Boston Legacy FC's rollercoaster of a season will culminate in a rematch against Angel City FC in Carson, California on Sunday.
The two teams last faced each other at the end of August, when ACFC handed Boston a brutal 5-2 defeat at home, marking another loss in Boston’s winless month to forget. Since then, Boston has had a 4-2-1 record, snatching points from several top-ranked teams.
The game is still recent enough to sting, and both teams will no doubt be out for blood.
Here’s what to expect.
On The Line
Sunday is the league’s Decision Day, and while LA (14-8-7) has already clinched a playoff spot, the Angels still have something to fight for. Angel City is currently in fifth place and will be looking to finish fourth to secure a playoff game at home. With just one point between fourth and fifth, an LA win and a KC Current draw or loss against Racing Louisville FC will put the Angels ahead.
Boston (9-14-6) is currently in 13th with 33 points. With no playoffs in the immediate future, the Swans’ mission remains making the opponent’s life harder.
“We want to create that fear in the other teams,” Nicki Hernandez said Saturday. “So I think we're doing that as well as wanting to enjoy it and just take this time to see what we can learn and just take until the next season.”
It may be the Legacy’s last game of the season, but the team is still focusing on what lies ahead.
“It doesn't really feel like it's the end right now,” Nichelle Prince said. “I feel like we're in such a growth stage right now that it's like this is another game to help us going into next year. I think you can tell we’re a team that goes into every game hungry to get points, get results, and grow. So you're going to see that from us again [Sunday].”
Angel City FC is coming off a nine-game unbeaten streak. It will be a tough game, according to head coach Filipa Patão. BLFC is unbeaten in the last three games, and the ideal result Sunday would be a win, but the coach mainly wants to see consistency from her team.
“If we can see a Boston team that replicates the the last games [in] the way that we were more consistent defensively, the way that we were scoring goals every game … these are the things we will search for,” the coach said.
Availability Report
Boston's Casey Murphy, Fauzia Najjemba, and Chloe Ricketts are unavailable due to season-ending injuries.
Angel City’s Prisca Chilufya, who last scored a brace against Boston, will be out for the game. Jun Endo and Hina Sugita will also be unavailable due to season-ending injuries.
Players to Watch
For the drama, it would be nice to see Boston pull another Uno reverse in LA like it did in Portland and score five goals in their house (even though Dignity Health Sports Park is neither in Los Angeles nor ACFC’s stadium).
Amanda Gutierres and Aïssata Traoré are still tied as the team’s leading goalscorer with 10 goals each. A little friendly competition today wouldn’t hurt anybody.
Patão said last week that Gift Monday needed more confidence and time with the team to start taking those goalscoring opportunities. It has only been a week since Monday's debut, but she may have one last opportunity to showcase her true potential on the field before getting to work in the offseason.
The Legacy has a slight advantage with Chilufya being unavailable, but the Swans will still have to worry about LA’s top goalscorers: Maiara Niehues, Sveindís Jónsdóttir, and Ally Sentnor. Each of them scored a goal in the teams’ previous meeting.
Gisele Thompson also remains a threat. She typically plays as a full back, but her offensive versatility has led to her scoring five goals and recording four assists.
Fans will be able to watch the game on ESPN+
