McCall Zerboni scored a brace in Portland’s 5-2 win over the Boston Breakers Wednesday at Providence Park.
There are only so many times one can type “the Thorns struggled to put an attack together” or “there was a distinct lack of creativity” or “the team was thwarted by a defensive breakdown” before you start to wonder if you should be writing about sports at all. What’s the point? Why do we bother?
And then there are nights like tonight.
A Wednesday night crowd of over 15,000 was on hand in Portland to witness what we (the fans, the organization, the assorted Portland media) hope is the next step on the road back to the top for the Thorns.
After a 2-0 road win at Western New York last week, the Thorns faced the last-place Boston Breakers at Providence Park. With just 15 goals and 16 points over 14 games, the Thorns needed a statement win and they got it.
The Thorns dominated play with four players scoring five goals against the Breakers.
With goals from Jodie Taylor, Mana Shim, Allie Long and two from McCall Zerboni, the Thorns dominated the game. Boston made their way to the score sheet courtesy of a Kat Williamson own goal and a late-game handball resulting in a penalty kick.
But, with five games left in the Thorns season, will the momentum of the last two matches carry them through to a playoff spot? Portland currently sits in fifth place, with the four teams ahead of them advancing to the playoffs were they to begin today: Seattle, Chicago, Washington, and Houston.
Portland Faces Chicago Sunday at Providence Park.
Scoring Summary
POR: Taylor (Heath), 16
BOS: Own Goal (Williamson), 36
POR: Zerboni (Long), 49
POR: Zerboni, 53
POR: Shim (Sinclair), 54
POR: Long, 66
BOS: Mewis (penalty kick), 87
Misconduct Summary
BOS: Pires (Caution), 30
Lineups & Stats
POR: GK Michelle Betos, D Clare Polkinghorne, D Kat Williamson ©, D Emily Menges, M McCall Zerboni, M Sinead Farrelly, M Kaylyn Kyle, M Tobin Heath (Johnson, 73), M Allie Long, F Jodie Taylor (Shim, 46), F Christine Sinclair (Van Hollebeke, 85)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Nadine Angerer, F Hanna Terry
TOTAL SHOTS: 18 (Long, 4); SHOTS ON GOAL: 9 (Taylor, 3); FOULS: 8 (Farrelly, Polkinghorne, 2); OFFSIDES: 3; CORNER KICKS: 5; SAVES: 2
BOS: GK Alyssa Naeher, D Lauren Lazo, D Kassey Kallman, D Maddy Evans (Verdoia, 73), D Rachel Wood, D Mollie Pathman, M Suzane Pires (Ezurike, 60), M Amy Barczuk, M Kristie Mewis, F Katie Schoepfer ©, F Stephanie McCaffrey (Marlborough, 73)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Jami Kranich, M Bia, M Rafinha, F Kyah Simon
TOTAL SHOTS: 11 (Mewis, 5); SHOTS ON GOAL: 3 (Mewis, 2); FOULS: 12 (Kallman, Pires, 3); OFFSIDES: 1; CORNER KICKS: 6; SAVES: 4
Referee: Matthew Kreitzer
Assistant Referees: Amanda Ross, J.J. Blodgett
4th Official: Jason Perlewitz
Attendance: 15,624
Weather: Partly Cloudy, 71 degrees
