Hanna Betfort scores Portland’s first goal to a partial 1-1 in minute 41 of the first half (Photo by Diego G Diaz).
Portland Thorns pulled out a gritty win over North Carolina in a rivalry match at Providence Park.
Sunday evening was still carrying the marks of the long night endured by those who witnessed the World Cup final that crowned Spain as the Women’s Soccer World Champions in the Australia/New Zealand World Cup. Wildfire smoke painted the sky with post-apocalyptic colors, something becoming a norm these long summers in the region.
An unhealthy air of 152 AQI turned on a pollution alert from the National Weather Service that was still under the NWSL cancelling threshold policy. Many voices were questioning the decision to play in an air that clearly fought its way into the lungs. It smelled of burned things, and had me walking off at match’s end with a nose reaction with just a few thousand steps. Never mind athletes, running nearly a half marathon in the 90 regulation minutes. I hope, this is a reflection the league might take in future considerations.
With it all, the NWSL, barely hinting out the World Cup eclipse, kicked off on schedule.
League leaders North Carolina Courage came to Portland determined to win. They found a home side still understrength missing some key players, but with Christine Sinclair and Raquel Rodriguez back after their early eliminations, and with Sophia Smith on the bench, after US elimination in round of 16 of the Women’s World Cup.
This Portland Thorns squad has proven their grit while their world class stars were in the international spotlight, deprived from media attention and shredding attendance, but offering a massive lesson in professionalism even as results might have not been the desired ones. The same can be said of North Carolina squad, getting back only three players out of the six that left on international duty, goalkeeper Casey Murphy and defender Emily Fox, from the USNWT, and midfielder Denise O’Sullivan from the Republic of Ireland.
The Courage however, has been able to keep results consistent, climbing up to the top of NWSL league, and finish first in the group stage of the NWSL Challenge Cup.
The game started with the intensity expected from two of the top contenders to win it all this 2023 season. The first fifteen minutes of the game had both teams fighting to impose their rhythm on the pitch, with the Courage getting the best of the play.
In minute 17, Portland defender Kelly Hubbly, in a last ditch tackle, fouled Victoria Picket after losing a dangerous ball in defense. The tackle denied a goal scoring chance (also known as the last defender rule), match referee Mathew Thomson, punished Hubly with a red card after VAR review.
North Carolina’s midfielder Tyler Lussi, took the free kick from an optimal place in the center of Portland box, and scored a stunning goal after hitting the crossbar. It had to be reviewed again by VAR as it bounced out after crossing beyond the goal line for about a foot.
The ejection of Hubbly, forced the Thorns with the tough decision to bring defender Meaghan Nally in for a Christine Sinclair who barely got to warm up. One player down, behind in the score, not even 20 minutes in the game. Portland was shocked, and looking at a bleak night.
The Courage, with numerical advantage, took over the match and kept Portland’s keeper Bella Bixby quite busy. Bixby responded well, and kept the Thorns in the match. North Carolina pressed on, but their inability to double their advantage, resulted in Portland slowly making itself stronger. The ten women squad, seemed to start to be playing in equal terms, slowly eroding the Courage dominance, mounting increasingly more effective attacks.
Approaching the end of the first half, Thorn’s forward Hanna Betfort, brought the match back to parity in a great goal in minute 41. Betfort completed a pass from Olivia Mourtrie, that let her go one on one with Courage’s keeper Casey Murphy, beating her with a left foot chip from the right side of the box to the left side netting. A very important psychological goal that would reset Portland’s confidence.
The second half was a different story, North Carolina tried in vain to impose its numerical superiority, with Portland grown stronger, and starting to dominate the game. Sam Coffee and Olivia Moultrie took over the midfield, Morgan Weaver deep runs kept The Courage defense deep, greatly canceling their advantage.
And then in minute 68, everything changed.
Portland’s jewel, and one of the most talented forwards in the world, number 9 in the back, Sophia Smith, made it back to Providence Park. Sophia, subbed in for Hanna Betfort, author of Portlands first goal, and just one minute in, won a ball in the midfield and played it left to Morgan Weaver. Morgan sent it back after a lovely run on the left wing, and Sophia slotted in the final and winning 2-1, it was minute 69 and the stadium exploded.
Sophia Smith celebrates Portland’s second and victory goal (Photo by Diego G Diaz)
The attendance record the club claims, still was showing quite a bit of empty seats that might ask some questions about that math, but those who put their lungs on the line in now 156 AQI, made up in noise and energy.
Smith took the team on her shoulders, incessantly prowled on the attack and pressured when she didn’t have the ball, obligating North Carolina to commit players on defense, and by that time, nobody remembered the Thorns were one player down. Thorns were in the driver seat, and nothing North Carolina tried seemed to work as they earned a few goal chances, but so did Portland, looking closer to score in the last 20 minutes. The story was sealed, stamped, and delivered.
After the final whistle, Portland regained the top spot of the table with 28 points, North Carolina Courage follows with 26. points. With teams building up to their top pre World Cup strength, and out of the shadows of the big event, the rest of the season certainly offers a very exciting race to the play offs.
The Portland Thorns are back, and definitely the best game in Soccer City USA.
