It wasn’t the most exciting game.
Even with six national team members absent from the Thorns roster, many expected the game to be a rough-and-tumble affair similar to that seen on the road at Seattle just weeks ago.
Nope.
The game’s sole caution card came in the 84th minute. No goals were scored. The Thorns earned zero corners.
But the Thorns came out with a point and are looking to ride their season-long unbeaten streak through the absense of key players.
“I think we knew going into this game that we had people that were going to fight,” keeper Michelle Betos said post-match. “The one thing we said is don’t judge yourselves, don’t analyze the game. The only thing you’re going to walk away regretting is not working…I think when that game ended, everybody was pretty happy but they were so exhausted they couldn’t even really celebrate.
“That’s what it’s gonna take. That’s what this season’s going to look like. When our national team players are going, we’re going to have to grind out results.”
Thorn Hayley Raso earns a foul from Reign defender Rachel Corsie. Photo: Jeff Wong
With six players unavailable due to national team call-ups, the Thorns selected three unpaid amateur players for their gameday roster: goalkeeper Emily Kruger, forward Shade Pratt and midfielder Maureen Fitzgerald. Photo: Mark Gordon Murray
Defender Meg Morris and keeper Michelle Betos were key to the Thorns’ clean sheet against the Seattle Reign in front of a home crowd of 18,114. Photo: Jeff Wong
Thorns keeper Michelle Betos returned to play for the first time in weeks. Photo: Mark Gordon Murray
Scoring Summary
none
Misconduct Summary
SEA: Reed (Caution), 84
Lineups & Stats
POR: GK Betos, D Weber, D Reynolds, D Menges, D Morris, M Boureille, M Shim, M Brynjarsdottir, M Raso, F Sinclair © (Berryhill, 46, Pratt, 72), F Nadim
Substitutes Not Used: GK Kruger, M Fitzgerald
TOTAL SHOTS: 6 (Nadim, 2); SHOTS ON GOAL: 2 (Nadim, Sinclair, 1); FOULS: 9 (Nadim, 3); OFFSIDES: 0; CORNER KICKS: 0; SAVES: 4
SEA: GK Kopmeyer, D Reed, D Corsie, D Fletcher, D Barnes, M Fishlock, M Winters, M Little, F Yanez (Elston, 87), F Matthias (Nielsen, 65), F Pickett (Solaun, 54)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Tostanoski, D Cruz, F Dallstream
TOTAL SHOTS: 9 (Yanez, 3); SHOTS ON GOAL: 4 (Little, 2); FOULS: 6 (Elston, 2); OFFSIDES: 5; CORNER KICKS: 5; SAVES: 2
Referee: Greg Dopka
Assistant Referees: TJ Zablocki, Jeremy Weed
4th Official: Jason Perlewitz
Attendance: 18,114
Weather: Cloudy, 61 degrees
