Portland Thorns FC 2
Kansas City Current 0
October 29, 2022
Audi Field – Washington, DC
NWSL Championship
Kansas City Current and Portland Thorns FC made the trek to Washington DC’s Audi Field for the 2022 NWSL Championship. These are two championship worthy sides that took very different journeys in 2022.
The championship match comes at the end of a year of significant transitions for the clubs and the league.
Championship matches are a different animal; intensity gets ramped up, and early opportunities can change the course of what is expected.
Sophia Smith took an early chance and got Portland on the goal in the fifth minute. Smith got the surprise loose ball and clear, dribbling around Current keeper AD Franch and placing a left footed shot through the open net. The 2022 MVP pouncing on the chance set a tone for the early going.
Kansas City had grabbed an early goal in Seattle in the semifinal, and that goal held up. The Current were faced with a reversal of fortune with the Smith goal.
The first half was by no means exclusively a one sided affair. Portland did have more of the play and possession, attacking forward and pushing the pace of play, but KC created chances and earned set pieces and pressed the Thorns defense enough to keep the match close. The Thorns counter was effective in creating chances with the long runs of Sophia Smith and Morgan Weaver and the ever overlapping Meghan Klingenberg.
Going into the interval with a one goal margin and that single goal scored being the early Smith strike was perhaps a bit surprising given the pace of play and looks both clubs were getting on offense. The defenses were being pushed, bending but not conceding.
Both clubs move the ball well, but both defenses were smothering and covering, not giving much time on the ball. Portland’s overlapping the long runs were what was creating the majority of their chances as a result.
Sometimes the game can be cruel. The second goal came about ten minutes into the second half when Current defender Addisyn Merrick deflected a ball with her knee in a front of goal scrum.
The second goal forced coaching decisions. Moments later both sides began making substitutions for the final third of the match.
The question late in the match became whether KC could finally convert on one of their chances to make the late game even more interesting. There were a couple moments in front of Portland keeper Bella Bixby that were promising, but in the end it didn’t materialize.
The Thorns saw out the match, holding onto the two goal margin. The 2-nil margin would be the final scoreline and the Portland Thorns FC are the 2022 NWSL Champions.
With the victory, Portland claimed their third NWSL Championship, adding to their victories in 2013 and 2017.
Kansas City took a season that could easily of been simply one of transition with key injuries early and instead made a run to a final.
Portland’s blend of youth and veterans was dynamic in both offense and defense. An unfortunate final regular season match result is what kept them from a shield and cup double. The 2020 NWSL 1 & 2 draft picks paying off so strongly has the Thorns set up for long term success.
The atmosphere of the match was fantastic. The weather in late October cooperated. Both sides brought energy and a commitment to attacking soccer. The Audi Field setting was of a full house and the tension of a match that had consequences.
Both supporters groups were set up behind opposing goals. You could hear Rose City Riveters across the pitch and the KC Current drum line and supporters were bringing it. The atmosphere was tense from the start, with every tackle and set piece feeling like a final.
League MVP Sophia Smith made it a double, being named Championship MVP.
BOX
Portland Thorns FC vs. KC Current – 2022 NWSL Championship
Oct. 29, 2022 – Audi Field (Washington D.C.)
Scoring Summary:
POR: Smith, 4
POR: Merrick (own goal), 56
Misconduct Summary:
None
Lineups:
POR: GK Bixby, D Kuikka, D Hubly, D Sauerbrunn, D Klingenberg, M Coffey, M Rodriguez (Sugita, 63), M Sinclair (Dunn, 73), F Ryan (Moultrie, 93), F Weaver (Beckie, 63), F S. Smith
Substitutes Not Used: GK A. Smith, D McGrady, D Menges, D Nally, M Porter
TOTAL SHOTS: 18 (Smith, 6); SHOTS ON GOAL: 6 (Weaver, 2); FOULS: 8 (Rodriguez, 3); OFFSIDES: 3; CORNER KICKS: 4; SAVES: 0
KC: GK Franch, D Loera, D Edmonds, D Merrick (Bennett, 64), D Ball, M Scott © (Rodriguez, 75), M Mace, M Del Fava, M LaBonta, F Kizer, F Hamilton
Substitutes Not Used: GK Schneider, GK Miller, D Leach, M Logarzo, M McCain, M Winebrenner, F Curran
TOTAL SHOTS: 9 (Loera, 4); SHOTS ON GOAL: 0 (0); FOULS: 10 (Loera, 5); OFFSIDES: 0; CORNER KICKS: 2; SAVES: 5
Referee: Natalie Simon
Assistant Referees: Kali Smith, Alicia Messer
Fourth Official: Danielle Chesky
Weather: Clear, 53 degrees
Attendance: 17,624
