The Orlando Pride and Kansas City Current played to a 2-2 draw Saturday, with a flurry of late goals deciding the thrilling regular-season matchup.
The scoreless deadlock persisted through the opening half before Gunnhildur Yrsa Jónsdóttir opened up scoring in the 51st minute. Waiting at the back post, Sydney Leroux redirected a cross to Jónsdóttir, who tapped in the goal to put Orlando up 1-0.
😈 ORLANDO IN FRONT! 😈Jenkins ➡️ Leroux ➡️ Gunny#ORLvKC | #CueTheChaos pic.twitter.com/OYB933JVcK— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) May 14, 2022
😈 ORLANDO IN FRONT! 😈Jenkins ➡️ Leroux ➡️ Gunny#ORLvKC | #CueTheChaos pic.twitter.com/OYB933JVcK
Kansas City, eager to get on the board, responded in the 78th minute with Elyse Bennett nodding in a lofted cross to equalize.
.@TheKCCurrent pull level! ⚡️@Elyse_Bennett99 gets on the end of the cross for the equalizer!#ORLvKC | #CueTheChaos pic.twitter.com/JJherd7Zp7— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) May 15, 2022
.@TheKCCurrent pull level! ⚡️@Elyse_Bennett99 gets on the end of the cross for the equalizer!#ORLvKC | #CueTheChaos pic.twitter.com/JJherd7Zp7
Things really got interesting when Kristen Hamilton fired in a close-range shot at the 90-minute mark to give Kansas City the late lead.
Is it a late winner from @khamilton17?! ⏰@TheKCCurrent are in front for the first time tonight!#ORLvKC | #CueTheChaos pic.twitter.com/CJV35DtCL1— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) May 15, 2022
Is it a late winner from @khamilton17?! ⏰@TheKCCurrent are in front for the first time tonight!#ORLvKC | #CueTheChaos pic.twitter.com/CJV35DtCL1
With only three minutes of stoppage time awarded, the game looked all but locked up before Kansas City was called for a penalty in the 97th minute. Center back Toni Pressley stepped up to take the kick, powering it to the upper 90 for an emphatic finish to the match.
Pressley from the spot! 🎯@ORLPride grab a late point from 12 yards out!#ORLvKC | #CueTheChaos pic.twitter.com/Foud3gSuHz— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) May 15, 2022
Pressley from the spot! 🎯@ORLPride grab a late point from 12 yards out!#ORLvKC | #CueTheChaos pic.twitter.com/Foud3gSuHz
The late finish from Orlando denied Kansas City of their first win of the regular season, while the Pride improves to 1-1-1, climbing the NWSL standings.