**Orlando, Florida** – The OL Reign stole all three points from the Orlando Pride when forward Megan Rapinoe’s stoppage time winner sealed a 2-1 win at Exploria Stadium in the lone game across the league on Friday night.
First half action was relatively even, though it was the visiting Reign who pestered the Orlando goal more than the opposite in the early goings. In the 15 ^th minute, OL Reign put Pride goalkeeper Erin McLeod into action as she was called to save forward Jordyn Huitema’s shot in the middle of the box following midfielder Jess Fishlock’s cross in. The Reign would continue to push the ball toward the Orlando goal throughout the half but couldn’t get past McLeod who did everything from shot stopping to cross collecting.
However, Orlando would end up finding the game’s first goal in the 37 ^th minute as they took advantage of a mistake at the back and turned the game in their favor. OL Reign had attempted to move the ball through their defense when a giveaway saw the ball land directly into the path of Orlando midfielder Meggie Dougherty Howard. Dougherty Howard then pulled the shot from just outside the box and watched as it soared through the air after a deflection to beat Reign goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce and put her side in front.
Just before the break, though, OL Reign threatened the Pride goal once more as a cross from the right side via defender Sofia Huerta reached the back post where forward Bethany Balcer was waiting. As the ball came in, Balcer headed it down toward the center of the box, though McLeod was quick on her feet and able to make the save.
At the halftime interval, Orlando held onto its narrow advantage with the visiting Reign knocking at the door.
As the second half momentum picked up, OL Reign would end up finding their equalizer as Balcer avenged her first half with a headed goal just in behind the Orlando defense. In possession on the left side of the field was attacker Megan Rapinoe, and her vision allowed her to pick out the run of Balcer into the box as she attempted to lose the defense. Rapinoe then curled a beautiful ball over the back line that Balcer latched onto and pushed over the line for her side’s first goal of the night.
Orlando would find a way through the OL Reign defense a few times as the half wore on, but toward the end of regulation it looked like the Reign’s to win. Pressing forward from a wide position again, this time it was defender Sofia Huerta who provided an inch perfect ball to Rapinoe at the back post, and Rapinoe tapped home in the second minute of stoppage time to send her side into a frenzy and ahead late.
Despite having just given up a goal, though, the hosts were not deterred and nearly found an equalizer even later. Dougherty Howard was involved again as she picked out teammate Erika Tymrak with a ball just outside the box. Shooting on goal, Tymrak’s left-footed curler was denied well by Tullis-Joyce though as the hosts’ frustration mounted.
In the end, Rapinoe’s stoppage time winner did not leave enough time for Orlando to come back as the visitors stole all three points late on.

Match Highlights

Match Highlights