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WASHINGTON, D.C. (Saturday, September 7, 2024) – Portland Thorns (8-8-3, 27 points) suffered a 2-1 road loss at Washington Spirit.
The Thorns looked to find the opening goal in the fourth minute when forward Sophia Smith broke out, unmarked, towards goal, but a quick move from Aubrey Kingsbury blocked the shot. Washington looked to have a sure goal in the 10th minute when the Spirit found themselves with an open net, but a goal-line save from Kelli Hubly saved the ball off the line.
In the 31st minute a scramble in front of goal saw the Thorns nearly put the ball across the line, but just as Reyna Reyes put the ball over the line the referee called the play dead due to a foul on the goalkeeper. Thorns goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold made a massive stop in the 38th minute, using her outstretched leg to stop the point-blank shot, preserving the 0-0 scoreline, which the two sides would carry into the halftime break.
Portland took the early second-half lead when midfielder Hina Sugita banged her shot into the back of the net, connecting on a cross from Alexa Spaanstra. The goal marked Sugita’s second of the season, and the first assist for Spaanstra since joining the Thorns in the summer transfer window.
The Spirit leveled the score in the 60th minute when Trinity Rodman dribbled her way around several defenders to slot the ball inside the far post. Washington relentlessly pressured the Thorns’ backline, looking for the go-ahead goal but the back line held strong.
In the dying minutes of the match forward Izzy D’Aquila was inches away from scoring the winner, but her cross smacked off the crossbar. Moments later Christine Sinclair also appeared to have found the back of the net, but her goal was called back due to being offside.
On the next play Washington took the lead, with Leicy Santos heading in the game winner in the final minute of the game, giving the Spirit the 2-1 victory.
UP NEXT: The Portland Thorns return to Providence Park to host the Chicago Red Stars on Friday, September 13 with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m. PT. Tickets are available at www.thorns.com.
GOAL-SCORING BREAKDOWN
POR: Hina Sugita (Alexa Spaanstra) 49th minute: Spaanstra drove towards the endline before cutting back to place a low cross towards the middle of the 18-yard-box where Sugita was able to run onto the ball and curl her shot into the back of the net.
WAS: Trinity Rodman (Ashley Hatch) 60th minute: Rodman dribbled down the field, spinning around two defenders to slip her shot inside the far post.
WAS: Leicy Santos (Trinity Rodman 90+7th minute): Rodman found Santos inside the box for her to head the ball into the back of the net.
LINEUPS:
Portland Thorns (4-3-3): Mackenzie Arnold, Reyna Reyes, Becky Sauerbrunn, Kelli Hubly, Alexa Spaanstra (Christine Sinclair 74’), Hina Sugita, Sam Coffey, Nicole Payne (Marie Müller 69’), Olivia Moultrie (Jessie Fleming 83’), Sophia Smith, Reilyn Turner (Izzy D’Aquila 46’)
Subs not used: Shelby Hogan, Isabella Obaze, Sophie Hirst, Payton Linnehan, Meghan Klingenberg
Washington Spirit (4-4-2): Aubrey Kingsbury, Gabrielle Carle (Casey Krueger 61’), Annaïg Butel, Tara McKeown, Paige Metayer, Leicy Santos, Andi Sullivan, Courtney Brown (Hal Hershfelt 61’), Ashley Hatch (Makenna Morris 61’), Ouleymata Sarr (Trinity Rodman 22’), Rosemonde Kouassi (Lena Silano 84’)
Subs not used: Nicole Barnhart, Brittany Ratcliffe, Esme Morgan
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Saturday, September 7, 2024) – Portland Thorns (8-8-3, 27 points) suffered a 2-1 road loss at Washington Spirit.
The Thorns looked to find the opening goal in the fourth minute when forward Sophia Smith broke out, unmarked, towards goal, but a quick move from Aubrey Kingsbury blocked the shot. Washington looked to have a sure goal in the 10th minute when the Spirit found themselves with an open net, but a goal-line save from Kelli Hubly saved the ball off the line.
In the 31st minute a scramble in front of goal saw the Thorns nearly put the ball across the line, but just as Reyna Reyes put the ball over the line the referee called the play dead due to a foul on the goalkeeper. Thorns goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold made a massive stop in the 38th minute, using her outstretched leg to stop the point-blank shot, preserving the 0-0 scoreline, which the two sides would carry into the halftime break.
Portland took the early second-half lead when midfielder Hina Sugita banged her shot into the back of the net, connecting on a cross from Alexa Spaanstra. The goal marked Sugita’s second of the season, and the first assist for Spaanstra since joining the Thorns in the summer transfer window.
The Spirit leveled the score in the 60th minute when Trinity Rodman dribbled her way around several defenders to slot the ball inside the far post. Washington relentlessly pressured the Thorns’ backline, looking for the go-ahead goal but the back line held strong.
In the dying minutes of the match forward Izzy D’Aquila was inches away from scoring the winner, but her cross smacked off the crossbar. Moments later Christine Sinclair also appeared to have found the back of the net, but her goal was called back due to being offside.
On the next play Washington took the lead, with Leicy Santos heading in the game winner in the final minute of the game, giving the Spirit the 2-1 victory.
UP NEXT: The Portland Thorns return to Providence Park to host the Chicago Red Stars on Friday, September 13 with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m. PT. Tickets are available at www.thorns.com.
GOAL-SCORING BREAKDOWN
POR: Hina Sugita (Alexa Spaanstra) 49th minute: Spaanstra drove towards the endline before cutting back to place a low cross towards the middle of the 18-yard-box where Sugita was able to run onto the ball and curl her shot into the back of the net.
WAS: Trinity Rodman (Ashley Hatch) 60th minute: Rodman dribbled down the field, spinning around two defenders to slip her shot inside the far post.
WAS: Leicy Santos (Trinity Rodman 90+7th minute): Rodman found Santos inside the box for her to head the ball into the back of the net.
LINEUPS:
Portland Thorns (4-3-3): Mackenzie Arnold, Reyna Reyes, Becky Sauerbrunn, Kelli Hubly, Alexa Spaanstra (Christine Sinclair 74’), Hina Sugita, Sam Coffey, Nicole Payne (Marie Müller 69’), Olivia Moultrie (Jessie Fleming 83’), Sophia Smith, Reilyn Turner (Izzy D’Aquila 46’)
Subs not used: Shelby Hogan, Isabella Obaze, Sophie Hirst, Payton Linnehan, Meghan Klingenberg
Washington Spirit (4-4-2): Aubrey Kingsbury, Gabrielle Carle (Casey Krueger 61’), Annaïg Butel, Tara McKeown, Paige Metayer, Leicy Santos, Andi Sullivan, Courtney Brown (Hal Hershfelt 61’), Ashley Hatch (Makenna Morris 61’), Ouleymata Sarr (Trinity Rodman 22’), Rosemonde Kouassi (Lena Silano 84’)
Subs not used: Nicole Barnhart, Brittany Ratcliffe, Esme Morgan
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