[**Alex Morgan**](https://www.nwslsoccer.com/players/view/l28lqh3f3ojx6kk2wvvq6nyt) gave the Pride their first ever lead over the Red Stars, but it wasn’t enough to earn all three points at home as Chicago and Orlando tied 1-1 in front of 5,667 fans at Orlando City Stadium in Orlando, Florida. With the draw, the Red Stars moved to 29 points in the NWSL standings. Though the Courage were able to reclaim to the top spot with a win over Seattle in Saturday night’s other game, the Red Stars moved one point ahead of the Thorns and have sole possession of second place. The draw did not come easy for the Red Stars, who were without [**Christen Press**](https://www.nwslsoccer.com/players/view/bnxnrws4yintb6s76erzl9xw5), [**Julie Ertz**](https://www.nwslsoccer.com/players/view/dve5pao9dmobh167wb8g45g45) and [**Casey Short**](https://www.nwslsoccer.com/players/view/4ullol3wa4qdi9ydgrxgxbcgl), who competed for the United States at the Tournament of Nations, which concluded Thursday night. Ertz was available as a sub, but did not play in the game. Once again — [because it apparently wouldn’t be a Pride vs. Red Stars game in Orlando without it](https://www.nwslsoccer.com/games/info/7opvt31v9y0e0j3xgmpcic3xl) — there was late corner kick drama. But once again the Pride were denied a late goal. In the 87th minute with Orlando trying to find the go-ahead goal, [**Marta**](https://www.nwslsoccer.com/players/view/c811si1xw5he6ih0o1mj94tsl)’s corner kick bent in towards the far post, bounced off the ground and up off the post. The rebound bounced around in the box as [**Jamia Fields**](https://www.nwslsoccer.com/players/view/6n0vqpkiwt8zgmsgt9z3ipasp) and [**Alanna Kennedy**](https://www.nwslsoccer.com/players/view/6bcvcloym3tzxss5hgsw4h1at) took shots that were blocked. The ball eventually went to [**Toni Pressley**](https://www.nwslsoccer.com/players/view/4u1t85rdp5o0ficalv26x4t05), whose shot appeared to hit [**Arin Gilliland**](https://www.nwslsoccer.com/players/view/cieyupgmnxecb4emqljudrw89)’s hand in the box, but the handball was not called. [**Ali Krieger**](https://www.nwslsoccer.com/players/view/6bhtfawnoxk9x57xigb8z03it) took another shot that was blocked before the Red Stars were finally able to clear it away. [Empty Body] Marta did not originally start the game, but came in the 24th minute after [**Rachel Hill**](https://www.nwslsoccer.com/players/view/7pdog0usw4fwr3j3neexfz1ed) left with what appeared to be ankle injury. Hill went down in the 18th minute, but was able to walk off the field before eventually being subbed out six minutes later. Marta had been competing with Brazil at the Tournament of Nations, but she did not appear in Brazil’s final match of the tournament on Thursday night before starting on the bench on Saturday night for the Pride. The Pride scored almost immediately after Marta entered the game, though she was not involved in the play. [**Chioma Ubogagu**](https://www.nwslsoccer.com/players/view/dwclepmsssh2hd8381rjqbufp) — starting at left back as [**Steph Catley**](https://www.nwslsoccer.com/players/view/e3fa1ou90dirp8yjjterhrs9h), who competed for Australia at the Tournament of Nations, was unavailable for the match — sent a long pass up the field to [**Jasmyne Spencer**](https://www.nwslsoccer.com/players/view/f1lymlxr3tdvvvhlv5rixarx1) on the left side of the field. Spencer collected the ball with her back to goal, cut around Red Stars defender [**Katie Naughton**](https://www.nwslsoccer.com/players/view/6zm75ruas324c7yrt18ttei8l), and passed to Morgan in the box. Morgan kept her stride and hit a left-footed shot that beat Red Stars goalkeeper [**Alyssa Naeher**](https://www.nwslsoccer.com/players/view/cbhcuvuqi3gxgln6n463vz9at) to the far post. [Empty Body] Marta and Morgan nearly combined for a goal in the 39th minute, forcing a big save from Naeher on a Morgan shot that would’ve doubled the Pride’s lead. [Empty Body] Naeher played every minutes for the United States at the Tournament of Nations, including Thursday night’s win over Japan, before playing the full 90 Saturday night in Orlando. After a first half that was mostly controlled by the Pride, the Red Stars came out strong in the second half and evened the score in the 53rd minute. [**Sofia Huerta**](https://www.nwslsoccer.com/players/view/dwwgrimn3ddecp5kllvsdga8l) — back from training with the United States national team camp at the Tournament of the Nations, though not yet eligible to play for the U.S. — scored her fourth goal of the season to make it 1-1. In the 53rd minute, [**Jen Hoy**](https://www.nwslsoccer.com/players/view/a4xsv206vtrvdt5d29q0c6a51) — starting at forward as the Red Stars were without Press — found Huerta at the top of the 18. Huerta took two touches before dialing it up on her left foot and bending a brilliant curling shot around her defender, well out of the reach of Pride goalkeeper [**Aubrey Bledsoe**](https://www.nwslsoccer.com/players/view/d9dirjpaqkq3gga2zyeykcv6d) and into the upper left corner of the goal. [Empty Body] The Red Stars stepped up the pressure a bit more after that, but were unable to find another goal. The Pride offense sprung back to life in the game’s final ten minutes — including the corner kick scramble in the 87th minute — but could not find their first ever win over the Red Stars.

Match Highlights

Match Highlights