Debinha scored on a free kick in extra time, the first of three North Carolina goals in extra time, as the Courage defeated Reign F.C., 4-1, on Sunday to advance to the National Women’s Soccer League championship game. The Courage, who won the N.W.S.L.’s regular-season championship for the third straight year with a league-best 15-5-4 record, will play the Chicago Red Stars, who beat the Portland Thorns, 1-0, in Sunday’s second semifinal. in next week’s title game. In Cary, N.C., Heather O’Reilly, who is retiring at the end of this season, scored on a penalty kick in the 88th minute to give the Courage the lead — and an apparent victory after Reign goalkeeper Casey Murphy had held off a barrage of shots with eight saves. But Ifeoma Onumonu, who came in as a substitute for the Reign in the 79th minute, scored on a shot from a tight angle in stoppage time to send the match into extra time.

Source: New York Times October 20, 2019 22:07 UTC