The Portland Thorns won Wednesday night 3-2 over Angel City FC in dramatic fashion. This was their second game in the 2023 UKG NWSL Challenge Cup. The Thorns are now 1-1-0 in round-robin play, and have four games remaining before bracket play starts. With the win, Portland is now 5-1-1 all time when hosting a Challenge Cup match.
The Thorns were dominant through the first half at Providence Park. Through the first 15 minutes of action, the Thorns had barely allowed a shot on goal and were dominating the time of possession. As the pressure began to pile on, the Thorns would eventually find a breakthrough. At 23:00, Portland would transition from defense to offense with a pass to Izzy D’Aquila along the sidelines. D’Aquila would race across midfield and send a ball toward the top of the box. Angel City goalkeeper, Brittany Isenhour, would come out of her net to play the ball. However, Michele Vasconcelos was faster to the play. Vasconcelos would be able to head the ball on target before Isenhour could reach it, giving the Thorns a 1-0 lead that would stick all the way through halftime.
The second half started off strong for the Thorns as well. Just 45 seconds after halftime, the Thorns were awarded a free kick outside the box. Olivia Moultrie would take the kick, and center the ball inside the Goal Area. D’Aquila would race past the defenders, and deflect the ball towards the far post. Isenhour, who had anticipated a redirect towards the near post, was out of position and the Thorns would take a 2-0 lead.
However, as the second half continued, Angel City was starting to settle into the match. At 60:33, a pass across the width of the field would leave Scarlett Camberos and Natalia Kuikka one on one. Camberos would box out Kuikka, turn back inside, and pass to Clarisse Le Bihan. Le Bihan, from the top of the box, would make another move inside and fire a shot towards the far post. Portland goalkeeper Shelby Hogan would dive attempting to make the save, but the shot was too fast. Angel City had cut the lead down to one.
One of the largest turning points of the match would come nearly two minutes later. D’Aquila would have a shot off the crossbar that could have put Portland up 3-1. However, the rebound was defended well, and Angel City would find a booming clear downfield. The clear left Alyssa Paola Thompson in a race with Portland defender Gabby Provenzano. Thompson would win the race, and sneak past the supporting defender. Thompson, with a defender just behind her, would attempt to make a move outside on Shelby Hogan. Hogan would stretch over and palm the ball away from Thompson, back towards the top of the box. With the loose ball still in play, Thompson and Hogan weren’t about to give up on the ball just yet.
Hogan and Thompson would both scramble to get to the rebound and collide with each other as they dove for the ball. Hogan, couldn’t make contact with the ball in time and would be called for a penalty off a VAR review. With the foul called on Hogan, Angel City would be awarded a penalty shot, and Claire Emslie would step up to take the kick. Emslie would rip a strike toward the left side of the net. Hogan, anticipating a different shot, had dove to the right and was unable to make the save. Emslie would score, and the game would be tied at 2-2.
After the penalty shot goal, Portland found a second wind. A handful of substitutions for both teams had entered the match. However, Portland’s substitutions had nearly immediate impacts on the game. Unfortunately for the Thorns, the scoring chances were either wide of the net or blocked. It seemed the match was destined to end in a draw, until stoppage time.
Just over two minutes into the awarded four minutes of stoppage time, the Thorns had earned their 11th corner of the game. The kick was well defended by Angel City, as nothing too dangerous came close to the net. However, Angel City was unable to clear the ball, and eventually, the ball would find its way to Hannah Betfort near the top of the penalty arch. Betfort would pass to Christine Sinclair, who had a wide angle at the net from inside the box. Sinclair would settle her pass down, then send a shot towards the center of the net. However, Morgan Weaver had slid across her defender, and while facing the shot from Sinclair, kicked up her right heel in the hopes of influencing the shot. Weaver’s scorpion kick was perfect, as it redirected the shot from the center of the net, towards the far post, and past the diving Isenhour. Portland would take the lead 3-2, and the game was called shortly after kickoff.
The Thorns are now no stranger to late-game heroics to earn points this season. Portland’s previous match against the San Diego Wave saw Reyna Reyes score a goal in the 90th minute of action to help Portland earn a draw. Portland earned 3 points, instead of 1 point last night thanks to the goal from Morgan Weaver. The win also significantly increases Portland’s chances of surviving their group stage in the 2023 UKG NWSL Challenge Cup.
Portland’s next match is Saturday, June 3, as the Thorns hit the road to take on the OL Reign with kickoff set for 7 p.m.
Northwest Sports Desk 