Angel City W vs Portland Thorns W Match Recap - Oct 19, 2025

Olivia Moultrie’s Double Sends Portland Thorns Past Angel City, Shaking Up NWSL Playoff Chase at BMO Stadium

LOS ANGELES — The late October heat lingered long after the final whistle at BMO Stadium, but it was the ice-cool composure of Olivia Moultrie that burned brightest as Portland Thorns seized a decisive 2-0 victory over Angel City FC on Sunday night—a result that may yet prove pivotal in the evolving calculus of the NWSL postseason.

For Angel City, the evening began with hope and ended in frustration, as their recent renaissance—buoyed by last week’s 2-0 win against Houston—dissolved under the relentless pressure of a Thorns side fighting for relevance in a crowded playoff picture. Moultrie, only 20 and already a fixture in league highlight reels, struck with clinical authority, bagging both goals, punctuating Portland’s intent and exposing Angel City’s fragility at the back.

The opening exchanges set an anxious rhythm, with Angel City’s midfield pressing high, eager to dictate. But in the 23rd minute, that ambition unraveled. A measured Portland build-up, orchestrated from deep by Sam Coffey, found Moultrie in space just outside the area. With characteristic economy, she carved a path through the defense and rifled a low shot past Angel City’s keeper, igniting the visiting supporters and shifting momentum irreversibly toward Portland.

From there, the Thorns asserted control, their recent stumbles—losses to Orlando and Gotham, draws against San Diego and Chicago—seeming like distant memories as they moved the ball with crisp intent. Angel City, meanwhile, found themselves hemmed in, their best spell—a quick transition in the 39th minute—thwarted by Thorns defender Becky Sauerbrunn, whose experienced intervention cut short what might have been a game-altering move.

The contest tightened after halftime, but Portland’s command was never truly threatened. Moultrie, showing the poise of a veteran, became the focal point once more in the 60th minute. A clever incursion into the box saw her brought down under pressure; the referee’s whistle was instant, pointing to the spot. No stranger to pressure, Moultrie stepped up and converted with no hesitation, driving the ball low and left while Angel City’s keeper guessed wrong—a second tally, a dagger through any lingering Angel City optimism.

For Angel City, the defeat carries a heavy weight. The club’s recent form—one win, one draw, and three losses in their last five—reflects a pattern of narrow margins and missed opportunities. Tonight’s scoreline compounds their struggles, keeping them mired in 11th place with 27 points from 24 matches. In a season defined by parity and late drama, Angel City’s playoff ambitions now hang by the thinnest of threads.

Portland, conversely, finds a lifeline in victory. With nine wins and seven draws on the season, they climb to 34 points—just inside the playoff boundary after a stretch where inconsistency threatened to undo early promise. Moultrie's recent form, now five goals in her last three appearances, has provided the spark, transforming the Thorns from a side teetering on the edge into serious contenders once again.

The story of these teams’ rivalry is, for now, one of Portland dominance—Angel City yet to unlock a formula against the Thorns when stakes run highest. And tonight, that pattern held: the Thorns’ experience and efficiency outpaced Angel City’s urgency and raw energy, the gulf on the scoreboard mirroring their contrasting trajectories in the table.

No red cards punctuated the narrative, but the evening’s drama was written in the gaps and missed chances. Angel City struggled for clear looks, their attack blunted by a disciplined Portland back line anchored by Sauerbrunn and Reyes. Every Angel City thrust was met with a counter, every surge cooled by a well-timed tackle or interception. The home side’s best hopes flickered—brief moments in transition, a near-post header tipped wide in the 75th minute—but ultimately faded as the minutes bled away.

With the regular season winding down, stakes heighten for both clubs. Angel City must now reckon with a harsh reality: only perfection in their final fixtures—and favors elsewhere—will suffice to resurrect playoff dreams. For Portland, the momentum from Sunday’s win will be precious currency in the battles ahead; Moultrie’s ascendancy is becoming one of the league’s October stories.

A pivotal night at BMO Stadium, then—one shaped by youth and experience, ambition and consequence. As the NWSL playoff race tightens, Portland’s resurgence and Angel City’s descent remind us that nothing is settled, and that October, true to form, is always a month for the unexpected.