PORTLAND, Oregon — Caiya Hanks delivered a dramatic stoppage-time winner as Portland Thorns FC claimed a 2-1 National Women’s Soccer League victory over Orlando Pride at Providence Park on Saturday night.
After a goalless first half, Deyna Castellanos put Portland ahead in the 58th minute before Lizbeth Ovalle swiftly brought Orlando level five minutes later. The fixture appeared destined to finish even, but Hanks found the decisive goal in the sixth minute of second-half stoppage time to send the 19,106 supporters home celebrating.
Second-half surge decides Providence Park thriller
The opening 45 minutes produced no goals, though Orlando’s Ovalle was booked in the 40th minute. The Pride carried that caution into the second half, with Julie Doyle shown a yellow card in the 52nd minute.
Portland broke through in the 58th minute when Deyna Castellanos scored to give the hosts a 1-0 lead. Orlando responded with purpose, and Lizbeth Ovalle equalised in the 63rd minute to restore parity at 1-1.
Neither side settled for the draw. Orlando finished with an edge in attempts, recording 12 shots to Portland’s 10, while also placing six efforts on target compared with the Thorns’ four. The visitors also won six corners, but Portland held a narrow 51.2 percent share of possession and made their final attacking moment count.
With the match deep into added time, Caiya Hanks scored in the 90+6th minute to seal the points for Portland. It was a ruthless late intervention from the substitute and a crushing conclusion for an Orlando side that had fought back impressively through Ovalle.
Key moments
- 58′ — Deyna Castellanos puts Portland Thorns FC ahead, 1-0.
- 63′ — Lizbeth Ovalle equalises for Orlando Pride, 1-1.
- 90+6′ — Caiya Hanks strikes a stoppage-time winner for Portland, 2-1.
The result leaves Portland with a 10-4-6 record, while Orlando move to 7-2-11. For the Thorns, Hanks’ late finish ensured a night that had been heading toward a hard-earned draw instead ended in a memorable home victory.
