Angel City FC midfielder Clarisse Le Bihan, left, kicks the ball during the first half of their game against San Diego Wave FC on Thursday night at BMO Stadium. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC forward Alyssa Thompson, center, moves the ball during the first half of their game against San Diego Wave FC on Thursday night at BMO Stadium. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC forward Claire Emslie dribbles the ball during the first half of their game against San Diego Wave FC on Thursday night at BMO Stadium. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC midfielder Rocky Rodriguez, center, kicks the ball during the first half of their game against San Diego Wave FC on Thursday night at BMO Stadium. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
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Angel City FC goalkeeper DiDi Haračić, left, makes a save against San Diego Wave FC’s Maria Sanchez during the first half of their NWSL match on Thursday night at BMO Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Angel City FC defender Gisele Thompson, center, moves the ball during the first half of their game against San Diego Wave FC on Thursday night at BMO Stadium. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC forward Claire Emslie chases the ball down during the first half of their game against San Diego Wave FC on Thursday night at BMO Stadium. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC defender Jasmyne Spencer, right, vies for the ball during the first half of their game against San Diego Wave FC on Thursday night at BMO Stadium. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC defender Jasmyne Spencer, right, kicks the ball past San Diego Wave FC midfielder Danny Colaprico during the first half on Thursday night at BMO Stadium. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
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San Diego Wave FC head coach Casey Stoney, center, looks on during the first half of their game against Angel City FC on Thursday night at BMO Stadium. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC’s Megan Reid, left, pursues the ball alongside San Diego Wave FC’s Elsye Bennett during the first half of their NWSL match on Thursday night at BMO Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Angel City FC’s Jasmyne Spencer, left, controls the ball in front of San Diego Wave FC’s Maria Sanchez during the first half of their NWSL match on Thursday night at BMO Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Angel City FC’s Claire Emslie, left, controls the ball in front of San Diego Wave FC’s Kristen McNabb during the first half of their NWSL match on Thursday night at BMO Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Angel City FC forward Alyssa Thompson, center, brings the ball up the field during the second half of their game against San Diego Wave FC on Thursday night at BMO Stadium. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
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Angel City FC goalkeeper DiDi Haračić (13) makes a save during the second half of their game against San Diego Wave FC on Thursday night at BMO Stadium. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
San Diego Wave FC forward Jaedyn Shaw (11) kicks the ball as Angel City FC midfielder Lily Nabet (28) defends during the second half on Thursday night at BMO Stadium. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC defender M.A. Vignola, right, recovers the ball in front of San Diego Wave FC forward Sofia Jakobsson during the second half on Thursday night at BMO Stadium. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
San Diego Wave FC forward Alex Morgan, front, heads the ball against Angel City FC defender Megan Reid, back, during the second half on Thursday night at BMO Stadium. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC defender Megan Reid, right, dribbles the ball as San Diego Wave FC forward Alex Morgan, left, chases her during the second half on Thursday night at BMO Stadium. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
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Angel City FC midfielder Rocky Rodriguez (7) heads the ball in traffic during the second half of their game against San Diego Wave FC on Thursday night at BMO Stadium. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC forward Claire Emslie, right, is knocked down by San Diego Wave FC defender Abby Dahlkemper during the second half on Thursday night at BMO Stadium. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC defender Madison Curry controls the ball during the second half of their game against San Diego Wave FC on Thursday night at BMO Stadium. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
San Diego Wave FC defender Naomi Girma controls the ball during the second half of their game against Angel City FC on Thursday night at BMO Stadium. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC goalkeeper DiDi Haračić, center back, makes a save during the second half of their game against San Diego Wave FC on Thursday night at BMO Stadium. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
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Angel City FC defender M.A. Vignola, front, controls the ball as San Diego Wave FC forward Jaedyn Shaw, back, defends during the second half on Thursday night at BMO Stadium. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
San Diego Wave FC forward Alex Morgan, left, recovers the ball in front of Angel City FC defender Megan Reid, right, during the second half on Thursday night at BMO Stadium. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC midfielder Madison Hammond, left, heads the ball during the second half of their game against San Diego Wave FC on Thursday night at BMO Stadium. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC forward Sydney Leroux claps during the second half of their game against San Diego Wave FC on Thursday night at BMO Stadium. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
