Angelina Anderson denies Gotham from the spot to secure a point for Angel City

LOS ANGELES — For most of Sunday night, Angelina Anderson had been asked to do what a goalkeeper hopes for: stay ready.

Gotham FC had its moments, particularly after halftime, but Angel City FC had largely kept the league leaders from turning their possession into clear chances. Then, with four minutes left in regulation, everything changed.

A video review awarded Gotham a controversial penalty for a handball in the box. Guro Reiten stepped to the spot with a chance to steal three points for the visitors.

Anderson had other plans.

She dove to her right and got one hand to Reiten’s attempt, sending the ball away and BMO Stadium into a roar. The save preserved a 0-0 draw and extended Angel City’s unbeaten streak to four matches.

For Anderson, the moment came down to something she has spent much of this season rebuilding: trust in herself.

“It’s almost like delusionally confident,” Anderson said. “Like, I will save this no matter what.”

That confidence has been a process for the young goalkeeper. Anderson said she has changed how she approaches both her day-to-day routine and the mental side of the game, stripping things back after feeling like she was trying to operate at “max capacity” all the time.

The result was on display Sunday.

Anderson made six saves, including a pair of difficult stops on Sam Kerr and Jordynn Dudley in the second half. She also intervened on a dangerous cross that appeared destined to find Kerr alone at the back post.

The penalty save was the signature moment, but it was hardly Anderson’s only contribution to a defensive performance that held a Gotham attack scoreless for the first time in its last five matches.

Sarah Gorden provided perhaps the most memorable play before Anderson’s heroics. In the 52nd minute, Gorden threw herself into a tackle to block Kerr’s shot from inside the box, drawing chants of her name from the crowd.

Anderson could see the work happening in front of her.

“My defenders are some freaking dogs,” she said. “I feel so lucky to have them as a unit in front of me.”

That unit helped Angel City withstand a Gotham side that had won four straight matches coming into BMO Stadium and had not lost to Angel City in seven meetings.

But Angel City did not simply sit back and survive.

The hosts created some of the better chances in the opening half, outshooting Gotham 8-4 and holding a 2-1 edge in shots on target. Ally Sentnor put a Prisca Chilufya cross just over the bar, Ary Borges forced a save from Ann-Katrin Berger and Chilufya nearly opened the scoring with a backheel that slid just wide.

Chilufya continued to cause problems throughout the night, but the missing piece was the one she knows matters most.

“As a striker, when you don’t score, it’s a very sad situation,” Chilufya said. “You can do everything. You can shoot, the keeper can save, so you just need some luck.”

That has become a familiar theme for Angel City during its recent run. Sunday marked the club’s fourth consecutive draw, and while the unbeaten streak continues, so does the search for the three-point performances that can turn those draws into a playoff push.

Still, interim head coach Leif Smerud saw plenty worth building on.

“I think they play really like a team,” Smerud said. “Everyone runs for each other.”

That was particularly evident when Angel City needed to withstand Gotham’s pressure late. Smerud also pointed to the return of Savy King, who entered in the 68th minute and allowed Gisele Thompson to move into midfield, as another sign of a roster beginning to regain flexibility.

For now, Angel City remains difficult to beat. Anderson’s job Sunday was to make sure that stayed true until the final whistle.

“We will win games, I’m sure, if we keep performing and keep playing,” Smerud said.

The next chance comes Wednesday, when Angel City travels to face a North Carolina side that has won four of their last five matches.