In a dramatic finish that had fans on the edge of their seats, Amanda Gutierres stepped up and delivered a stoppage-time penalty to lift the Boston Legacy to a thrilling 2-1 comeback win over the Orlando Pride on Tuesday night.
The match looked destined for a draw until a VAR check deep into stoppage time—eight minutes to be exact—revealed a handball in the box by Pride midfielder Luana. Gutierres kept her cool under pressure, slotting the spot-kick past goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse to spark wild celebrations in Foxborough.
This victory marks the Legacy's second straight home win, a much-needed boost for a team that has been finding its rhythm early in the season.
The Pride struck first, taking the lead in the 14th minute when legendary Brazilian forward Marta converted a penalty of her own. It was her 15th career regular-season goal from the spot, extending her league-leading record. She sent Legacy goalkeeper Casey Murphy the wrong way, firing to the right.
Boston fought back and finally broke through in the 72nd minute. Gutierres turned provider, directing a well-placed header into the path of substitute Aleigh Gambone, who had entered the match just seven minutes earlier. Gambone made no mistake, scoring her first-ever NWSL goal to level the score.
Notably, Orlando's Barbra Banda—the league's leading scorer with eight goals—started the match on the bench but was introduced after halftime, adding firepower to the Pride's attack. However, it wasn't enough to prevent the late heartbreak.
The Pride now face a challenging stretch, embarking on a three-match road trip over 15 days. For the Legacy, this comeback win could be a turning point in their season.
