Writer: Melissa Ramus
Photographer: Rashad Griffin Sr.
SAN DIEGO (July 11, 2026) — San Diego Wave FC controlled the pace of play for much of Saturday night’s match, but two first-half goals by Angel City FC and missed opportunities in front of goal proved costly as the Wave fell 2-0 at Snapdragon Stadium.
The Southern California rivalry attracted an energetic crowd eager to see two of the NWSL’s top clubs square off. While San Diego dominated possession and created numerous scoring chances throughout the evening, Angel City made the most of its early opportunities and left with all three points.
Angel City struck first in the 17th minute when Jun Endo delivered a perfectly placed cross into the penalty area. Midfielder Maiaru Niehues rose above the defense and powered a header into the back of the net, giving the visitors an early 1-0 lead.
Just nine minutes later, Angel City doubled its advantage following a throw-in that bounced inside the penalty area. Brazilian forward Ary Borges calmly brought the ball down with her chest before firing a shot past the goalkeeper, extending the lead to 2-0 and putting San Diego in an early hole.
Despite the setback, the Wave never stopped attacking.
San Diego responded by controlling possession and dictating the flow of the match for long stretches. The midfield consistently won battles, allowing the Wave to push numbers forward while forcing Angel City to defend deep inside its own half.
By the end of the match, San Diego had finished with 63 percent possession while outshooting Angel City 18-12. The Wave’s pressure became even more evident after halftime, when they recorded 12 of their 18 total shots, maintained 71 percent possession, produced 35 entries into the attacking third, and earned all 10 of their corner kicks during the second half.
Although San Diego repeatedly found dangerous areas, the final touch continued to elude them.
The Wave’s best opportunity to get back into the match came in the 85th minute when Kimmi Ascanio drew a penalty after an aggressive run into the box. Rookie midfielder Lia Godfrey stepped to the penalty spot with a chance to ignite a late comeback, but her attempt struck the woodwork before bouncing out for a corner kick.
It was a disappointing ending to what had otherwise been a determined attacking performance.
One bright spot for San Diego continued to be veteran midfielder Kenza Dali. Her creativity once again played a key role in generating offense, as she recorded her 39th chance created of the season, the highest total by any player in the National Women’s Soccer League. Her vision and passing consistently placed teammates in dangerous positions throughout the night.
While the scoreboard favored Angel City FC, the overall statistics reflected a much more competitive contest than the final score suggested. San Diego controlled possession, created more scoring opportunities, and spent much of the second half pressing for an equalizer. However, soccer is often decided by efficiency in front of goal, and Angel City capitalized on its chances while the Wave could not.
As the regular season continues, San Diego Wave FC will look to build on its strong possession-based style and attacking pressure while improving its finishing in the final third. If the team can convert the quality chances it continues to create, performances like Saturday’s are likely to produce more favorable results in the weeks ahead.