San Diego Wave FC midfielder Savannah McCaskill, center, kicks the ball during the second half of their game against Angel City FC on Thursday night at BMO Stadium. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
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Angel City FC midfielder Rocky Rodriguez, center, heads the ball during the second half of their game against San Diego Wave FC on Thursday night at BMO Stadium. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC midfielder Rocky Rodriguez, right, takes a shot on goal during the second half of their game against San Diego Wave FC on Thursday night at BMO Stadium. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
San Diego Wave FC forward Jaedyn Shaw looks on during the second half of their game against Angel City FC on Thursday night at BMO Stadium. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC’s Alyssa Thompson controls the ball during the second half of their NWSL match against San Diego Wave FC on Thursday night at BMO Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Angel City FC’s Gisele Thompson, right, controls the ball in front of San Diego Wave FC’s Mya Jones during the second half of their NWSL match on Thursday night at BMO Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
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Angel City FC’s Gisele Thompson, right, controls the ball in front of San Diego Wave FC’s Mya Jones during the second half of their NWSL match on Thursday night at BMO Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
San Diego Wave FC’s Danny Colaprico, right, is fouled by Angel City FC’s Lily Nabet during the second half of their NWSL match on Thursday night at BMO Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
San Diego Wave FC’s Danny Colaprico, right, is fouled by Angel City FC’s Lily Nabet during the second half of their NWSL match on Thursday night at BMO Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Angel City FC midfielder Madison Hammond, right, vies for the ball with San Diego Wave FC midfielder Danny Colaprico, center, during the second half on Thursday night at BMO Stadium. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC’s Dani Weatherholt, left, controls the ball in front of San Diego Wave FC’s Abby Dahlkemper during the second half of their NWSL match on Thursday night at BMO Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
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Angel City FC’s Dani Weatherholt, left, controls the ball in front of San Diego Wave FC’s Abby Dahlkemper during the second half of their NWSL match on Thursday night at BMO Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Angel City FC head coach Becki Tweed looks on prior to their NWSL match against San Diego Wave FC on Thursday night at BMO Stadium. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
An Angel City FC fan holds up a scarf during the first half of their game against San Diego Wave FC on Thursday night at BMO Stadium. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Angel City FC’s starting lineup poses for a portrait prior to an NWSL match against San Diego Wave FC on Thursday night at BMO Stadium. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
A general view of play between Angel City FC and San Diego Wave FC during the second half of their NWSL match on Thursday night at BMO Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
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LOS ANGELES — The early stages of the Angel City FC-San Diego Wave FC rivalry has proven to be difficult to call, like a tightly-contested election race.
Entering the first meeting of the 2024 season on Thursday night, each team had three wins and two draws.
In front of 19,103 at BMO Stadium, two of the league’s less-than-lethal offenses battled to a scoreless draw in a match that saved its best nervous moments for the late stages. The draw leaves Angel City with a 1-2-1 record at home.
Just before the end of the nine minutes of stoppage time, San Diego nearly snatched the three points. Off a free kick, Emily Van Edmond’s header from near the penalty spot hit the crossbar and the rebound came to Alex Morgan and her header was swatted away by Angel City goalkeeper DiDi Haračić.
Haračić was credited with five saves for the night.
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“Story of our season,” San Diego coach Casey Stoney said. “I thought we created a lot, still bitterly disappointed to walk away with a point. Our best chances didn’t hit the target.”
Angel City (3-5-2, 11 points) almost found a game-winning goal early in stoppage time. Alyssa Thompson made a darting run through the middle and laid it off to her right to M.A. Vignola. Vignola’s shot across the goal was kicked away by San Diego goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan.
“The goal was to keep it out of the back of the net,” Haračić said. “The entire team showed a lot of grit to get a point. It shows the depth we have on this team. We missed (injured) Sarah (Gorden), she’s a big piece of our team, but at the end of the day, I’m confident in whoever steps on the field.”
The game was Angel City’s first without vice captain and starting center back Gorden, who suffered an ankle injury last week.
This was the third shutout that Haračić and Angel City have recorded this season, the last coming against the North Carolina Courage (April 21).
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That moment gave Angel City some life as it earned three consecutive corner kicks. Neither one put San Diego (3-4-3, 12 points) under any serious pressure.
The game was scoreless at halftime, which probably should have been expected, considering how much both teams have struggled offensively this season. San Diego had just nine goals through its first nine games, while Angel City had scored 11 through its first nine.
The teams will meet twice more this season. The second regular-season meeting is Aug. 24 in San Diego. Three weeks before that, they will meet in the NWSL/Liga MX Summer Cup on Aug. 1 at Cal State Fullerton’s Titan Stadium.
With the upcoming international break, Angel City will be off until June 8 against NJ/NY Gotham FC.
