Credit OLReign
By Marilia Macedo
Sofia Huerta, Leah Pruitt and Tziarra King scored in the Reign’s 3-2 victory against Chicago Red Stars.
It was a very balanced game, both sides had chances to open the score in the first half. Rapinoe and Fishlock tried to create good opportunities, but it was not enough to find the net. While on the other side, Mallory Pugh attempted twice – being stopped once by the goalkeeper Bardsley. However, in the minute 38, neither the defenders nor the goalkeeper managed to stop Pugh from netting with her left foot, 1-0.
After that, the local team responded quickly and the tie did not take too long to come. Sofia Huerta received a great pass from Fishlock and equalized with her right foot, 1-1.
Chicago Red Stars seemed to control the game in the second half, with good attemptings from Julie Ertz and Casey Krueger. Still, Reign was totally awake – after a pass from Huerta, Tziarra King ran on the left side of the area and found Leah Pruitt. She took a first-time shot, that Alyssa Naeher could not reach, to put the Reign up, 2-1.
Since then, the team started to create more chances and then came the next one. King, once again on the left side, cut into the area. And this time she kicked the ball on the right post to score the winning goal, 3-1.
In the final minutes, after a corner kick and a scramble in the box, the Chicago player Morgan Gautrat took the rebound and reduced the score to 3-2.
Finally, the visitors did not have more time for a possible draw and the game ended.
For the next and last game of the competition for the team before the regular season, OL Reign will play against Kansas City on May 3.