A late Dagny Brynjarsdottir strike sent the Boston Breakers to their third straight defeat to open the season as the Portland Thorns secured a 1-0 win in front of 3,698 fans at Jordan Field in Allston, Mass. on Sunday.
Brynjarsdottir collected a Tobin Heath free kick inside the box and buried it past Abby Smith to keep the Breakers from getting their first point of 2016.
“I’m frustrated because we lost the game to a set play,” Breakers coach Matt Beard said in a club release. “We were in complete control up until that point. Then all of a sudden the game becomes open and that’s where they start to get a bit of momentum.”
Smith, who made her NWSL debut on Sunday, collected four saves in the place of injured keeper Libby Stout.
The Breakers’ best opportunity to get on the board came in the 48th minute. A long touch from Angela Salem found Stephanie McCaffery in the box, where the Breakers striker ripped it off the crossbar.
Boston remains goalless through their first three matches, the lone NWSL club with that distinction.
“We’re obviously bummed with the result, but I think we really did take it to them,” Smith said in a club release. “We had our chances and we have a lot to build on from this game. I’m looking forward to next week.”
The Breakers will return to action on Saturday at Jordan Field where they’ll take on the Chicago Red Stars at 7:00pm.
Boston Breakers