In a dramatic match in the National Women’s Soccer League, the Orlando Pride made an astonishing comeback to triumph over Angel City with a 3-2 victory. This game unfolded on Friday night, with tensions high as Orlando secured a win after being two goals behind. An unexpected moment clinched their win when Mary Alice Vignola inadvertently scored an own goal during second-half stoppage time.
Angel City initially seemed to be in control, with Riley Tiernan giving the team an early lead. Her ninth-minute goal came after a swift move down the left wing, where she delivered a precise shot that slipped past Orlando’s goalkeeper, Anna Moorehouse. Before the first half concluded, Katie Zelem doubled Angel City’s advantage by capitalizing on a poorly defended corner, marking her first goal of the season.
However, Orlando Pride refused to concede defeat and began mounting their comeback in the second half. Marta, an experienced and influential player for the team, initiated the turnaround in the 71st minute. Her effort, a low-driven shot, proved too powerful for Angel City’s goalkeeper Angelina Anderson, thus reducing the deficit to one.
Barbra Banda, a notable player from Zambia, further fueled the comeback by heading in a goal from a Carson Pickett cross in the 76th minute to level the scores. The match reached a thrilling crescendo when pressure from Pride forward Ally Watt led Vignola to head the ball into her own net at the 93rd minute, securing a victory for the home side.
In another NWSL matchup, the Houston Dash emerged victorious over the Utah Royals with a slim 1-0 win. Delanie Sheehan sealed the win for the Dash with her first goal for the team. Capitalizing on a clearance, she positioned herself at the edge of the box and sent the ball into the top corner with a powerful right-footed strike in the 80th minute.
Throughout the match, the Royals had the upper hand in terms of possession, holding 57% and recording 13 shots compared to Dash’s seven. Post an evenly matched first half, the Royals hit the crossbar and posed several challenges for Houston’s goalkeeper, Jane Campbell. Still, it was Houston’s decisive move during the late stages of the game that claimed victory.
The win marked Houston’s first home victory of the season, bringing their record to 2-3-1. Unfortunately for Utah, their struggles on the road continued, remaining winless in away matches this season with a 1-4-1 record.