Scarlett Camberos, Mexico defeat Angel City FC in Copa Angelina

The UC Irvine product scores in the 76th minute in front of family and friends in a 2-0 win in the debut of a series that is designed to help promote women’s soccer in the U.S. and Mexico.

LOS ANGELES — The inaugural Copa Angelina between Angel City Football Club and the Mexican women’s national team proved to be a memorable night for Scarlett Camberos.

Camberos, who grew up in Chula Vista and attended UC Irvine, scored her first goal for Mexico to help wrap up a 2-0 victory over Angel City in front of 17,754 on Monday night at Banc of California Stadium.

The teams will meet again next year at Banc of California Stadium.

“I had like 30,” Camberos said of the number of family and friends in attendance. “There were friends from college, some coaches. … It was really fun to score my first goal and hear my dad in my stands. It was a great time.”

Camberos’ family and friends were in section 117, so they had a good view of her scoring in the 76th minute. Camberos plays her club soccer in Mexico with Club America.

“One of the reasons why I joined Liga MX was to be seen by the national team,” Camberos said. “It was a great move for me and I’m just grateful to be here, playing in front of family and friends, that was awesome and to score my first goal, I couldn’t be happier.”

After a scoreless first half, Mexico took the lead earlier in the second half on an own goal. Goalkeeper Brittany Isenhour came up with a reactionary kick save, but the loose rebound hit defender Megan Reid and went into the goal.

After Camberos’ goal, Mexico was able to hold off Angel City and take home the first trophy in the new series.

“This match is very important for the community in terms of bringing together the L.A. community and building a partnership with Mexico,” Angel City coach Freya Coombe said. “This was a good opportunity to push some of our players beyond some of the minutes we’ve been giving them and give them the opportunity to develop their game and it also gave us a chance to work on our transitional shape.”

Angel City was missing Ali Riley (New Zealand), Allyson Swaby (Jamaica), Almuth Schult (Germany) and Claire Emslie (Scotland) due to international duty.

Angel City, which is locked in a tight playoff battle, will return to NWSL play on Sunday when it faces the Houston Dash in Texas.

Defender Jasmyne Spencer said the club should look to use this experience in the final stretch of the regular season.

“I think it makes us more adaptable,” Spencer said. “We get to see different pictures we’re not used to seeing and different challenges. We learned a lot today and I think we can go back and dissect and add another layer to our game.”