Angel City FC goalkeeper Didi Haracic misses a block against the Kansas City Current during the second half of an NWSL match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Friday, April 26, 2024. Kansas City Current won 3-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC midfielder Kennedy Fuller, left, vies for the ball with Kansas City Current midfielder Lo’eau Labonta during the second half of their NWSL match on Friday night at BMO Stadium. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC midfielder Claire Emslie, right, looks to pass against the Kansas City Current during the first half of an NWSL match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Friday, April 26, 2024. Kansas City Current won 3-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC defender Madison Hammond, right, kicks the ball chased by Kansas City Current midfielder Vanessa Dibernardo during the first half of an NWSL match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Friday, April 26, 2024. Kansas City Current won 3-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC midfielder Claire Emslie kicks the ball for a goal against the Kansas City Current during the first half of an NWSL match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Friday, April 26, 2024. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC midfielder Claire Emslie, celebrates after scoring a goal past Kansas City Current goalkeeper Ad Franch, right, during the first half of an NWSL match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Friday, April 26, 2024. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC midfielder Claire Emslie, bottom left, is mobbed by teammates after Emslie scores a goal against the Kansas City Current during the first half of an NWSL match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Friday, April 26, 2024. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Kansas City Current head coach Vlatko Andonovski, center, looks on against Angel City FC during the first half of an NWSL match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Friday, April 26, 2024. Kansas City Current won 3-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC forward Alyssa Thompson, right, recovers the ball against Kansas City Current midfielder Bayley Feist, left, during the first half of an NWSL match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Friday, April 26, 2024. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC midfielder Jasmyne Spencer, left, controls the ball defended by Kansas City Current defender Izzy Rodriguez during the first half of an NWSL match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Friday, April 26, 2024. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC midfielder Rocky Rodríguez, right, moves the ball past Kansas City Current midfielder Claire Hutton during the second half of an NWSL match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Friday, April 26, 2024. Kansas City Current won 3-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC defender Sarah Gorden, left, kicks the ball defended by Kansas City Current midfielder Claire Lvaogez during the second half of an NWSL match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Friday, April 26, 2024. Kansas City Current won 3-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC forward Sydney Leroux recovers the ball against the Kansas City Current during the second half of an NWSL match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Friday, April 26, 2024. Kansas City Current won 3-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC defender Sarah Gorden, left, heads the ball as Kansas City Current midfielder Lo’eau Labonta looks on during the second half of an NWSL match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Friday, April 26, 2024. Kansas City Current won 3-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC midfielder Jasmyne Spencer, left, kicks the ball chased by Kansas City Current forward Temwa Chawinga during the second half of an NWSL match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Friday, April 26, 2024. Kansas City Current won 3-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC goalkeeper Didi Haracic, center in green, catches the ball against the Kansas City Current during the second half of an NWSL match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Friday, April 26, 2024. Kansas City Current won 3-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC forward Sydney Leroux, left, vies for the ball against Kansas City Current midfielder Claire Hutton during the second half of an NWSL match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Friday, April 26, 2024. Kansas City Current won 3-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Soccer fans hold up yellow cards during the second half of an NWSL match between Angel City FC and the Kansas City Current at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Friday, April 26, 2024. Kansas City Current won 3-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC forward Alyssa Thompson brings the ball up the pitch against the Kansas City Current during the second half of an NWSL match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Friday, April 26, 2024. Kansas City Current won 3-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC forward Sydney Leroux, center, vies for the ball against Kansas City Current defender Izzy Rodriguez, left, during the second half of an NWSL match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Friday, April 26, 2024. Kansas City Current won 3-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC head coach Becki Tweed, center, reacts during the second half of an NWSL match against the Kansas City Current at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Friday, April 26, 2024. Kansas City Current won 3-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC defender Gisele Thompson, front, vies for the ball against Kansas City Current defender Izzy Rodriguez, back, during the second half of an NWSL match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Friday, April 26, 2024. Kansas City Current won 3-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC