**Seattle, Washington** – OL Reign and the Chicago Red Stars played to a thrilling 2-2 draw that saw the hosts take an early lead before Chicago not only came back to equalize but earn a lead of their own, only for OL Reign to score a late equalizer and snatch a point.
The hosts began to ask questions early on and forward Megan Rapinoe nearly opened the scoring for her side after just 11 minutes. As teammates Jordyn Huitema and Sofia Huerta linked up, a switched ball to the opposite side picked out Rapinoe. The talented forward’s header back across goal could neither find the back of the net or a run of a teammate, though, as the chance went missing.
However, just a few minutes later the Reign were able to take the lead as the forward Huitema stabbed the hosts in front in the 18 ^th minute. Another well-worked move around midfielder saw Huerta find Huitema inside the penalty area, though the forward’s first shot was blocked. With the ball falling back to her feet though, she had a second chance at goal where she would not be denied as she poked the ball over the line for the early advantage.
Then, in the 26 ^th minute, the Reign nearly doubled their lead again through Rapinoe as the hosts’ attack continued to pile on the chances. This time, Huitema turned from scorer to provider as she fed the ball down the left side of the box for Rapinoe who was eager to create. Taking her space, Rapinoe then lined up a strong shot that forced Chicago goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher into action quickly. However, Naeher was able to get a paw on the ball and prevent and follow up efforts as OL Reign could not ultimately score. However, a worrying trend for the visiting Red Stars was that the hosts had registered nine shots within the opening half-hour of the match.
In the 34 ^th minute, OL Reign’s dominance in attack continued as the midfielder Lavelle produced a long solo run that resulted in Naeher stopping her attempt from close in. Not two minutes later, the hosts then created an opportunity as a ball into the penalty area toward several attackers was smothered by Naeher as the chance cleared.
Just five minutes after that, Huitema then had another opportunity just in front of goal that resulted in her shot hitting the bar as the Reign ended the first half strong. However, Chicago would manage to find a massive equalizer in the first of two minutes of first half stoppage as Tullis-Joyce let an effort roll through that bounced off the post before forward Ella Stevens collected the ball and fired home.
At the half, the sides remained all score with Huitema’s early goal getting canceled out by the late strike from Stevens.
Into the second half, Chicago looked the more ready of the two sides to pick up where they left off, though neither side was able to find he back of the net early on.
Into the second half, the biggest moment came in the 67 ^th minute when the Chicago Red Stars were awarded a penalty kick as forward Yuki Nagasato attempted a cross that struck the hand of a Reign defender to go to the spot. From there, midfielder Danielle Colaprico stepped up to convert as Chicago took ahold of a narrow advantage with the second half wearing on.
Come the 76 ^th minute, OL Reign felt they should have had a clear penalty decision of their won as a Red Stars defender was alleged to have pushed a ran player over. However, just seconds after conferring with his side official it was ruled an offside decision instead.
Not to be deterred, though, the hosts would end up eventually finding a massive equalizer in the 80 ^th minute via a spectacular solo goal from the midfielder Lavelle. Receiving a pass in the center of midfield just inside the opposition half, Lavelle turned a sprinted toward goal slowly drifting to the left. There, Lavelle lifted her head and ripped an impressive curling effort from left to right that sailed past Chicago’s Naeher and in to elate the home crowd.
In the end, an entertaining match ended with both sides settling for a point apiece as OL Reign’s opener was canceled out before Chicago’s advantage suffered the same fate thanks to Lavelle’s late goal. For the Reign, the result extends their unbeaten run to three games as they cling onto fifth place, while the Red Stars have collected four points from their last two games and remain just one point behind the Reign.

Match Highlights

Match Highlights