Lindsey Horan heads the ball past Reign keep Lydia Williams to score the game winning goal (photo by Jeff Wong).
Portland, O.R- 14,179 fans met at Providence Park to witness the Portland Thorns advance to the NWSL Championship match after they defeated the Seattle Reign 2-1. Thorns forward Lindsey Horan scored the game-winning goal to secure the Thorns advancement in the 77th minute.
These two teams just met last Friday in Portland where the Thorns dominated the Reign 3-1. Seattle scored on goal first, but the Thorns came back to have the final defeat.
“We just had them here so we had to do it again, which was quite exciting, but it’s always a great rivalry,” said Heath. “They’re a great team with a bunch of great players. Anytime we get to play them especially at home, it’s always a pleasure.”
The first half brought early tension on the pitch as the Thorns hosted their long-time rivals, but the Reign dominated the field.
In the 17th minute, Thorn defender Ellie Carpenter threw in the ball and midfielder Allie Long attempted to clear it, but it went to Reign goalkeeper Lydia Williams, who deflected the ball. In its rebound, there were several attempts from the Thorns to score that left the crowd on the edge of their seats, but the Reign managed to control the ball before it found the back of the net.
A yellow card was issued to defender Emily Sonnett for a heavy tackle in the 27th minute. Reign forward Megan Rapinoe took the kick. Her shot hit the top of the crossbar, but Jasmyne Spencer was waiting on the right side and finished Rapinoe’s cross to give Seattle a 1-0 lead and to score her first goal.
The Reign came back again and in attempt to clear the ball, Sonnett headed it to Reign forward Jodie Taylor, whose first touch was a direct shot on goal. Taylor’s first touch volley put Thorns goalkeeper Adrianna Franch to work, but she was able to make an incredible save sending the ball just wide of the goal.
Tobin Heath and Rumi Utsugi of Seattle tangle during Saturday’s semi-final (photo by Dante’y Buitureida).
With the Reign in the lead, they saw several opportunities on goal, but they weren’t able to solidify another shot. Portland who make it on the board when midfielder Lindsey Horan passed to Tobin Heath, who scored the equalizer for the Thorns just before the end of the first half.
The tables turned at the half and Portland came out with a renewed sense of hope to finish through with a victory.
As the time ticked down to the final minutes, a breakthrough had to come quickly from either side. In the 77th minute, Christine Sinclair crossed the ball up to Horan and she headed the ball, which took a rebound off the crossbar and deflected to the back of the net, giving the Thorns a 2-1 lead.
“Obviously, we were ready, that was a wild game. First half, they came down our throats, we stayed in it, and we got it done,” said Franch in a post-game interview with Dalen Cuff. “My backline, we stopped as much as we could. One went in, which we’re always disappointed when one goes in, but that’s when the rest of the team comes in to play up top and they put two goals in the back of the net.”
The Thorns victory advances them to the Championship. The next semi-final match will take place between the North Carolina Courage and the Chicago Red Stars on Tuesday at 9:00 p.m. Eastern. The winner of Tuesday’s match will compete against the Thorns for the NWSL Championship game that will take place at Providence Park next Sunday, September 22 at 4:30 p.m.
For photo gallery of the match click here.
SCORING SUMMARY:
SEA-Jasmyne Spencer, 29’
POR-Tobin Heath, 43’
POR-Lindsey Horan, 77’
BOOKING SUMMARY:
POR-Emily Sonnett, yellow card, 27’
SEA-Jessica Fishlock, yellow card, 40’
POR-Emily Menges, yellow card, 50’
SEA-Megan Rapinoe, yellow card, 54’
SEA-Allie Long, yellow card, 60’
PORTLAND THORNS: #24-Adrianna Franch, #25-Meghan Klingenberg, #4-Emily Menges, #16-Emily Sonnett (#27-Elizabeth Ball, 90+2’), #15-Ellie Carpenter, #10-Lindsey Horan, #12-Christine Sinclair, #30-Celeste Boureille, #17-Tobin Heath, #9-Caitlin Foord, #23Margaret Purce (#7-Ana-Maria Crnogorcevic, 46’)
Subs not used: #8-Andressinha, #33-Britt Eckerstrom, #34-Tyler Lussi, #22-Ifeoma Onumonu, #26-Mallory Weber
SEATTLE REIGN: #1-Lydia Williams, #7-Steph Catley, #3-Lauren Barnes, #4-Megan Oyster, #8-Theresa Nielsen, #20-Rumi Utsugi (#12-Morgan Andrews, 82’), #6-Allie Long, #15-Megan Rapinoe, #10-Jess Fishlock (#11-Elizabeth Addo, 84’), #22-Jasmyne Spencer (#17-Beverly Yanez, 78’), #14-Jodie Taylor
Subs not used: #18-Michelle Betos, #9-Nahomi Kawasumi, #13-Adriana Leon, #21-Christen Westphal
TOTAL SHOTS: POR 12-17 SEA
SHOTS ON GOAL: POR 5-5 SEA
FOULS: POR 16-19 SEA
OFFSIDES: POR 2-2 SEA
CORNER KICKS: POR 6-10 SEA
SAVES: POR 4-3 SEA
Portland Thorns
