The North Carolina Courage battled to yet another 3-3 draw over the weekend, this time with the Portland Thorns.
The North Carolina Courage traveled across the country to take on the Portland Thorns at Providence Park and played to their second 3-3 draw in as many matches. The game was a tale of two halves, with Portland winning the first one.
Portland’s Sophia Smith opened the scoring in the 8th minute with three Courage defenders around her, and Morgan Weaver doubled the Thorns’ lead in the 24th minute.
The game continued in Portland’s favor as the Courage struggled to stifle the Thorns’ attack. Defender Carson Pickett was forced to make a near goal-line clearance in the 40th minute to keep North Carolina’s deficit at two heading into the break.
After half-time, the Courage started to come alive.
Diana Ordóñez earned a corner kick for North Carolina when she forced Portland’s Bella Bixby to come up with a big save. Ordóñez subsequently scored her sixth goal of the season off that corner, after an impressive service by Carson Pickett (61’).
Way more energizing than our third cup of coffee!!! pic.twitter.com/bTf53Rxcz8
— NC Courage (@TheNCCourage) August 6, 2022
North Carolina pulled themselves level only 11 minutes later in the 72nd minute with another Ordóñez goal. Ryan Williams played a ball in the air toward the six-yard box, and the rookie headed the ball into the side netting.
With her 7th goal this season, @diana0rdonez has tied the NWSL record for goals by a rookie 🤩
— NC Courage (@TheNCCourage) August 6, 2022
pic.twitter.com/ZafkJS6hGB
Portland regained their lead shortly after in the 77th minute thanks to Smith’s second goal of the match. North Carolina capped off the scoring in the 85th minute, though, after Bixby struggled to control Meredith’s Speck’s cross into the box.
3️⃣-3️⃣ ‼️ @jaelenedaniels bundles the ball over the line for @TheNCCourage 's equalizer! #PORvNC | #CourageUnitesUs pic.twitter.com/yCdVvc5God
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) August 6, 2022
This match marked Casey Murphy’s 50th regular season NWSL appearance, and the second brace of Diana Ordóñez’ career. Ordóñez now leads all rookies in goals with seven, and she’s tied the NWSL record for goals scored in a season by a rookie.
The Courage remain in last place in the NWSL standings through 11 games with 10 points and a 2W-4D-5L record.
North Carolina will look to add another game to the win column against the Kansas City Current at home on Saturday, August 13th at 8:00 p.m. Eastern.
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