The clinical combination of Westfield Matildas star Caitlin Foord and USA international Tobin Heath bore fruit again as Portland Thorns came from behind to draw 2-2 with Sky Blue FC.
A quickfire pair from Carli Lloyd had Portland on the ropes in the opening exchanges, but the Thorns – who had Ellie Carpenter play the full 90 minutes at right back – wiped the deficit in the space of two first-half minutes.
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After Emily Sonnett had got Portland on the board, Heath cleverly restored parity with a back heel when Foord’s cross from the right was not dealt with by the Sky Blue defence.
Lloyd was denied her hat-trick by the foot of the post and Foord’s snapshot from a late corner was blocked as both sides settled for a share of the spoils.
Kerr's Chicago lift off against Reign
Sam Kerr’s absence from the score sheet mattered little in Chicago Red Stars’ 3-0 victory over Reign FC, as the Westfield Matildas captain could still claim bragging rights over her international teammates Lydia Williams and Elise Kellond-Knight.
Reign goalkeeper Williams was handed her first start of the NWSL campaign and although beaten by two expert chipped finishes from Casey Short and Yuki Nagasato, the 30-year-old also pulled out two impressive saves.
Williams thwarted a long burst and shot from Kerr in the first half, while also pulling off a top-class reaction-stop to tip Kylie Naughton’s header around the post before Brooke Elby’s third for the Red Stars.
Kellond-Knight played 21 minutes as a second half substitute for Beverly Yanez.