FULLERTON — All eyes were on the sideline whenever the Angel City Football Club’s reserves went to do their warm-ups.
The only question everyone likely had was when would Christen Press get her chance to enter the game.
The moment finally happened deep into regulation of Thursday night’s NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup game against San Diego Wave FC.
Press, who had spent more than two seasons on the season-ending injury list, came on in the 89th minute to a loud roar from the crowd at Cal State Fullerton’s Titan Stadium.
It was the first time since June of 2022 that she had been available for a game, having suffered an ACL injury in 2022 and then undergoing four surgeries. She was officially taken off of the injury list on Wednesday.
Her first touch came at 89:12 when she sent a shot from approximately 8 yards out over the crossbar.
With the game scoreless, Angel City goalkeeper DiDi Haracic was forced to make a pair of big saves in stoppage time, followed by a shot by Melanie Barcenas that hit the crossbar.
The game remained scoreless through regulation, giving Angel City (2-0-1) a point to clinch Group B of the 20-team tournament with seven points. Angel City picked up an extra point by winning the penalty shootout 5-3, with Claire Emslie, Press, Alyssa Thompson, Rocky Rodriguez and Kennedy Fuller all converting to give Angel City eight points, securing their spot in the semifinals on Tuesday in Kansas City.
Angel City had won its first two games in group play, defeating Club America, 2-1, and Bay FC, 2-0.
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As is usually the case when Angel City and San Diego square off, scoring was difficult for both teams. Angel City had a couple of good chances in the first half, one ending with Alyssa Thompson hitting the post.
The teams went into halftime scoreless.
Four of the five group winners advance to the semifinals. Kansas City and North Carolina booked their spots into the semifinals earlier Thursday, and the final spot will be finalized Friday before the teams are seeded to set up the semifinal matchups.
The first regular-season game between Angel City and San Diego this season ended in a scoreless draw. The teams will resume NWSL play on Aug. 24 at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego.
San Diego fielded as strong of a lineup as possible, considering that defender Naomi Girma and forward Jaedyn Shaw are still with the USWNT at the Olympics and goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan is with Canada, also at the Olympics.
More to come on this story.
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