Late Equalizer Forces Reign to Settle for Draw in Orlando

Despite holding the lead for most of the second half, Reign FC settled for a 2-2 draw on the road against the Orlando Pride to close out the regular season after an 86th minute equalizer from Orlando forward Marta.

Orlando struck first in the 24th minute, when Rachel Hill received a through ball from Claire Emslie and dribbled past a charging goalkeeper Casey Murphy before calmly finishing into the empty net.

Reign FC fired back 10 minutes later, when a diagonal ball from defender Steph Catley on the left side was headed in at the back post by Darian Jenkins as the forward tallied her fourth goal of the season.

Forward Jodie Taylor added the go-ahead goal for Reign FC in the 41st minute, when she raced on to a long ball from midfielder Rumi Utsugi and fought off Orlando centerback Alanna Kennedy before converting with her left foot to the open side of the net.

Marta recorder her goal in the 86th minute, converting a bouncing ball through traffic to beat Murphy to the right post.

Jodie Taylor was named Reign FC’s Player of the Match, scoring her fifth goal of the season with her lone shot of the contest and drawing two fouls.

Reign FC keeper Casey Murphy made eight saves in the draw, including tipping a Marta shot over the crossbar in the fourth minute of second half stoppage time to preserve the draw.

Reign FC finished the NWSL regular season in fourth place in the league standings. The club will face the North Carolina Courage in the NWSL semifinal in Cary, North Carolina on Sunday, October 20 at 10:30 a.m.