Portland Thorns and Chicago Stars draw 1-1 at Providence Park

NWSL Regular Season Chicago Stars at Portland Thorns at Providence Park

Chicago defender Taylor Wood scores the equalizer in stoppage time in the NWSL Regular Season match between Chicago Stars and Portland Thorns at Providence Park (Photo by Diego G Diaz).

Portland Thorns 1-1 Chicago Stars FC

PORTLAND, OR–Portland Thorns and Chicago Stars split the points at Providence Park following a 1-1 draw. Portland carried much of the initiative during the game and got ahead in minute 22 on an unfortunate own goal by Maitane López after a cross by Thorns midfielder Jessie Fleming. The Thorns kept pressing and creating chances throughout the match, with Sophia Wilson and Pietra Tordin constantly threatening the goal defended by Alyssa Naeher.

Portland’s second didn’t come, and with the minutes passing, Chicago’s confidence started to grow as they started to breathe outside their own third and build possession to push forward. As the game moved into the last 20 minutes, it was clear that the one-goal advantage wasn’t going to hold. It was looking like either team could get a goal; Portland couldn’t close it, and Chicago’s threat was growing.

Luck sided with Chicago Stars. On an inswinging corner kick to the back post two minutes into stoppage time an unmarked Taylor Wood headed it back to the first post across the penalty box, with no chance for a reaction from Portland’s goalie, Mackenzie Arnold. The draw would be certified seven minutes past regulation by head referee Natalie Simon, allowing Chicago, currently in the last spot on the table, to pick up a point in a difficult stadium, but a point that would do very little to justify one of their weakest seasons in NWSL.

Portland drops to sixth place, still in playoff territory, but fans are surely disappointed after losing two valuable points to one of the weakest teams this season in their race for a higher seeding position to start the postseason.