Portland Thorns secured a 2-1 victory over Orlando Pride in NWSL Group Stage action at Providence Park on Saturday evening. The result keeps the hosts in fifth place while Orlando slip further back to twelfth. There was little to separate the sides for most of the ninety minutes, though the final whistle brought relief rather than celebration from the home end.
D. Castellanos opened the scoring in the fifty-eighth minute, giving Portland the advantage they would need. Lizbeth Ovalle doubled the lead five minutes later with a well-taken effort, and by then the match seemed settled. Orlando had not responded despite their dominance in possession, and the visitors grew increasingly restless.
C. Hanks pulled one back for the Pride in the ninetieth minute, stirring the away supporters into something resembling belief. The equaliser came six minutes into stoppage time, but it would not stand. The referee waved play on, and Portland held firm for a narrow win.
There were three yellow cards in total, with Rafaelle Souza joining Lizbeth Ovalle and Julie Doyle in the book. Substitutions came thick and fast in the closing stages, with eight changes between the sixty-fifth and ninetieth-eight minutes. The game had opened up, and both managers reached for their pockets after the break.
Orlando dominated possession with 49 per cent to Portland's 51, and created more attacks — 111 to 91. The visitors registered six shots on target against four, and created two big chances while Portland managed none. Many shots with one goal means chances went begging, and Orlando were left to reflect on what might have been.
The result leaves Portland on 38 points from 22 games, while Orlando sit on 26 with a heavier defeat tally. The hosts had not won since their three-goal victory over Boston Reign last week, and this tightened things up in the table. Orlando's recent form has been difficult, with only one win in their last five matches.
