Angel City pushes up with three wins

Angel City came away with three necessary wins Saturday, allowing at least one squad to qualify already for the ACSL round of eight cup playoffs.

ACFC came out strong against the Swamp Donkeys, who handed the squad its first and only loss of the season in November, winning a hard-fought 8-5 match with calm play and some great goalkeeping from Peter Marlenga. Tiit Tikenberg, playing in his last game with the club (he returns to his native Estonia), notched five goals in the game. ACFC is now tied with the Donkeys on 12 points, though its GD of +7 leaves the squad in second place, seven goals down with one regular season match to go. However, second place is secure with the last week of play determining top spot.

Angel City FC also played a strong match against GT United, knocking off the last place La Liga team 6-0 with Peter Marlenga earning not only the team's, but the league's first shutout. Tikenberg added a brace to go out with a bang -- seven goals on the day. Angel City face a tougher battle for a playoff spot. Etonien FC have already captured top spot in La Liga with 15 points. Angel City are in third, three points behind Sunset FC, but face an almost insurmountable GD challenge (Angel City -10, Sunset FC +10), even if they win their last match and Sunset loses.

The AC Allstars earned another three points when EPL-leading Jonesy's Jukebox defaulted their game. That leaves the Allstars three points behind JJ and tied with 20th Century Fox on nine points. 20th Century Fox have a +6 greater GD, leaving the blues in third for now. However, the Allstars play bottom dwellers the West LA Wanderers, while JJ and 20th Century battle it out. Top and second place are free for the taking depending on the outcome of Week 6.


ACFC (8) vs Swamp Donkeys (5)
Goals: (Tikenberg, 5; O'Meara, Kull, Wallach)

Angel City FC (6) vs GT United (0)
Goals: (Tikenberg, 2; O'Meara, Woirhaye, Kull, Wallach)
Shutout: Peter Marlenga

AC Allstars (1) vs Jonesy's Jukebox (0) Default

Goal Stats (Week 5, ACSL)

Tiit Tikenberg: 19
Craig Nichols: 11
David Woirhaye: 10
Matt Onheiber: 6
Marius Sandvik: 5
Russ Muratov: 5
Ben O'Meara: 4
Michael Gemballa: 3
Luis Deveze: 3
Leo Wallach: 2
Ben Kull: 2
Ivan O'Neil: 2
Lazaro Deoliveira: 2
Volkert Besseling: 1
Michael Sharp: 1
Leo M.: 1
Daniel Klein: 1