LOS ANGELES — The Angel City Football Club got off to a quick start in Wednesday night’s UKG NWSL Challenge Cup match. Make that an extremely quick start.

Madison Hammond opened the scoring with a second-minute goal against San Diego Wave FC, and Clarisse Le Bihan added a goal in the 18th minute for a two-goal halftime lead on their way to a 2-1 win in front of 13,648 at BMO Stadium.

“We work a lot on set pieces. We have a saying scrappy equals happy and I thought back to the last game against them when Paige Nielsen scored and I thought what if it deflects,” Hammond said.

The win also extends Angel City’s unbeaten streak to three matches – across league and Challenge Cup competition – since the firing of former coach Freya Coombe. It is also the second consecutive win this season for Angel City against its regional rival.

With the win, Angel City now has four points in the West Division for the Challenge Cup, tied with the Portland Thorns for second place. Angel City has two Challenge Cup matches remaining (July 29 at home against the Thorns and Aug. 5 at San Diego). The top team in each of the three four-team divisions, along with the highest-finishing (on points) second-place team will advance to the semifinals in September.

Seattle-based OL Reign is in control of the West, moving to 10 points with its 1-0 victory over Portland on Wednesday.

The night wasn’t all easy for Angel City. San Diego cut the deficit in half on Danielle Colaprico’s goal in the 64th minute. It came at a time when Angel City was beginning to lose control of the match.

“It was a tough night for us,” San Diego coach Casey Stoney said. “I take full responsibility for our poor performance in the first half. I don’t think I gave them the best chance to be successful.”

Angel City could have increased its lead heading into halftime, but a shot by Hammond in the 38th minute hit the crossbar. Moments earlier, San Diego defender Mia Gyau came up with a goal-line clearance of a shot by Le Bihan that had got behind goalkeeper Shae Yanez and was headed toward the open net.

In the second half, Angel City had another shot hit the crossbar – this time from Jasmyne Spencer in the 57th minute.

Defenders Kelsey Hill and Elizabeth Eddy were both announced as new signings under the National Team Replacement Players provision. Eddy, who attended Newport Harbor High and USC, came on as a second-half substitute in the 65th minute. Hill, a Pepperdine alumnus, entered in the 77th minute.

Angel City returns to league play on Sunday with a road match against NY/NJ Gotham FC.

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