OL Reign 0
Portland Thorns FC 2
June 3, 2023
Lumen Field – Seattle, WA
NWSL Regular Season
Portland Thorns FC and their supporters made the journey up I-5 to Seattle to face OL Reign on Saturday afternoon at Lumen Field.
A top tier of the table clash would see the two sides face off as part of a double header with their MLS counterparts in a loud and raucous atmosphere. With the MLS match being a goalless draw, the crowd was ready to erupt with the kickoff of the NWSL match.
These are two clubs that both defend and attack well, getting clean sheets and multi-goal matches throughout the first third of the campaign. Both looked for an early goal to set the tone and took it right at the other defense early; pressing high and getting shots and set pieces in the early stages.
The hosts were playing without Jess Fishlock, a surprise late scratch.
Sophia Smith would open the scoring in the 17th minute. Smith would push through the Reign defense, slicing a shot through the defense from the top of the box with her left foot, glancing in off the post as Phallon Tullis-Joyce lunged to her left.
The first thirty minutes were wide open, as both clubs pushed the attack. A few set pieces seemed to have chances, but neither side could break through. The match would get more physical as the half progressed, with Reign defender Sam Hiatt picking up the first yellow on a hard tackle on Smith.
The Thorns and Reign attacks would create a number of chances from different sources, but the initial goal would carry the match into the half. Both defenses had their hands full with so many attacking options each way. Both central defense pairings were solid, limiting the chances in the middle and forcing both attacks to go outside in as opposed to up through the middle.
The pace of play would continue coming out of the break. Portland did not drop back and defend and the Reign pushed forward attempting to level. Megan Rapinoe would graze the bar in the 49th minute and worked to stretch the Thorns defense. Rapinoe appears back to near full strength, no longer coming off the bench in short appearances, but starting and playing towards a full ninety.
Reign coach Laura Harvey would look for a spark bringing Jordyn Huitema on in the second half. Huitema would quickly make her presence felt, creating a corner and pushing a shot just wide in the first few minutes after coming on.
The Thorn attacking options kept the Reign defense on their toes. Crystal Dunn put one over the bar in the 66th. Christine Sinclair came on in the same time period to bring a veteran attacker into the mix, forcing a diving Tullis-Joyce into a fingertip save in the 73rd.
Thorns keeper Bella Bixby shrugged off what looked like a possibly bad lower right leg injury, still controlling the air in the box and showing good reflexes on chances from Seattle not long after needing treatment.
Sinclair would finally double the lead for the Thorns in the 87th minute, drilling home to the near post a low volley.
In stoppage, Tziarra King would nearly grab a goal late, getting on a long Rapinoe through ball, but Bixby was up to the task.
The two goal margin would hold up in stoppage, a huge three points for the Thorns in the standings. Both sides pressed the attack, but the Thorns took their chances and the two goal victory.
It was a good day for the travelling sides in the Cascadia Derby Doubleheader. A road draw for the MLS side and a two goal win for the Thorns.
BOX
Scoring
RGN: None
POR: Smith – 17’, Sinclair 87’
Discipline
RGN: Hiatt (Caution – 21’), Cook (Caution – 89’)
POR: None
Lineups
RGN: GK Tullis-Joyce, D Huerta, D Cook, D Hiatt, D Barnes ©, M Sonnett, M Quinn (Van der Jagt 58’), M Balcer (Stanton 78’), F Latsko (Huitema 57’), F Bennett (King 79’), F Rapinoe
Unused substitutes: GK Ivory, M Athens, M Canales, D Brown, D Holmes
Total Shots: 15 (Rapinoe – 5)
Shots on Goal: 4 (Four tied with – 1)
Fouls: 10 (Bennett, Rapinoe – 2)
Offsides: 0
Corner Kicks: 3
Saves: 3 (Tullis-Joyce – 3)
POR: GK Bixby, D Klingenberg, D Menges (Sauerbrunn 67’), D Hubly, D Kuikka (Reyes 70’), M Coffey, M Moultrie (Sinclair 67’), M Dunn, F Weaver, F Sugita (Vasconcelos 89’), F Smith
Unused substitutes: GK Hogan, F Leon, F D’Aquila, D Nally, M Porter
Total Shots: 19 (Smith – 6)
Shots on Goal: 5 (Sinclair – 2)
Fouls: 5 (Smith – 2)
Offsides: 3
Corner Kicks: 3
Saves: 4 (Bixby – 4)
Referee: Brad Jensen
Assistant Referee 1: Jennifer Garner
Assistant Referee 2: Alicia Messer
4th Official: Patricia McCracken
VAR: Robi Hullner
AVAR: Joel McKell
