Chealsea defender Buchanan falls on the ball after blocking a shot from Portland Thorns Sophia Smith (photo by Diego G Diaz).
Chelsea FC Women edged 1-0 the home team, The Portland Thorns, to earn third place in the Women’s International Champions Cup in the first match of the second and last day of the tournament. Chelsea showed more order and tactical prowess and imposed its discipline. The Portland Thorns presented another squad with many rotations that gave it all in the field, but seemed unable to break Chelsea’s order.
The solitary goal of the match came in the second half, at minute 63, by Guro Reiten, assisted by Pernille Harder. Portland Coach, Rhian Wilkinson, added weight to the squad to try to overcome the result, with regular starter Raquel Rodriguez, and for the first time this tournament, the star forward, Sophia Smith.
Portland reacted in intensity and play, and Sophia Smith was getting up there creating danger, however, Chelsea was able to withstand the siege, maintaining good defensive order.
With this result, last year’s champions, The Portland Thorns, ended fourth and last of the ICC International Champions Cup, and will focus back on the NWSL regular season with two important match ups, away in North Carolina against the Courage on August 24th, and back in Providence Park, hosting San Diego Wave, on August 27th.
