After going down 2-0, the Thorns fought back to earn a 2-2 draw and a point agains the Washington Spirit at Providence Park Saturday night.
A crowd of just over 14,000 watched as Spirit forward Crystal Dunn, fresh from training as a backup with the USWNT ahead of the Women’s World Cup, capitalized on a Thorns defensive blunder to put Washington on the board first just three minutes into the game.
The Washington Spirit celebrate the first of their two goals against the Thorns Saturday night.
Just ten minutes later, another defensive blunder put the ball on the foot of Spirit forward Francisca Ordega who slotted it past Thorns keeper Nadine Angerer.
“We didn’t have a great first twenty minutes, let’s be fair,” Thorns head coach Paul Riley said after the game. “But we talked a little at half time and we made some adjustments. But that first half, we just couldn’t find it. We were just kicking balls.”
“How Crystal Dunn isn’t on the plane to Canada after seeing that display is beyond me,” Riley said. “Crystal was a headache all night.”
Mana Shim started the comeback with a goal in the 28th minute. Midfielder Allie Long put a ball into the box for forward Sarah Jackson. Spirit keeper Kelsey Wys made the initial save, but couldn’t get to the rebound and Shim knocked it home.
Thorns midfielder Mana Shim taps a rebound pask Spirit keeper Kelsey Wys.
In the 51st minute, Mana Shim slipped the ball through to Allie Long. Wys got a hand on Long’s shot, but it wasn’t enough to deflect it past the post.
Midfielder Allie Long pulls the Thorns even with the Washington Spirit.
The Thorns had the opportunity to put the game away in the 65th when the a handball was called in the box and a penalty was awarded to the Portland side. Long stepped up to take it, but Wys was able to make the save.
Spirit keeper Kelsey Wys saves a penalty.
The Thorns will travel to face the Boston Breakers next Saturday.
***
Scoring Summary
WASH: Dunn, 3
WASH: Ordega, 14
POR: Shim, 28
POR: Long (Shim), 51
Misconduct Summary
POR: Van Hollebeke (Caution), 34
Lineups & Stats
POR: GK Nadine Angerer, D Rachel Van Hollebeke (Alyssa Kleiner, 74), D Kat Williamson ©, D Emily Menges, M Sinead Farrelly, M McCall Zerboni, M Mana Shim, M Allie Long, M Taylor Comeau (Hanna Terry, 70), M Kendall Johnson, F Sarah Jackson (Kelsey Haycook, 81)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Michelle Betos, M Sarah Robbins, M Kate Bennett
TOTAL SHOTS: 15 (Long, 5); SHOTS ON GOAL: 7 (Long, 4); FOULS: 6 (Long, 4); OFFSIDES: 8; CORNER KICKS: 6; SAVES: 5
BOS: GK Kelsey Wys, D Katherine Reynolds, D Megan Oyster, D Whitney Church (Alex Singer, 75), D Estelle Johnson, M Christine Nairn, M Tori Huster, M Joanna Lohman (Caroline Miller, 86), M Angela Salem (Amanda Da Costa, 68), F Francisca Ordega, F Crystal Dunn
Substitutes Not Used: GK Emily Lillard, D Caprice Dydasco, F Tiffany Weimer, M Jennifer Skogerboe
TOTAL SHOTS: 17 (Dunn, 6); SHOTS ON GOAL: 7 (Ordega, 3); FOULS: 8 (Huster, 2); OFFSIDES: 1; CORNER KICKS: 3; SAVES: 5
Referee: Elvis Mahmutovic
Assistant Referees: TJ Zabolocki, J.J. Blodgett
4th Official: Desmond Miller
Attendance: 14,236
Weather: Sunny, 82 degrees
All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial.
