Thorns halt Royals’ unbeaten run with late penalty
Sophia Wilson’s stoppage-time conversion secured a draw for Portland, ending Utah’s 10-match winning streak and breaking the Thorns’ home shutout record.
The Portland Thorns secured a 2-2 draw against the first-place Utah Royals in a National Women’s Soccer League fixture on Saturday, halting the visitors’ ten-match unbeaten streak. Sophia Wilson converted a penalty kick in stoppage time to salvage the point for Portland, who had trailed 2-1 in the second half.
Olivia Moultrie opened the scoring for the Thorns in the 21st minute, giving Portland a 1-0 lead. However, the Royals equalised in the 44th minute through a header by Kiana Palacios. This goal marked the first time Portland had conceded at Providence Park this season, ending a 637-minute home shutout streak.
Utah regained the lead in the 50th minute when Mina Tanaka assisted Cloé Lacasse. The Royals, who hold a 7-2-3 record, appeared set to extend their dominance until Alexa Spaanstra fouled Jayden Perry in the box. Wilson converted the resulting penalty in the 90th minute for her fifth goal of the season, ensuring the Thorns remained unbeaten at home across ten regular-season matches stretching back to the previous season.
In concurrent NWSL action, the Washington Spirit defeated the Seattle Reign 2-1 at Audi Field. Leicy Santos opened the scoring for the Spirit in the 18th minute with a free kick, and Hal Hershfelt scored her first goal of the season in the 81st minute to secure the win. The Reign equalised in the 44th minute via an own goal from defender Lucia Di Guglielmo, with Hershfelt’s winner deflecting off Reign defender Jordyn Bugg.
The Kansas City Current also recorded a victory, beating the Boston Legacy 1-0. Reigning league MVP Temwa Chawinga scored her seventh goal of the season in the 69th minute. Current goalkeeper Lorena made three saves for her third clean sheet of the season, and the team enters the summer break with a 23-match home unbeaten streak.
