Portland Thorns 1-Washington Spirit 0
Ellie Carpenter’s birthday might have been a month ago but that doesn’t mean her teammates are done giving her gifts. On Saturday night the 18 year old Australian international became the youngest-ever goalscorer in NWSL history. As a double bonus her goal was the difference in the Portland Thorns 1-0 victory over the Washington Spirit at the Maryland SoccerPlex.
While the second half was marked with an ample amount of rain, the first forty-five looked like it might be a pleasant night at the park. That boded well for both sides approach to the match with the Thorns looking to build from the back with defenders Emily Sonnett and Katherine Reynolds poking and prodding the right flank of the Spirit. The meticulously moved the Thorns into attacking positions throughout the first half, eventually moving Washington’s defense toward’s one side and exposing the other. Reynolds found a surging Meghan Kllingenberg down the left flank in the 16th minute. Klingenberg then sent it right back on a cross into the box. Midfielder Meghan Purce with one touch delivered a deft volley which just went right over the bar.
As for the Spirit their efforts primarily focused on getting Estefania Banini the ball early and often. With Reynolds and Sonnett working in an attacking position that left the Thorns susceptible on the counter-attack. A Banini cross into the box in the tenth minute found forward Ashley Hatch with a chance. Hatch’s header was on target but just over the bar. In the 19th minute Banini fed forward Mallory Pugh a pass deep inside Thorns territory. Pugh got past the Thorns defense but her chance was snared by goalkeeper Britt Eckerstrom.
Business picked up in the second half with both sides looking for a goal and three points. The Spirit nearly struck first when in the 53rd minute Pugh broke free of the Thorns defense and laid a pass out wide to Hatch. The chance brought the Spirit supporters to their feet but her shot went wide, ending the chance.
In the 69th minute Portland finally broke through. Just five minutes prior Thorns coach Mark Parsons brought on Carpenter with the intention adding a bit of speed and a spark in the attacking third. It paid off as she finished off a chance cross from midfielder Tobin Heath to give her side the 1-0 advantage.
Down a goal, Washington began to play with even more urgency hoping that a goal could get them back into the match. In the 87th minute Pugh used a bit of space at the top of the eighteen yard box to hit a low shot on target. Her chance though was scooped up by Eckerstrom, ending the chance.
In injury time Washington put in one last ditch effort to get the equalizer with midfielder Andi Sullivan hitting a cracking effort from beyond the eighteen. But Eckerstrom was more than up to the task, making the save and preserving the result. Despite facing consistent pressure Eckerstrom showed she was more than up to the task, making four saves on the evening. As for the Spirit their scoring drought continues ith the club going goalless in their last three matches.
With the win, the Thorns (3-3-3, 12 points) move into fourth place in the NWSL standings. They will head back home on Friday and host Utah Royals FC (10:30 PM PST/7:30 EST). Meanwhile the Spirit will hope for better fortunes on Wednesday night when Sky Blue FC make a midweek visit to the Maryland SoccerPlex (7:30 PM EST/4:30 PM PST).
MATCH SUMMARY
Washington Spirit-Aubrey Bledsoe, Caprice Dydasco, Rebecca Quinn, Whitney Church, Taylor Smith, Tori Huster, Andi Sulliva, Estefania Banini (Joanna Lohman 83′) Meggie Doughtery Haward (Mallory Eubanks 76′), Ashley Hatch (Francisca Ordega 58′), and Mallory Pugh
Portland Thorns- Britt Eckerstrom, Emily Menges, Emily Sonnett, Katherine Reynolds, Meghan Klingenberg, Lindsey Horan, Andressa Machry (Celeste Boureille 72′), Margaret Purce (Ellie Carpenter 64′), Tobin Heath, and Ana-Maria Crnogorcevic (Taylor Lussi 81′)
Goal- Carpenter (69′ Assist-Heath)
Yellow Card- Horan (84′)
ATTENDANCE: 3,284
Washington Spirit
