Thorns draw with Louisville on stoppage-time penalty shot

Jayden Perry converted a penalty kick in the 10th minute of second-half stoppage time, allowing the Portland Thorns to earn a 3-3 draw with visiting Racing Louisville on Sunday.

With Louisville (1-3-2, 5 points) seemingly minutes away from an impressive road win, video review claimed Portland’s Emma Sears committed a foul in the box amid the 97th minute. Moments later, Perry, who also had an assist, easily converted the leveling score for the only goal of the second half.

Ex-Racing forward Reilyn Turner scored and Jessie Fleming also successfully converted from a penalty kick for Portland (2-2-3, 9 points).

Savannah DeMelo, Kayla Fischer and Sears had goals for Racing.

Louisville opened the scoring in the ninth minute. Off a free kick, Fischer perfectly directed her header for a streaking DeMelo to put home.

Portland leveled eight minutes later. Off a long ball from Perry, Turner outleapt two Racing defenders just inside the box to win a header that she floated into the net.

However, Louisville regained the lead in the 32nd minute. Off a Perry turnover in front of her own goal, Fischer gained partial possession, and the ball landed to DeMelo, whose shot was saved by diving Portland goalkeeper MacKenzie Arnold. But the ball was eventually pushed over the line by Fischer.

Just seven minutes later, Louisville made it 3-1. Off a stellar service into the box from Janine Sonis, the well-positioned Sears drilled the header.

Portland answered amid stoppage time just before the break after Louisville’s Taylor Flint questionably fouled Olivia Moultrie in the box. Fleming executed the penalty kick with ease.

–Field Level Media