midfielder Claire Emslie carries the ball for a corner kick against the Kansas City Current during the second half of an NWSL match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Friday, April 26, 2024. Kansas City Current won 3-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC defender Sarah Gorden brings the ball up the pitch against the Kansas City Current during the second half of an NWSL match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Friday, April 26, 2024. Kansas City Current won 3-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC midfielder Rocky Rodríguez, left, heads the ball against Kansas City Current forward Bia Zaneratto during the second half of an NWSL match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Friday, April 26, 2024. Kansas City Current won 3-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC defender Sarah Gorden, left, vies for the ball with Kansas City Current midfielder Claire Hutton (14) during the second half of an NWSL match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Friday, April 26, 2024. Kansas City Current won 3-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC goalkeeper Didi Haracic misses a block against the Kansas City Current during the second half of an NWSL match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Friday, April 26, 2024. Kansas City Current won 3-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Kansas City Current midfielder Claire Lvaogez, center, celebrates after scoring her second goal against Angel City FC during the second half of an NWSL match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Friday, April 26, 2024. Kansas City Current won 3-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Soccer fans cheer during the second half of an NWSL match between Angel City FC and the Kansas City Current at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Friday, April 26, 2024. Kansas City Current won 3-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Former Angel City FC head coach and current Kansas City Current assistant coach Freya Coombe, left, walks on to the pitch with Angel City FC head coach Becki Tweed prior to the start of an NWSL match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Friday, April 26, 2024. Kansas City Current won 3-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
A soccer fan holds up a sign during the second half of an NWSL match between Angel City FC and the Kansas City Current at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Friday, April 26, 2024. Kansas City Current won 3-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
A soccer fan cheers during the second half of an NWSL match between Angel City FC and the Kansas City Current at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, on Friday, April 26, 2024. Kansas City Current won 3-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LOS ANGELES — After nearly 90 minutes of ducking and dodging the Kansas City Current’s best punches as if it was a heavyweight fight, Angel City Football Club felt the knockout punch just before the clock struck 90:00.
The Current’s Claire Lavogez scored the game-winning goal in the 90th minute and added a second in stoppage time to hand Angel City FC a 3-1 defeat on Friday night in front of 19,178 at BMO Stadium.
“I think it started off a little bit transitional and I think you saw how dangerous we could be, our play was working and we tried to nullify their threats,” Angel City defender Ali Riley said. “I think this just shows that you have to be on for the entire 96 minutes. We let down in the end, but you can’t fault the effort that the girls put in.”
Before the late explosion, Angel City (2-3-1, seven points) had done one of its better defensive jobs containing the Kansas City attack.
However, the league’s highest-scoring team eventually had the final say.
“The last two goals … we have to be better defensively,” Angel City FC coach Becki Tweed said.
After going winless in its first three games, Angel City had won consecutive games (against Chicago and North Carolina). Kansas City (5-0-1, 16 points) has secured all available points save for a 1-1 draw against Gotham FC.
Angel City broke through on the scoreboard in the 34th minute as Claire Emslie scored off an assist from Alyssa Thompson, and the hosts took that lead into halftime.
“We had a lot of possession at the time and we were winning the ball back after we lost it too,” Thompson said. “Our shape behind the ball was really good, and we were able to get in positions that we practiced. There’s just a lot of interchange and I went wide and I saw Claire and she’s always in good positions. I passed her the ball and she scored.”
The second half saw a more focused Current team. Kansas City recorded 15 shots (five on target). In the first half, the Current took nine shots (three on target).
Kansas City scored the equalizer in the 54th minute on a perfect strike from outside the 18-yard box by Vanessa DiBernardo that sailed over Angel City goalkeeper Didi Haracic’s outstretched right arm, settling into the back of the net.
DiBernardo nearly had a second goal on a shot from outside the 18-yard box that hit the crossbar in the 65th minute.
Just when it appeared as if a draw was possible, the Current found their late goals, thanks to their depth.
“I think we switched off for the last six minutes,” Tweed said. “You can’t do that against any team, especially a team that’s scored 20 goals. We have to get better from it. I thought the first half we created a decent amount of opportunities and we came in at halftime in a good position.
“We have to continue to play when we go 1-0 up. We just became a little careless on the ball. I think we stopped them in transition for the most part. We chose to come out in a 3-4-3 and to have five players available in transition. We didn’t have a crazy amount of time to prepare, but I thought we executed well for 89 minutes … but I think the depth of their squad … when you bring on (Brazilian standout) Debinha (as a sub), that’s good.”
The teams previously met on March 30, with Kansas City winning, 4-2.
Angel City returns to action next Friday (May 3) with a road match against Utah Royals FC.
