Match Details & Discussion Thread: Thorns vs. KC Current
Match Details & Discussion Thread: Thorns vs. KC Current
Good morning! Who's up for an NWSL Championship rematch with their coffee?
A week removed from a season-opening demolition, the Portland Thorns are back in action. This time, the defending champs face the foes they felled in the 2022 NWSL championship game: the Kansas City Current.
Storylines so far
Four goals, a clean sheet, all of the big name players scoring. Decent start for the Thornies, eh?
Portland’s runaway 4-0 win over the Orlando Pride set the perfect tone for the start of the their title defense season. Their relentless pressure in particular was a high point, as it left the Pride with no answers with or without the ball.
On the other side of the pitch, a team that has similarly high expectations has wobbled out of the gate, dropping their first game. KC took their loss in the final last year to heart, and went out and revamped their squad. They made the marquee signing of free agency by signing Debinha, and also added NWSL veterans Morgan Gautrat and Vanessa DiBernardo to reinforce a bevy of other signings. Add in a strong class featuring second overall pick Michelle Cooper, and Kansas City looks to be a more formidable side than the one the Thorns ran over last October.
That is, if they’re healthy. Many of their key pieces are still injured or just working their way back from injury, and so Kansas City may not quite be at 100% against the Thorns.
Pregame reading
Hey, you’re here! Read up on the new Stumptown Footy site and the future has in store.
Phuoc put together a stellar preview of what to expect in this morning’s match here.
How to watch
Location: Children’s Mercy Park | Kansas City, MO
Time: 9:40 a.m. PT
Watch: CBS, Paramount + (streaming)
Morning everybody and let's celebrate the first game thread on the new site. Do new comments highlight in some way?
Gotta say, not sure I fully agree with everyone's Norris criticism- I thought Hina and Dunn were getting completely overrun in the first part of the 2nd half, probably tired from all the pressing. I thought Vasconcelos was fine, though I would have preferred to see Rocky for Sinc earlier- that would be my biggest critique.
Even before the Smith goal, the Thorns had built up a nice spell of possession after the Current goal and Moultrie and D'Aquila brought some nice energy. I think we're underestimating how much that 1st half press tires out the midfield and wingers (bar Soph, apparently)- I personally don't mind some early subs.