Portland Thorns x Racing Louisville

The Portland Thorns FC avoided defeat in dramatic fashion, salvaging a 2-2 draw against Racing Louisville FC after going down by two goals early in the match. Louisville wasted no time putting the pressure on, with Uchenna Kanu netting twice in the opening six minutes. The first goal saw Kanu weave past defenders before tucking the ball into the corner, while the second came from a well-placed header off a Reilyn Turner cross.

Down by two goals, the Thorns struggled to create clear opportunities in the first half. However, they emerged from the break a determined side. A second-half substitution proved to be a masterstroke, with Meghan Klingenberg nearly pulling one back in the 51st minute. The resulting corner kick then sparked a moment of chaos in the box, and Morgan Weaver capitalized by curling a shot into the far post to halve the deficit.

Portland continued to fight for an equalizer, relentlessly pestering Louisville's defense. Their persistence paid off in the most dramatic way possible. In the ninth minute of stoppage time, defender Kelli Hubly played a clever ball forward to Sam Coffey. Coffey then showcased her skills, weaving through defenders before firing a shot past the goalkeeper to snatch a point for the Thorns at the death.

With this dramatic draw, Portland climbs to one point in the standings. They will now enter a well-deserved break as the league observes the international window. The Thorns will return to action on April 13th when they face the North Carolina Courage on the road.

[Photography by Jackie Shinstrom]