**Bridgeview, Illinois** – The Chicago Red Stars and Portland Thorns FC drew 2-2 in a back-and-forth encounter at SeatGeek Stadium on Saturday night as the visitors came back twice from a deficit to secure a point.
It didn’t take long for Chicago to get on the scoresheet, with forward Mallory Pugh converting on a chance just inside the box to go one up. In possession on the left side of the field, Pugh rushed downfield and cut inside past a pair of defenders as she broke into the box. Then, lifting her head for a quick look on goal, Pugh fired a low effort past Portland goalkeeper Bella Bixby and in at the near post.
However, two minutes later, Portland found an equalizer through midfielder Hina Sugita as they responded with immediate effect. Having won a corner, Portland’s Yazmeen Ryan swung in a delivery that went all the way to the back post where Sugita was waiting. Taking the ball down, the midfielder produced a sublime effort back across goal that nestled into the side netting on the far side.
Determined to restore their lead, though, the Red Stars broke through again in the 20 ^th minute via midfielder Rachel Hill. Forward Ava Cook received a pass a few yards outside the penalty area and did well to hold the play up. Turning to her right, Cook then slid a through pass into the penalty area for Hill to chase onto. Catching up to the pass, Hill pushed a left-footed effort underneath Bixby to restore the lead.
Portland nearly responded a second time in the 26 ^th minute when Portland’s Natalia Kuikka floated in a cross from the left side into the center of the penalty area for forward Morgan Weaver. Meeting the ball, Weaver was able to direct the header on goal only to see Chicago goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher react with an impressive diving save to help her side stay in front.
At the halftime interval, Chicago clung to its 2-1 lead over Portland as they managed to dampen the spirits of the visitors and take advantage of their early goals through 45 minutes.
A quick start to the second half saw early pressure by the Thorns turn into a set piece opportunity and a look at goal after just two minutes. The delivery from the corner kick to the center of box saw the ball bobble around and eventually land in front of forward Sophia Smith a few yards out from goal. Demonstrating a bit of skill, Smith then opted to flick the ball back into the air a bit and swung overhead toward goal as the ball rifled past Naeher for Portland’s near immediate equalizer on the other side of halftime.
The rest of the second half brought several chances for both sides, though they would not materialize. Just before the hour mark, Pugh put Bixby to the test with a powerful right-footed effort as she cut toward the byline, though Bixby was level to it. 11 minutes later, the other goalscorer Smith drew Naeher out of her goal with a tidy dribble move that eventually saw the netminder sweep in and collect the ball out of her feet. In the 79 ^th minute, it was again the Red Stars threatening through Jillienne Aguilera, but the substitute’s header was held well by Bixby as the score remained level.
The fulltime whistle from the referee came with neither side able to break the deadlock, and each would settle for a point apiece as their respective regular season campaigns marched on.

Match Highlights

Match Highlights