NWSL roundup: Courage, Angel City earn late wins

Brianna Pinto scored in the second minute of second-half stoppage time, lifting the North Carolina Courage to a 2-1 victory over the Kansas City Courage on Sunday in Cary, N.C.

Pinto brought down a pass at the left edge of the 18-yard box, spun past two defenders and fired a shot into the far top corner of the net.

Pinto’s only other goal this season came on March 30.

Cortnee Vine scored her first NWSL goal and Casey Murphy made a late-game save for the Courage (9-8-1, 28 points).

Vine produced her goal shortly before a lengthy weather-related delay. She made a move from the left side of the box to move into position for a good angle closer to the middle and converted in the 67th minute off Haley Hopkins’ assist.

Kansas City (10-3-5, 35 points) tied the match in the 62nd minute on Temwa Chawinga’s goal.

Angel City FC 2, Red Stars 1

Sydney Leroux’s goal in second-half stoppage time provided the difference as Angel City defeated Chicago in Los Angeles, winning two games in a row for the first time since April.

Seconds after the clock hit 90 minutes, M.A. Vignola raced down to the left flank to latch onto a long through ball. She then fired a centering pass to Leroux, who had raced down the middle of the pitch and knocked the ball into the net while tumbling.

The tally was Leroux’s fifth goal of the season for Angel City (6-9-3, 21 points) and the 46th of her NWSL career. The hosts had a strong start, getting a goal from Alyssa Thompson in the sixth minute.

Bea Franklin scored in the 10th minute of first-half stoppage time for the Red Stars (7-9-2, 23 points), who have lost two straight matches following a two-match win streak. The tying goal was set up by Natalia Kuikka’s delivery, with Franklin cutting toward the ball in time to redirect it.

Chicago goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher made five saves.

-Field Level Media