NWSL: Bay FC Stumbles at Home as Angel City FC Claims Victory in San Jose

Staff Writer
6 days ago
3 min read

NATIONAL SOCCER NEWS: www.nationalsoccernetwork.com

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Bay FC suffered its first defeat of the 2026 NWSL season on Saturday night, falling 3-1 to a clinical Angel City FC side at PayPal Park. Despite a second-half spark and a notable debut from Italian international Cristiana Girelli, the hosts were unable to overcome an early defensive deficit in front of 10,299 fans.

Angel City took control of the match early, finding the back of the net just four minutes after the opening whistle. Kennedy Fuller orchestrated the opener, playing a perfectly weighted long ball to Sveindis Jónsdóttir, who outpaced the Bay FC backline to slot home the 1-0 lead.

"Football's football," said Bay FC Head Coach Emma Coates. "You win some, you lose some. There are parts of the game that we didn't execute well enough today. We turned the ball over easily... but there are glimpses that you start to see what we're capable of."

First Half Struggles and Girelli’s Debut

Bay FC pushed for an equalizer midway through the first half, with Taylor Huff seeing a dangerous free kick blocked by the wall and Karlie Lema narrowly missing the target after a high-press interception. However, the momentum stayed with the visitors. In the 32nd minute, Jónsdóttir turned provider, finding Gisele Thompson at the back post for a one-touch finish to double the advantage.

The match also marked the highly anticipated NWSL debut for forward Cristiana Girelli. Earning the start and playing the full 90 minutes, the veteran striker provided the technical focal point Bay FC had been seeking, eventually recording her first league assist.

Second Half Response and Late Discipline Issues

Jónsdóttir effectively put the game out of reach in the 53rd minute, netting her second of the night to make it 3-0. Bay FC did manage a response three minutes later when a slick passing combination from Girelli found Taylor Huff inside the box. Huff’s strike pinged off the post and in to bring the score to 3-1.

The closing moments of the match proved costly for Bay FC’s future lineup. In the seventh minute of stoppage time, Huff received her second caution of the night, resulting in an ejection. She will be unavailable for the club's next fixture.

Looking Ahead: Road Trip and Victory+ Debut

Bay FC (1-1-0) will look to bounce back as they head to North Carolina to face the Courage on Saturday, March 28. The 4:00 p.m. PT kickoff will mark a milestone for the club’s supporters, serving as the debut broadcast on Victory+, the club’s new free official streaming partner.

The team returns home to PayPal Park on Sunday, April 5, for the "Hello Kitty Match" against the Washington Spirit.

Match Statistics:

Goals by Half	1	2	F
Bay FC	0	1	1
Angel City FC	2	1	3

Scoring Summary:

LA: Sveindis Jónsdóttir (Fuller) — 4'
LA: Gisele Thompson (Jónsdóttir) — 32'
LA: Sveindis Jónsdóttir (Shores) — 53'
BAY: Taylor Huff (Girelli) — 56'

Bay FC Lineup: Silkowitz; Moreau, Anderson (Hubly 78'), Courtnall (Denton 65'), Collins; Bebar, Hutton, Huff; Girelli, Lema (Barry 45'), Pfeiffer (Conti 65')