**Harrison, New Jersey** – OL Reign defeated the Orlando Pride, 1-0, in an important match with playoff implications for the visiting side as attacker Megan Rapinoe once again came to the rescue and scored the team’s winner in the 68 ^th minute.
A back and forth opening 10 minutes saw Reign attacker Tziarra King miss an opportunity just two minutes in before Gotham forward Midge Purce had a shot saved from inside the box saved by Reign goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce. The rest of the opening half also saw Gotham create what looked like more of the opportunities outside of a blitz by the Reign to end the half in which midfielder Rose Lavelle had a shot blocked and a shot saved with defender Olivia Van der Jagt also having an attempt.
At the break, the two sides remained scoreless.
The second half brought more action, though, beginning with the referee’s decision to award a penalty to the visitors in the 57 ^th minute. Reign midfielder Jess Fishlock was sprinting into the box when Gotham defender Ali Krieger crossed her path causing a collision just inside the penalty area. Not hesitating, the center official whistled to award the penalty and Krieger was shown a yellow card for the infraction.
Stepping up to take the task of converting from 12 yards out was forward Megan Rapinoe, who is riding a great two-month stretch that saw her named August’s Player of the Month by the league. Facing down Gotham goalkeeper Michelle Betos, Rapinoe charged at the ball and ripped it just inside the left middle of the goal at a good height as she sent the netminder the wrong way and opened the scoring. The goal is also Rapinoe’s sixth in the last six games and she only failed to score once in that span.
Pressed to respond was Gotham FC, who immediately turned around and asked a question of Tullis-Joyce in the 62 ^nd minute via the forward Purce. Gotham had picked up the ball around the edge of the halfway line where midfielder Kristie Mewis led Purce forward with a chipped ball through. Purce then picked up the pass and cut just inside to the middle with her left foot, but her curled effort from outside the box was easily held by Tullis-Joyce.
The hosts would have two more solid looks on goal as the night carried on, beginning in the 78 ^th minute free kick for midfielder Victoria Pickett. The ball was placed on the outside left edge of the penalty area after Purce had drawn a foul on Reign defender Sofia Huerta. Pickett was the one tasked with lifting the ball up and over the wall to go for goal or clipping in a cross towards the center of the penalty area, though. Opting for the former, Pickett got the ball inside toward the top left corner, but Tullis-Joyce was in good position to keep it out and dispel the chance.
The second and final chance of the night came in the third minute of stoppage time through substitute Nahomi Kawasumi. In possession a few yards outside of the box Kawasumi spotted the run of Purce right near the penalty spot and lifted a pass into the area that caused Tullis-Joyce some temporary confusion. As the goalkeeper went to claim the ball after a bounce, she briefly bobbled it and nearly allowed the forward Purce a half-chance, but she was ultimately able to keep it safe.
The win is a big one for OL Reign, who now jump into second place in the standings, tied for points with San Diego (34 points, 20 games played each) but are sitting just behind the Wave in goal differential (+11) at plus-eight.

Match Highlights

Match Highlights