Amanda Gutierres Stoppage-Time Penalty Completes Boston Legacy Comeback Over Orlando Pride 2-1

Eight minutes into stoppage time, on a night Boston Legacy FC dedicated to Brazil, a Brazilian substitute stood over the ball with the game on her right foot. Amanda Gutierres had already set up one goal off the bench. Now, after a VAR review handed Boston a penalty, she rolled it into the bottom left corner and sent Gillette Stadium into orbit.

Boston beat the Orlando Pride 2-1 on Tuesday night in front of 8,182 fans, coming from behind after Marta made NWSL history from the spot in the first half. Aleigh Gambone, another substitute, scored the equalizer in the 72nd minute, and both goals were the scorers' first for the Legacy, per the club. The result stretched Boston's unbeaten run to four matches.

Marta Writes Her Name in the Book

The opening stretch was cagey, but Orlando struck first. In the 12th minute, Julie Doyle got in behind the Boston defense and forced Casey Murphy into a save. On the corner that followed, Rafaelle went down in the box, and Aïssata Traoré was whistled for the foul. Marta took the penalty in the 14th minute and buried it low with her left foot.

That one carried some weight. Orlando's recap says it was Marta's first goal of 2026 and her 15th career penalty goal in the NWSL, making her the league's all-time leader from the spot. She is now 15 for 16 on NWSL penalties, which is the kind of conversion rate that makes goalkeepers rethink their life choices.

Boston answered with volume. Bianca St-Georges forced Anna Moorhouse into a save in the 17th minute, and between the 25th and 34th the Legacy launched seven attempts. Nichelle Prince sent one just past the top left corner, St-Georges headed wide from point-blank range off a corner, and Alba Caño forced another Moorhouse stop. None went in. Doyle was booked for a bad foul in the 44th, and Orlando took a 1-0 lead into halftime.

Changes on Both Benches

Orlando head coach Seb Hines made three changes at the break, sending on Ally Lemos, Barbra Banda and Hannah Anderson for Angelina, Marta and Rafaelle. Hines said afterward that the halftime changes were forced on his team. The Pride still started the half brightly: Haley McCutcheon tested Murphy in the 49th minute, and Banda sprang Hailie Mace on a fast break in the 52nd, only for Mace to drag her shot just wide. More trouble followed: Doyle was replaced by Luana because of an injury in the 57th minute, and Summer Yates gave way to Seven Castain for the same reason in the 63rd.

Boston turned to its bench too. In the 57th minute, Ella Stevens, Sammy Smith and Gutierres came on. Gambone followed in the 65th. That is where the game turned.

The Bench Mob Takes Over

The turning point arrived in the 72nd minute. Gutierres rose to head a long ball down into Gambone's path, and Gambone met it first time with her right foot from the middle of the box, ripping it into the top right corner. She had been on the field for seven minutes.

From there, Boston sensed more. Gutierres forced Moorhouse into a save from distance in the 76th and flashed a shot just wide off a Gambone corner in the 80th. Orlando had its own looks: Castain headed high and wide in the 75th, and Banda forced Murphy into a sharp save from a difficult angle in the third minute of stoppage time.

Then came the decider. Boston won a corner in the 94th minute, Luana was penalized for a handball in the box, and VAR confirmed the penalty. Gutierres stepped up and went low into the bottom left corner. Game over, and a fitting finish on what the club called Noite do Brasil.

Who Swung It

Amanda Gutierres was the difference. In roughly 45 minutes off the bench, she put two of her three shots on target, scored the winner and assisted the equalizer. Not a bad way to open a Legacy account.

Aleigh Gambone needed exactly one shot to make her mark, and she made it count.

Bianca St-Georges and Aïssata Traoré each fired four shots, the most of anyone on the field, though neither found the net.

Annie Karich was Boston's quiet engine. She forced an early save from Moorhouse and set up five Legacy attempts by our count of ESPN's play-by-play.

Marta made history in 45 minutes of work before Hines took her off at halftime.

Anna Moorhouse kept Orlando in it with five saves, but she was facing a barrage all night.

By the Numbers

• Shots: Boston 22, Orlando 10.
• Shots on target: Boston 7, Orlando 4.
• Possession: Boston 59.9 percent, Orlando 40.1.
• Corners: Boston 11, Orlando 4.
• Clearances: Orlando 35, Boston 12.

Where Both Sides Stand

Boston, in its inaugural season, improves to two wins, two draws and five losses with eight points. The Legacy lost their first five matches of the year. Since then, they have drawn 2-2 with North Carolina, beaten Denver Summit FC 3-2, drawn 1-1 at Gotham FC and now beaten Orlando. Next is a trip to San Jose to face Bay FC on Friday, May 15.

Orlando falls to three wins, two draws and four losses with 11 points, and the loss stings in a specific way. Per the Pride, it was the first time they had lost after scoring the opening goal since Oct. 7, 2023, a stretch of 37 games without defeat. The Pride had beaten North Carolina 1-0 at home on May 8, and the club noted they have scored in eight of their nine matches this season, with only Portland scoring in more. This was also Orlando's first-ever visit to Gillette Stadium. The three-match road trip continues at Denver Summit FC on Saturday, May 16.

The Final Word

Hines did not hide from it. "Frustrated and disappointed," he said. "We never like losing, especially in the manner that we lost the game." That is the Orlando view. The Boston view is pure Ted Lasso: trust the bench, believe in the late penalty, and let the Brazilian finish the story on Brazil night. Somewhere, a writers' room would call that too on the nose.

Stats from ESPN's match data. Postgame quote and additional details as reported by the Orlando Pride on OrlandoCitySC.com and BostonLegacyFC.com.