Washington Spirit during the first half of an NWSL soccer match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, May 13, 2023. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Washington Spirit forward Ashley Hatch, left, scores the wining goal past Angel City FC goalkeeper Didi Haracic, back right, during the second half of an NWSL soccer match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, May 13, 2023. The Washington Spirit won 1-0. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC midfielder Mackenzie Pluck, right, kicks the ball defended by Washington Spirit defender Dorian Bailey, left, during the second half of an NWSL soccer match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, May 13, 2023. The Washington Spirit won 1-0. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC midfielder Claire Emslie, center, kicks the ball defended by Washington Spirit midfielder Andi Sullivan, right, during the first half of an NWSL soccer match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, May 13, 2023. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC midfielder Savannah McCaskill, left, vies for the ball with Washington Spirit midfielder Andi Sullivan, right, during the first half of an NWSL soccer match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, May 13, 2023. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC defender M.A. Vignola, center, attacks the goal chased by Washington Spirit midfielder Marissa Sheva, right, during the second half of an NWSL soccer match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, May 13, 2023. The Washington Spirit won 1-0. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC defender Ali Riley dribbles the ball against the Washington Spirit during the second half of an NWSL soccer match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, May 13, 2023. The Washington Spirit won 1-0. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC forward Alyssa Thompson dribbles the ball against the Washington Spirit during the first half of an NWSL soccer match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, May 13, 2023. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC midfielder Claire Emslie, left, controls the ball defended by Washington Spirit midfielder Paige Metayer, right, during the first half of an NWSL soccer match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, May 13, 2023. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC defender M.A. Vignola brings the ball up the pitch against the Washington Spirit during the second half of an NWSL soccer match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, May 13, 2023. The Washington Spirit won 1-0. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LOS ANGELES — When two of the more entertaining attacking teams in the league meet, it would be safe to expect goals.
For 89 minutes, nothing was on the board to separate the Washington Spirit and Angel City FC. However, just when it looked like a draw was the best option for both, controversy arrived.
The action finally arrived in the 90th minute as the Washington Spirit was given a penalty kick. M.A. Vignola was handed a yellow card after a shot hit her body and came up and hit her arm. Referee JC Griggs pointed to the spot. He never went to the video review.
Ashley Hatch stepped up and converted the kick for the lone goal for a 1-0 win for the Spirit (4-0-3) in front of 17,427 at BMO Stadium.
“It was unfortunate to have a game decided the way it was,” Angel City coach Freya Coombe said. “I don’t think we should have lost the game.”
As the final whistle sounded, the crowd let out a loud chorus of boos. Angel
“It was super unfortunate for another VAR call not to go our way,” Angel City defender Dani Weatherholt said. “Really proud of effort defensively. You’re seeing more discipline for us.”
In a response to the pool reporter question regarding why a penalty was called, Griggs stated: “Although the ball struck the body of the defender first, there was a secondary motion of the arm. This movement of the arm was at/above the shoulder making the body unnaturally bigger blocking the path of the ball. A penalty kick was awarded for handball.”
Before the final moments of controversy, Angel City (2-3-2) put forth one final push. With the crowd rising in anticipation late in the game, the club earned consecutive corner kicks. The second one eventually ended on Vignola’s right foot and her shot was blocked away by Washington goalkeeper Aubrey Kingsbury. That was one of Angel City’s better chances throughout the game.
Angel City was credited with just two shots on goal.
“We have to sharpen up our final third opportunities,” defender Paige Nielsen said.
In the 81st minute, Washington Ashley Sanchez got off a shot from approximately 25 yards out forcing Angel City goalkeeper Didi Haračić to go up and secure.
The teams went into halftime scoreless with both teams recording just one shot on goal, which was impressive considering the firepower both teams have in attack. The Washington trio of Trinity Rodman, Sanchez and Hatch having scored a combined 62 goals across all competitions since 2021.
On the other hand, the Spirit entered the having allowed just five goals, the fewest in the league.
Angel City will play the next three games on the road, starting Saturday at the North Carolina Courage, followed by May 27 at OL Reign and also a road Challenge Cup game May 31 against the Portland Thorns. The next home game is June 5 against the Chicago Red Stars.
Damian Calhoun is the Prep Sports Coordinator and writer for the Daily Breeze. He's also the soccer writer for the Southern California News Group, covering Major League Soccer and occasionally the U.S. national teams.
