The anticipation around Alyssa Thompson’s pro debut was massive and, just as she’s done at every point in her young career so far, Thompson delivered.
Thompson started for Angel City FC in their season opener against NJ/NY Gotham FC on Sunday night, with 22,000 fans packing BMO Stadium to see the teenager’s first official pro game.
The first overall pick in the draft had already shown what she could do in a preseason friendly against Club América, but Sunday was the first chance a NWSL defense had to show whether it could slow down the 18-year-old.
It took just 11 minutes for the answer: it could not.
ALYSSA THOMPSON ARE YOU KIDDING? pic.twitter.com/wT0Tg0J6Pt
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) March 27, 2023
Thompson got past her marker with a dip of her shoulder and unleashed a strike from the top of the box that goalkeeper Abby Smith could only get a palm on before it nestled into the back of the net.
“Dani [Weatherholt] got it on the side and I saw that there was space inside to get it back,” Thompson told Angel City’s website after the game. “So I got in that space, I looked up, and the goal was pretty open.”
“It felt amazing [to score],” she added. “I was super excited just to be at the home opener and score and get our team on the right foot.”
Though Thompson shined on her debut, her team would go on to demonstrate how they could struggle this season even with the standout rookie in their ranks.
Angel City had a second goal questionably chalked off after a VAR review, then watched Gotham strike back with second-half goals from Midge Purce and Lynn Williams in a 2-1 comeback win.
With Christen Press and Sydney Leroux still injured, Angel City’s attack will suffer, and will also be even more reliant on Thompson.
The teenager showed once again on Sunday that she can deliver the goods. Now it’s up to the rest of her teammates to keep the team afloat until reinforcements can arrive.
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