Jyllissa Harris #33 of Houston Dash hugs Paige Nielsen #7 after her goal in stoppage time, for a 1-0 win over the Angel City FC at BMO Stadium on May 12, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Simone Charley #7 of Angel City FC chases after a ball to the corner during the first half against the Houston Dash at BMO Stadium on May 12, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Paige Nielsen #7 of the Houston Dash celebrates her goal with Ramona Bachmann #28 and Sarah Punitgam #17, to take a 1-0 lead over the Angel City FC in stoppage time, during a 1-0 win at BMO Stadium on May 12, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Jasmyne Spencer #3 of Angel City FC gets past Amanda West #16 of the Houston Dash to the ball during a 1-0 Dash win at BMO Stadium on May 12, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Courtney Petersen #8 of the Houston Dash looks up to pass in front of Katie Johnson #33 of Angel City FC during a 1-0 Dash win at BMO Stadium on May 12, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Clarisse Le Bihan #29 of Angel City FC looks to pass to Katie Johnson #33 during a 1-0 loss to the Houston Dash win at BMO Stadium on May 12, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Alyssa Thompson #21 of Angel City FC is challenged by Michelle Alozie #11 of the Houston Dash during a 1-0 Dash win at BMO Stadium on May 12, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Head coach Becki Tweed talks to Claire Emslie #10 and Simone Charley #7 after a time out during a 1-0 loss to the Houston Dashat BMO Stadium on May 12, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Natalie Jacobs #4 of the Houston Dash turns from Sydney Leroux #2 of Angel City FC during a 1-0 Dash win at BMO Stadium on May 12, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Jasmyne Spencer #3 of Angel City FC attempts a cross past Courtney Petersen #8 of the Houston Dash during a 1-0 Dash win at BMO Stadium on May 12, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Alyssa Thompson #21 of Angel City FC dribbles in front of Avery Patterson and Paige Nielsen during a 1-0 Dash win at BMO Stadium on May 12, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Alyssa Thompson #21 of Angel City FC dribbles in front of Courtney Petersen #8 of the Houston Dash during a 1-0 Dash win at BMO Stadium on May 12, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Jasmyne Spencer #3 of Angel City FC dribbles between Courtney Petersen #8 and Sophie Hirst #20 of the Houston Dash during a 1-0 Dash win at BMO Stadium on May 12, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Sophie Hirst #20 plays the ball in front of Simone Charley #7 of Angel City FC during a 1-0 Dash win at BMO Stadium on May 12, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
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Sydney Leroux #2 of Angel City FC and Sophie Hirst #20 of the Houston Dash position for a corner during a 1-0 Dash win at BMO Stadium on May 12, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Jasmyne Spencer #3 of Angel City FC plays the ball in front of Amanda West #16 of the Houston Dash during a 1-0 Dash win at BMO Stadium on May 12, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Jasmyne Spencer #3 of Angel City FC plays the ball in front of Amanda West #16 of the Houston Dash during a 1-0 Dash win at BMO Stadium on May 12, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Alyssa Thompson #21 of Angel City FC plays the ball with Avery Pattterson #3 of the Houston Dash during a 1-0 Dash win at BMO Stadium on May 12, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Amanda West #16 of the Houston Dash attempts a cross during a 1-0 Dash win over the Angel City FC at BMO Stadium on May 12, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Sophie Schmidt #13 and Simone Charley #7 of Angel City FC watch as Madison Curry heads the ball during a 1-0 Dash win at BMO Stadium on May 12, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Simone Charley #7 of Angel City FC is fouled by Sophie Schmidt #13 of the Houston Dash during a 1-0 Dash win at BMO Stadium on May 12, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Actress Jennifer Garner and son Samuel Garner Affleck on the sidelines during the game between the Houston Dash and the Angel City FC during a 1-0 Dash win at BMO Stadium on May 12, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Avery Patterson #30 of the Houston Dash crosses the ball in front of Madison Curry #21 of the Angel City FC during a 1-0 Dash win at BMO Stadium on May 12, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Avery Patterson #30 of the Houston Dash passes in front of Madison Curry #21 of the Angel City FC during a 1-0 Dash win at BMO Stadium on May 12, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
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LOS ANGELES — Paige Nielsen called Angel City FC home for two seasons entering this season.
In April, Nielsen was traded to the Houston Dash.
Nielsen returned Sunday to BMO Stadium, but on the other side of the field and in the visiting locker room. She received a loud ovation as if she was still in the black of Angel City during the starting lineup introductions and in the final stages of the game, she capped her emotional return with the game-winning goal.
Nielsen, off of a corner-kick, scored in the late stages of the seven minutes of stoppage time to hand her former club Angel City a 1-0 defeat in front of 18,037 at BMO Stadium.
“This place was really special for me,” Nielsen said. “The fans, the community, my own teammates and being here from the inception, it was really tough, but coming back here, I knew that I really wanted to win this game.
“I even told my new team, that they should do everything to win this game. They did such a good job, one of our best games since I’ve been with Houston and I’m super proud of them and I’m so thankful to be the one to score at the end. Probably one of the best moments of my career.”
Nielsen’s goal came at the end of a tough game for both teams. Houston was playing the second game in five games, but still managed to buckle down on the defensive end.
Nielsen joined Angel City (3-4-1, 10 points) in the expansion draft before the club’s first season. She made 20 appearances in the first season and 21 last season.
“When I scored the goal, I was like ‘Holy crap’ did that just happen? I was super stoked,” Nielsen said. “I didn’t really understand that the fans were cheering. It wasn’t until after, when everyone stayed and had the signs that I saw it. They said how much they loved me and missed me. I heard a couple of stories that impacted kids’ lives …best fans in the league. They mean so much to me still.”
Nielsen said she heard talks of a possible trade.
“It was very sudden,” she said. “I knew there were talks the day before it happened and then I got brought into a meeting that Friday. The trade deadline window and basically was told it was verbally agreed that the trade would happen. I wasn’t really prepared for it to happen in midseason, I wanted to stay with Angel City …I was going to be a free agent at the end of the year and don’t know if Angel City could or wanted to pay what other teams were offering for me. Smart move by them if they could actually get something for me before I became a free agent, because I know Angel City had a lot of amazing defenders and they needed to restructure and rebuild and I’m flattered teams wanted me for a trade.”
Angel City FC had won three of their last four games entering Sunday, but again struggled offensively. Angel City won the possession battle, had 13 shots, but just three on target.
“Honestly, the moments at the end matter, but I think the 96 minutes leading up to that are the more relevant part,” Angel City coach Becki Tweed said. “Ultimately, the 96 minutes that we had, we can’t feel sorry for ourselves. That last minute, it hurts and sometimes football is cruel, but that 96 minutes before it, are a space that we have to get better in.
“It was just one of those games where we didn’t create enough (chances) and we weren’t dangerous enough in the final third. We had 13 shots apparently and I don’t know where they came from. We had some good build up moments, but that’s not enough to win games.”
Angel City will be back in action Saturday on the road against the Washington Spirit. They will meet Nielsen and the Dash again in June, by then Nielsen should be settled in, with her dogs and wife.
“I was really devastated (about the trade) for awhile and I had to move forward and do my job with Houston,” she said. “I”m getting excited more, the girls are really great at Houston. I miss a lot of people here (at Angel City), but I’m excited for another adventure.”
