Well, you don’t see that every day.
After a lackluster first half that saw the Portland Thorns stymied by their FC Kansas City counterparts, and following a 51st minute Sarah Hagen goal for FCKC, it seemed Portland’s momentum was building.
And then came the red card.
A solid collision between FCKC’s Shea Groom and Thorn Sinead Farrelly resulted in a yellow card to Groom, but not before Portland midfielder McCall Zerboni stepped squarely on Groom’s back. With Zerboni sent off, the Thorns struggled to regain their momentum.
“It’s silly incident that cost us a player in a key moment in the game. We were starting to get back in the game, we looked like we could go on and maybe get a goal. One-nil down, a player down at home with 30 minutes to go, it’s not an easy thing with three or four youngsters in the lineup…we made it difficult for ourselves,” coach Paul Riley said after the game.
Five minutes were added to the second half. Five long minutes but with just seconds left, the Thorns earned a corner kick.
It’s not the first time Thorns GK Michelle Betos has come forward in the dying moments of a game, but this will be the time everyone remembers.
Perfect service from Allie Long placed the ball at the exact right place for Betos to get her head on it and send it into the net.
GK Michelle Betos, along with forward Hanna Terry and defender Emily Menges celebrate a hard-fought game at Providence Park. Photo: Jeff Wong
“I don’t think I was marked very well. I probably wouldn’t have marked me either,” Betos said post-match. “Allie played the ball in and I just tried to get it on goal and it happened to go in. I didn’t actually know it went in until I saw Sinead’s face and I realized it went in.
“I don’t think it’s one person ever. I finished the goal tonight, which is absurd, but Allie played a great ball and the team worked and worked and worked…it’s been a team effort throughout.”
The Thorns meet Sky Blue at Providence Park July 3.
Rose City Riveters pre-match tifo, “Think Globally, Win Locally.” Photo: Jeff Wong
Scoring Summary
KC: Hagen (Buczkowski), 51
POR: Betos (Long), 90+5
Misconduct Summary
POR: Long (Caution), 44
POR: Johnson (Caution), 50
KC: Hagen (Caution), 61
POR: Zerboni (Ejection), 70
KC: Groom (Caution), 71
Lineups & Stats
POR: GK Michelle Betos, D Rachel Van Hollebeke, D Kat Williamson ©, D Emily Menges, M Taylor Comeau (Alyssa Kleiner, 46), M Sinead Farrelly, M McCall Zerboni, M Kendall Johnson (Sarah Jackson, 86), M Allie Long, M Mana Shim (Hanna Terry, 64), F Ayo
Substitutes Not Used: GK Emily Kruger, M Kate Bennett, D Courtney Niemiec
TOTAL SHOTS: 13 (Ayo, 4); SHOTS ON GOAL: 5 (Ayo, 3); FOULS: 11 (Zerboni, 3); OFFSIDES: 2; CORNER KICKS: 6; SAVES: 4
KC: GK Nicole Barnhart, D Leigh Ann Robinson, D Amy LePeilbet, D Becca Moros, D Yael Averbuch, M Jen Buczkowski, M Mandy Laddish, M Erika Tymrak, M Shea Groom (Frances Silva, 86), M Liz Bogus (Meghan Lisenby, 90+2), F Sarah Hagen (Caroline Kastor, 81)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Katelyn Rowland, M Kaysie Clark, D Domi Richardson
TOTAL SHOTS: 8 (Hagen Tymrak, 3); SHOTS ON GOAL: 5 (Tymrak, 2); FOULS: 14 (Buczkowski, 3); OFFSIDES: 6; CORNER KICKS: 0; SAVES: 4
Referee: Brandon Artis
Assistant Referees: TJ Zablocki, Reyna Fonseca
4th Official: Desmond Miller
Attendance: 15,214
