**ORLANDO, Fla.** – The Orlando Pride were seconds away from a slender victory in the opener of the 2023 UKG NWSL Challenge Cup only for a late goal by the North Carolina Courage to change the result with the last kick of the game, meaning the Courage remain unbeaten in their last 11 Challenge Cup games while the Pride remain winless in their last nine Challenge Cup games. The Pride took the lead early in the second half through forward Ally Watt, but Courage midfielder Denise O’Sullivan scored in the ninth minute of added time to snatch a late point.
The first half was littered with chances for North Carolina forward Kerolin, who at points was able to dispossess the defense and get in behind and at other times found herself forward through defense-splitting runs. However, despite her best efforts she was unable to get the better of Pride goalkeeper Carly Nelson. On the other side, Orlando just couldn’t find momentum moving forward and failed to produce quality looks, meaning the match continued scoreless all the way through the first half.
The second half did see plenty of action to offset, though, with North Carolina coming close as early as the 53 ^rd minute. Played forward down the right side, Courage midfielder Frankie Tagliaferri broke into the penalty area and tested the Pride goalkeeper Nelson with a powerful drive at the near post. However, Nelson was equal to it and parried it away for a corner that produced nothing. Two minutes later, Kerolin was back at it with a free kick some 20-plus yards out from goal that looked like it was dipping toward the top left corner, only for Nelson to end up collecting with both hands.
Then, seemingly out of nowhere, route one soccer produced the game’s opening goal, though in Orlando’s favor. Nelson took a free kick deep into Pride territory on the right side, and a North Carolina player actually headed it back and into the direction of Orlando’s Summer Yates. Yates then brought the ball down and fed forward Ally Watt down the center of the penalty area. From there, Watt powers a shot that deflects off the palms of Courage goalkeeper Casey Murphy and still finds its way into the back of the net to open the scoring.
Further motivated to find a goal, the Courage thought they had won a penalty kick in the 58 ^th minute when Kerolin cut back near the byline and watched the ball roll off the hand of a defender on its way back up following her touch. However, after VAR review, the penalty decision was wiped off and Orlando was awarded a drop ball. North Carolina’s next opportunity came in the 64 ^th minute when Courage midfielder Tyler Lussi had a shot from distance land just high over the crossbar and out of play. Then, in the 76 ^th minute, Courage substitute Rikke Madsen sent a ball in for teammate Brittany Ratcliffe in the middle of the penalty area, but Ratcliffe’s touch was not enough and the ball rolled through the defense and was eventually cleared.
In the 80 ^th minute, Orlando had an opportunity to double their lead and put the game to bed as Yates, who registered the assist on the Pride’s first goal, turned from provider to near scorer with a late chance. Forward Messiah Bright settled the ball and did well to spot the run of Yates through the midfield and into the penalty area. After receiving Bright’s pass, Yates barreled toward goal and eventually cut inside toward the middle and onto her right foot. From there, Yates fired toward goal but could only react in agony as her effort landed just wide of the post and out of play.
Instead, North Carolina continued to push and looked certain to score in the 88 ^th minute when a chance broke for the forward Kerolin. Madsen was again involved as she slipped Kerolin through with a clever pass, and as the Brazilian approached goal she attempted to open up and get an effort around Nelson, but the shotstopper was equal to the attempt and once again helped her side keep its clean sheet.
In the eighth minute of added time, Orlando once again was offered the opportunity to put the game to bed as Brazilian forward Adriana bolted around the defense on the left side before coming inside to the middle. However, like Yates before her, her right-footed effort did not have enough to get around Murphy, though Adriana’s was on target.
Immediately following that, North Carolina would end up scoring the goal that stole its point late on as captain Denise O’Sullivan scored with the last kick of the game to help her side come back. The ball had been bouncing around the penalty area as neither side were able to settle it, but when it came to the edge of the area to where O’Sullivan was standing the midfielder opted to take a rip. Unleashing a scorching right-footed effort, O’Sullivan’s shot soared through to the back of the net and spoiled Orlando’s Challenge Cup opener at the last possible moment.

Match Highlights

Match Highlights