The Portland Thorns and the OL Reign played each other to a stalemate on a rainy Wednesday night at Providence Park. Each team got to impose their rhythm at times, the Thorns during first half, and OL Reign during most of the second half. But it was the home side who went to the showers feeling they could have gotten more out of the evening.
The Portland Thorns scored early in the third minute with a goal by Morgan Weaver, then showed some of their best minutes of the season with an inspired midfield that shut out OL Reign. Raquel “Rocky” Rodríguez and Angela Salem ruled the half line and threatened constantly the visitors’ defense. Portland defender Natalia Kuikka ruled the right, shutting down everything and constantly adding to the attack, and defender Emily Menges did a great job tightening things out back.
OL Reign was still able to threaten the defense with forwards Jessica Fishlock and Eugénie Le Sommer, but the game looked like it could turn in to a comfortable win for Portland.
The second half found a Portland Thorns side happy to sit back and hang on to OL Reign pushes. Reenergized by the bench, and the inclusion on the game from their star Megan Rapinoe, the visitors got their reward from the penalty spot in minute 86 when OL Reign Dani Weatherholt picked a deflection from Angelina’s shot, and her strike hit Portland Thorns midfielder Angela Salem covered her face with her hands. The penalty was converted by Rapinoe.
Next, the Portland Thorns will travel to Houston to face The Dash on October 17, OL Reign will play host to the Washington Spirit one day earlier on October 16. The match also marks Portland Thorns defender Meghan Klingerberg 100th game with the Portland jersey.
