Recap: Portland Thorns 2 - Orlando Pride 1

The Portland Thorns (6-0-5, 23 points) needed late goals by Dagny Brynjarsdottir and Lindsey Horan to preserve their 11  match unbeaten run, defeated the Orlando Pride (5-6-0, 15 points) 2-1 at Camping World Stadium in front of 7,143.

The first half was a contrast in styles, as the Thorns looked to slowly build up their possession-based attack, while the Pride tried to quickly spring the speedy duo Alex Morgan and Jasmyne Spencer behind the Thorns defensive line, producing some spectacular changes, including an huge double save by Michelle Betos in the 24th minute.  Tobin Heath gave the Thorns their best chances of the first half, as she hit the back of the net in the 23rd minute, then hitting the crossbar from a tight angle in the 44th minute.

The Central Florida heat and humidity took it's toll in the second half, as Heath was subbed off in the 63rd minute with apparent hamstring cramps, and the Thorns were content to absorb the Pride attack as the match stayed scoreless.  In the 67th minute, the Pride took the lead, as Jasmyne Spencer hit the top corner from distance past a backtracking Betos, who had initially come up to punch the ball away from Morgan.

With the lead, the Pride continued to press with a slow-building attack, as the head appeared to sap the Thorns' energy, but they got an immediate spark from Brynjarsdottir, who hit a one-time shot past Ashlyn Harris in the 79th minute, leveling the match at 1-1 and giving the Thorns the spark they needed to come back into the match.  The goal was Brynjarsdottir's third of the season, and came off a wonderful header in open space from Christine Sinclair.

With momentum swung their way, the Thorns pushed for a second, using their revitalized attack to put the Pride on their heels, which paid dividends as the match neared extra time.  With the Pride looking to preserve the draw, the Thorns took advantage of a high-lying defense  as Sinclair sent the ball across to Hayley Raso, who slotted the ball over to Horan, who hit a one-timer past Harris for her first of the year.

As the clock wound down, the Pride attempted a modest push for an equalizer, but Betos and the Thorns' defense held firm.

The victory equaled the Thorns win and point totals for the entire 2015 season.

The Thorns will next take the pitch against Sky Blue FC on July 2 at Providence Park, but will be missing several significant pieces, as Amandine Henry (France), Christine Sinclair (Canada), and Tobin Heath, Lindsey Horan, Meghan Klingenberg, Allie Long, and Emily Sonnett (United States) will join their respective National Team Pre-Olympic training camps prior to the match.