The NWSL Challenge Cup has afforded Angel City FC an early look at what works and what doesn’t before the start of the regular season.

Through two games, there have been ups and downs for Angel City heading into a back-to-back road stretch against the Portland Thorns on Wednesday (7 p.m., Paramount+) and San Diego Wave FC on Saturday (1 p.m., Ch. 2).

“We use the Challenge Cup as a process to test our team and today we were tested,” Angel City coach Freya Coombe said following Saturday’s 3-1 loss to OL Reign. “I think the performance was a lot better than last week, obviously the result and scoreline wasn’t our way, but in terms of performance and process, I think we took two big steps forward.”

On Saturday, Angel City (0-1-1) played approximately 60 minutes down a player – Savannah McCaskill was issued a red card in the 31st minute – and had the better run of play during that time.

OL Reign coach Laura Harvey said “when they (Angel City) had a player sent off, we lost our way a little bit. We didn’t take advantage of that player-up situation. We made the game too difficult for ourselves.”

Consider it another on-the-job learning experience for Angel City.

“It’s an opportunity to practice being down,” forward Simone Charley said of playing after the red card. “Things aren’t always going to go your way. You have to look at it as an opportunity to face something that we don’t want to face.

“It was just great for us to be able to face this so early in the season. Now when the regular season starts, it’s nothing new. We’ve been here before we know how to handle it.”

After two games, Angel City and San Diego are tied on one point in the Western Division, but ACFC forward Tyler Lussi sees the improvement on the field.

“I think we’re so much more confident,” Lussi said. “Just in terms of our build-up, our possession and our play, we’re seeing it and we’re actually implementing it on the field.

“Obviously, we haven’t had the results that we wanted, but in terms of our play, we’re so much better.”

The Lussi-Charley combo provided Angel City with its only goal Saturday and the duo will be in familiar territory for Wednesday night’s game against the Thorns.

Angel City acquired Lussi and Charley in a trade with the Thorns on Dec. 8.

“I played there for five years, so honestly I’m excited,” Lussi said. “I’ve never been on the other side as the away team going into that stadium, but I’m really excited to be there, see former teammates and play against them, but when that whistle blows, it’s game time.”

Related Articles

Lussi has started both games on the front line, alongside Christen Press and Jun Endo. Charley made her Angel City debut, coming on as a substitute to start the second half against OL Reign.

“It’s always fun playing with Ty,” said Charley, who made Portland’s practice squad in 2018 and made her first start with the Thorns in May 2019. “We kind of know each other, know our strengths and how to play together. It was really fun being able to get a goal together and being able to assist her and her great movement in the box was awesome.”