Instant Reaction & Highlights: Portland Thorns v. Club Tijuana

In the first match for the 2024 Summer Cup the Thorns took on Club Tijuana

The Portland Thorns raced past Club Tijuana in their first game of the NWSL Summer Cup by a margin of 5-0. Christine Sinclair, Olivia Wade-Katoa, Izzy D’Aquila, Ana Diaz, and Marissa Sheva all tallied in the rout.

The Thorns starting lineup looked a little different:

A few players made their thorns debut: Emily Alvarado between the posts, Mallie McKenzie had a start, and Rebekah Valdez would appear as a substitute.

Olivia Wade-Katoa also tallied her first goal and start for Portland.

Marie Müller moved up to the midfield, and Kling returned to the defensive lineup.

They also debuted a new formation with a three-back situation:

Instant Reaction:

Overall it was a very enjoyable soccer match to watch, it brought the Thorns energy that we hadn’t seen in a little while.

There were 15,187 in attendance on this Sunday afternoon match.

It was fun to see a new lineup and some players we haven’t seen before make debuts.

Mallie McKenzie played very well in this game — it’s always reassuring to see new players with potential.

Sinc had great passing and netted a goal, something I’m sure fans were very happy to see. Kling also played in a more forward position which was fun to see (as well as a few attempts on goal).

This game had more scoring from Portland than we’ve seen in a while. Hopefully, we can see this translated into regular-season play as well.

In the second half the goals just kept coming.

The game saw five goals from five different players, two of which were assisted by Kling, two unassisted, and one by Hina Sugita.

This game easily could have tallied 7 or 8 goals total but a lot were off frame.

Highlights:

4’ Sinc goal! After a lovely little run from Kling her pass made its way into the box where McKenzie got the shot off and Sinc put the deflection away.

She is the first player to score in regular season play, playoffs, the challenge cup, the summer cup, and the fall series.

6’ Hina with an amazing through ball to D’Aquila whose shot is blocked.

10’ First corner of the game fell to Portland, instead of Coffey Müller stepping up to take it.

11’ Alvarado got her first touch on the ball collecting a through ball from Tijuana.

11’ On the other end of the pitch Sinc almost broke through the defence but the ball got away from her.

17’ Tijuana had their first effort on goal, Pelayo found a volley that barely went wide of the net.

18’ Wade-Katoa made it 2! First goal and first start for Olivia, she broke through the Tijuana defense and put away a cross from Kling.

21’ Tijuana free kick- Emily Alvarado came out to punch the ball away and it was bobbled around the box a bit before she could collect it.

24’ D’Aquila got close but her breakaway shot went wide of the net.

25’ Kling fired off a shot from outside the box and the Tijuana keeper Alejandra Gutierrez had a lovely diving save.

26’ McKenzie got a shot off as well but Gutierrez did well to stop the shot.

34’ Müller takes a long free kick, she took the shot and it was on frame but Gutierrez wasn’t challenged.

35’ Nally subbed on in place of Obaze

36’ Alvarado has her first save of the match, a parry over the crossbar after a Tijuana shot.

37’ Tijuana’s Marta Cox took a shot and it went wide.

Sinc’s passing has been wonderful this game

43’ McKenzie did well to find space and D’Aquila found the ball, the only thing that denied her the goal was the Tijuana defense.

45’ Izzy dribbled through the Tijuana defense and was searching for Sinc but the cross is just off.

One minute of stoppage was added to the first half.

46’ Final corner of the half for the Thorns- Müller sent it in but Gutierrez collects and the half ends.

Changes at the half: Sheva on for Wade-Katoa

48’ Yellow for Sheva, it was for a tough tackle on Tijuana. Alvarado came up big with a diving save to deny the free kick from Cox.

51’ Offside call against Portland

52’ Goalline clearance for Tijuana denies Izzy and Portland’s goal attempt. Shortly afterwards Izzy’s second shot went off target

53’ Sheva’s shot goes wide as well, the Thorns were putting together a good string of attack.

54’ And the third Portland goal followed shortly afterward — Izzy finally netted one. A pass from Hina was slotted home! A new chant also debuted from the Riveters; “D’Aquila” to the tune of Tequila.

55’ Becky did well to deny the Tijuana attempt and it’s played out for a corner.

60’ Dias replaced Becky Saerbrunn and Reyes replaced McKenzie.

65’ Izzy with a one-on-one attempt but the keep reads it well and denies her.

67’ Dias drove home the fourth! After a cross in that Hubly almost netted, Ana buried the rebound.

72’ And Sheva made it 5! Her first goal for the Portland Thorns. Kling tallied the assist on that one.

76’ Sinc made way for Rebekah Valdez, she passed the captain’s band off to Kling.

79’ Hubly was looking to net a goal but her header went wide.

85’ Sheva had another tough tackle but luckily wasn’t carded this time.

85’ On the other end of the pitch Sugita was brought down earning Portland a free kick.

87’ Ana Diaz got very close to finding the 6th goal but her shot went wide.

88’ Gutierrez denies yet another goal attempt, she’s done well for Tijuana in this match.

Four minutes of stoppage added to this match.

92’ Izzy missed another goal-scoring chance, she has had so many opportunities that have just been off target.

With that the final whistle blew, Portland 5-0 Tijuana.

Scoring Recap:

Sinclair (4’), Olivia Wade-Katoa (18’), Izzy D’Aquila (54’), Ana Diaz (67’), Marissa Sheva (72’)

Up Next:

Portland heads to Utah to take on the Utah Royals in their second match of the Summer Cup. They play on Saturday, July 27th at 7 pm PST in Sandy Utah.