Game Thread | CONCACAF W Champions Cup - Portland Thorns at San Diego Wave | Match Day #2
Which NWSL side will take control of Group B?
What: Portland Thorns at San Diego Wave
When: 7pm
Where: Snapdragon Stadium
Streaming: CBS Sports Network, Paramount +
Both clubs are tied in Group B with three points apiece with a game in hand over Club América and Vancouver Whitecaps. The winner of this match will likely finish first in the group making it a must-win for both sides to avoid NJ/NY Gotham FC in the semifinals.
Landon Donovan is the interim coach of San Diego Wave and they just picked up his first regular season win against Utah Royals on the road. He is 1-2-1 since taking over (regular season play). They opened their CONCACAF W Champions Cup with a 2-0 road victory over Santa Fe on August 20.
The Portland Thorns and Rob Gale have only one regular season win in their last eight and it came against the Wave on July 5. Their last win in any competition came against Club América at home on September 4.
With a win, making it into the knockout stage is all but guaranteed. Both teams are coming off heavy minutes over the weekend, but Portland had an extra day off compared to San Diego.
Expect both teams to rotate quite a bit to keep their squads fresher. Both teams are struggling and not in-form. San Diego playing at home gives them a slight edge, and they will have goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan back. This game will come down to who makes the least amount of mistakes possessing the ball in their own half. It’ll be a tough games for both sides to gain control. Expect much more direct play than usual.
Projected Portland Starting XI
Nicole Payne - Kelli Hubly - Isa Obaze - Meghan Klingenberg
Jessie Fleming - Sophie Hirst - Olivia Moultrie
Payton Linnehan - Izzy D’Aquila - Reilyn Turner
I am extricating myself from the dead horse flogging, having done enough of it myself.
This is a disspirited team that has all but given up on the season.
The Prez of Soccer/GM and the HC aren't up to the job.
Ownership hasn't yet shown us that they're willing to make any bold moves.
This isn't going to change until ownership removes the Prez of Soccer/GM and we have a proper global search for the next HC.
If ownership does not step forward soon, and it allows this slide to continue without making the beginnings of obviously needed changes, then they won't continue to have my money in 2025.
Had company over for the second half so I didn’t post through it, but hachi machi, with each sub the Thorns lost more and more offensive firepower until they could barely progress onto the Wave’s side of the field, nothing but lobbing it up and praying it came down at a teammate’s feet (narrator: “it didn’t”). They were a visible mess with no structure whatsoever going either direction, Thornado called it a scrimmage with everyone freewheeling out there and that couldn’t be more accurate, just rec league nonsense out there. Even after Soph’s goal nobody really looked happy about it, just kinda resigned, and that was less than 30 minutes in! I’m always inclined to be patient and give folks time to work through a bad spell, but the team seems to be actively getting worse with each week (Washington being a bit of an exception I suppose, though not enough of one that it resulted in a win), this one was a real stinker.