NWSL roundup: Pride edge Thorns on own goal

A Portland own goal during second-half stoppage time gave the Orlando Pride the needed tally to notch a 1-0 victory over the visiting Thorns on Friday night.

Marta took a corner kick in the second minute of extra time and her boot went toward the mass of people flocking in front of the net. Portland goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold was eyeing the ball but teammate Mallie McKenzie tried to clear it and the ball hit off the side of her head and went into the net.

The victory was the second in three matches for Orlando (10-8-6, 36 points), which won for just the second time in their past 12 NWSL matches (2-5-5). The Pride jumped into third place in the standings with the sixth-place Seattle Reign set to play later Friday night.

Arnold made five saves for Portland (9-8-7, 34 points) and kept the match scoreless with a stellar save on a right-footed shot by Orlando's Ally Watt in the 61st minute. The Thorns are tied for fifth with Seattle, pending the outcome of the latter squad's match against Bay FC.

Watt put two balls into the net in a three-minute span late in the first half but was flagged for being offsides on both. She was clearly offside on the first attempt but the second one was extremely close as shown by multiple replay angles.

Anna Moorhouse had four saves for Orlando.

Racing Louisville 1, Chicago Stars 1

Bethany Balcer scored in the third minute of second-half stoppage as Louisville earned the tie against visiting Chicago.

Balcer was in position near the net when the pass from Janine Sonis came in her direction. She put her left foot on the ball and knocked it into the upper portion for Racing Louisville (9-9-6, 33 points), who are undefeated over their past three matches (2-0-1).

Jameese Joseph scored for last-place Chicago (2-11-11, 17 points). The Stars are winless in their past five matches (0-2-3).

The match was scoreless in the 85th minute when Ivonne Chacon slid the ball from the left side to the right. Joseph arrived just as the ball neared and she delivered a right-footed shot into the left corner to put Chicago ahead.

Stars goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher made eight saves, including a big stop on Ella Hase's shot in the fourth minute.

Jordyn Bloomer's only save for Louisville was a crucial one as she stopped Ally Schlegel's header in the 54th minute.

--Field Level Media