facebook-pixel

Portland Thorns, Chicago Red Stars play to scoreless draw in Challenge Cup

(Rick Bowmer | AP) Portland Thorns FC forward Simone Charley, above, leaps over Chicago Red Stars defender Hannah Davison, bottom, during the first half of an NWSL Challenge Cup soccer match at Zions Bank Stadium on Wednesday, July 1, 2020, in Herriman.

Herriman • The Portland Thorns and Chicago Red Stars played to a scoreless draw Wednesday on the third day of the National Women’s Soccer League Challenge Cup at Zions Bank Stadium.

The result allowed the Thorns and Red Stars to pick up their first points of the tournament after losing their respective opening games.

Each team had opportunities to win. Savannah McCaskill of the Red Stars had a free kick that went just wide of the goal, while Portalnd’s Emily Ogle’s shot got blocked late in the game. Thorns defender Autumn Smithers’s shot hit the crossbar.

In Wednesday’s late game, Lynn Williams scored two second-half goals and the North Carolina Courage defeated the Washington Spirit 2-0.

Williams broke a scoreless tie about four minutes into the second half, then scored again about 10 minutes later.

The next games in the Challenge Cup are on July 4, when the Utah Royals FC face Sky Blue and the Houston Dash play the OL Reign.