Angel City FC midfielder Evelyn Shores, front, controls the ball during the first half of their NWSL match against the Washington Spirit on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025, at BMO Stadium. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC midfielder Evelyn Shores, left, is hugged by defender Gisele Thompson after Shores scored a goal during the first half of their NWSL match against the Washington Spirit on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025, at BMO Stadium. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Washington Spirit forward Trinity Rodman, left, vies for the ball with Angel City FC defender Miyabi Moriya during the first half of their NWSL match on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025, at BMO Stadium. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC forward Jun Endo, right, controls the ball as Washington Spirit defender Gabrielle Carle defends during the first half of their NWSL match on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025, at BMO Stadium. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC forward SveindÃs Jónsdóttir, right, moves the ball against the Washington Spirit during the first half of an NWSL match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
A kicked ball by Angel City FC forward Riley Tiernan, not pictured, is deflected for an own goal by the Washington Spirit during the second half of an NWSL match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025. The match ended in a draw 2-2. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC forward Riley Tiernan, center, celebrates with teammates after her kick is deflected for a Washington Spirit own goal against during the second half of an NWSL match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025. The match ended in a draw 2-2. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC defender Gisele Thompson, left, kicks the ball as Washington Spirit midfielder Narumi Miura (5) attempts to block it during the first half of an NWSL match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Washington Spirit forward Trinity Rodman, top left, kicks the ball past Angel City FC goalkeeper Angelina Anderson, bottom, for a goal during the first half of an NWSL match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025. The match ended in a draw 2-2. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Washington Spirit forward Trinity Rodman, center, kicks the ball past Angel City FC goalkeeper Angelina Anderson (19) for a goal during the first half of an NWSL match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025. The match ended in a draw 2-2. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Washington Spirit forward Trinity Rodman (2) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against Angel City FC during the first half of an NWSL match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025. The match ended in a draw 2-2. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC defender Sara Doorsoun (30) kicks the ball against the Washington Spirit during the first half of an NWSL match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025. The match ended in a draw 2-2. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC forward SveindÃs Jónsdóttir holds up the ball against the Washington Spirit during the first half of an NWSL match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025. The match ended in a draw 2-2. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC midfielder Maiara Niehues (12) winds up to kick the ball against the Washington Spirit during the first half of an NWSL match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025. The match ended in a draw 2-2. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC defender Miyabi Moriya (29) moves the ball up the field against the Washington Spirit during the first half of an NWSL match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025. The match ended in a draw 2-2. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC head coach Alexander Straus, center, looks on against the Washington Spirit during the second half of an NWSL match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025. The match ended in a draw 2-2. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC midfielder Macey Hodge kicks the ball against the Washington Spirit during the second half of an NWSL match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025. The match ended in a draw 2-2. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC midfielder Kennedy Fuller, right, kicks the ball against the Washington Spirit during the second half of an NWSL match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025. The match ended in a draw 2-2. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Dallas Wings player Paige Bueckers, left, smiles with friends during the second half of an NWSL match against the Washington Spirit at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025. The match ended in a draw 2-2. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Washington Spirit forward Trinity Rodman, left, deflects the ball defended by Angel City FC defender Miyabi Moriya during the second half of an NWSL match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025. The match ended in a draw 2-2. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC goalkeeper Angelina Anderson attempts a save against the Washington Spirit during the second half of an NWSL match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025. The match ended in a draw 2-2. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Washington Spirit head coach Adrián González reacts to a call against Angel City FC during the second half of an NWSL match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025. The match ended in a draw 2-2. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC defender Sarah Gorden, right, kicks the ball while defended by Washington Spirit forward Trinity Rodman (2) during the second half of their NWSL match on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025, at BMO Stadium. The teams played to a 2-2 tie. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC fans reacts to a call against the Washington Spirit during the second half of an NWSL match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025. The match ended in a draw 2-2. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC forward Riley Tiernan, left, moves the ball defended by Washington Spirit defender Esme Morgan during the second half of an NWSL match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025. The match ended in a draw 2-2. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
An Angel City FC fan holds up a sign before an NWSL match against the Washington Spirit at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025. The match ended in a draw 2-2. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
An Angel City FC fan cheers during the second half of an NWSL match against the Washington Spirit at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025. The match ended in a draw 2-2. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
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Angel City FC midfielder Evelyn Shores, front, controls the ball during the first half of their NWSL match against the Washington Spirit on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025, at BMO Stadium. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LOS ANGELES — Time is running out on the season for the Angel City Football Club.
That’s what made Thursday night’s return home against the Washington Spirit, the first of a six-game stretch to close the regular season, so important.
Angel City began the week in 11th place but three points behind the eighth and final playoff spot in the 14-team NWSL.
Angel City (6-9-6, 24 points) had a one-goal lead into the 70th minute, but Washington’s Croix Bethune spoiled the fun with a tying goal in the 74th, leaving the teams to settle for a 2-2 draw at BMO Stadium.
“I think we wanted to build on our last game at North Carolina and I think you could see in the first half, we were all over them and I think it was a lot better from us,” Angel City midfielder Nealy Martin said. “We’re just going to continue to build under Alex’s leadership.
“The second half, they (Washington) were dropping into double six (in the midfield) and we were having a little trouble.”
Angel City now sits two points behind eighth-place Racing Louisville FC (7-8-5) with five games remaining.
The first meeting this season between Angel City and Washington (on May 2) resulted in seven goals, with Angel City’s Riley Tiernan scoring the winner in the eighth minute of stoppage time.
Thursday’s rematch, had a back-and-forth feel from the early stages.
Second-place Washington (10-4-7, 34 points) got on the board early when Trinity Rodman knocked in a spilled save attempt off of her penalty kick in the 12th minute. Rodman earned the attempt after being fouled by Angel City defender Miyabi.
However, the lead didn’t last long. In the 14th minute, Evelyn Shores scored her first professional goal off of an assist by Gisele Thompson to even the score at 1-1.
In the 55th minute, Angel City took a 2-1 lead on an own goal by Washington defender Tara McKeown. Tiernan created the moment, shooting from the wing. McKeown got her foot on it, knocking it by her own goalkeeper Aubrey Kingsbury.
That’s where the score remained until Bethune struck.
Bethune, who was able to get inside of her defender, thumped home a powerful header to tie the score.
Angel City had a couple of half-chances later in the game. One that should have developed into something was Macey Hodge’s quick blast from 10 yards out that she was unable to get on target.
In the 94th minute, Anderson was pressed into action coming up with a diving save to preserve the draw. Anderson was credited with eight saves. The Spirit had 10 shots on goal, compared to only one for Angel City.
“Today, there was an Angel City team that worked really hard to craft out the points,” Coach Alex Straus said. “Now we get a break, we get a little bit of time to heal our wounds, and get ready for it again in nine days.”
The teams had to play an extended 13 minutes for stoppage time in the first half for a video review check and an injury to Washington’s Deborah Abiodun.
Angel City’s next game is a Sept. 27 showdown at Louisville. Ninth-place North Carolina (6-7-7) has 25 points and Houston (6-9-5) has 23.
Angel City’s next home game is Oct. 6 against league-leading Kansas City (16-2-2, 50 points).
