Match Highlights and Reaction | Portland Thorns v Utah Royals

More bad times at Providence Park for the Thorns

The Portland Thorns started the match with a pretty standard lineup, the difference to note was Shelby Hogan starting in net (Mackenzie Arnold picked up a few knocks against San Diego).

The first half was a little messy but the team held Utah 0-0. The biggest chances for Utah came outside of the box and Portland found the most success taking the ball to the end line and then crossing it into the box.

Utah didn’t wait long in the second half to put a goal away: Hannah Betfort made a chip look easy. Portland didn’t even get a chance to breathe because not three minutes later Mina Tanaka put away a header. In true NWSL after dark fashion the Thorns picked up a PK two minutes later, this was then buried by Moultrie.

It unfortunately was not enough as Utah held on for a 2-1 win.

Highlights

1’ Sauerbrunn with a lovely slide tackle on former Thorn Betfort

6’ Tanaka with the first shot on goal, Hogan collected with a diving save

7’ Sentnor fired a shot off from outside the 18, Hogan made another diving save.

9’ Sinclair got the first shot for Portland after getting a pass from Fleming, the shot was deflected out for a corner.

10’ Betfort with a header that barely went over the crossbar

13’ Utah maintained more of the possession, passing the ball around Portland waiting for an opportunity to strike. They edged out Portland in most early game stats: possession (58%-42%), shots (4-2), on goal (2-0).

14’ Riehl fired a shot from way outside the 18 that Hogan had to parry away. Hogan then collected the corner in, getting possession back for Portland.

18’ Weaver gets a cross to Sinclair who very narrowly missed scoring, Haught was able to collect the ball, stopping the attack.

21’ Weaver went down and was checked out by the training staff, she was able to return to play shortly after though.

24’ Moultrie found herself in the box and instead of crossing to an open Sinclair fired off a tough shot from a hard angle. The corner following the play was sent into the waiting hands of Haught. The play leading up to the shot was nice though, Reyes and Weaver connected before finding the waiting Moultrie, just an unfortunate end to the run of play.

25’ Betfort really working to score against her former club, she got a shot off but it fell into the waiting arms of Hogan.

30’ Sinclair got the ball wide and found Morgan Weaver on top of the box, her shot forced Haught to make a diving save keeping the game level.

36’ Sentnor got the closest look of the game with a shot that bounced off the post.

37’ Moultrie and Sentnor hit heads and both went down, Moultrie was back up fairly quickly but Sentnor was slow to get up, she appeared to be bleeding. In the end, she was able to walk off the pitch.

42’ Sinclair played a fast-paced through ball to Weaver but Weaver fouled the Utah player who was holding her off the ball.

45’ Six minutes of stoppage time were added to the half.

45+3’ Moultrie yet again held on to the ball too long, not finding an open Sinclair and instead shooting wide…

45+5’ Weaver collected a long pass and was dispossessed in the box, then the Utah player went down and the ref called a foul on Morgan (not sure if it was that much of a foul)

End of the first half- Portland and Utah went into the half level, both teams had chances but it was still some shakey football from the home side leaving Utah looking the more dangerous team.

No changes were made at half.

47’ Goal Utah- Betfort finally made her mark on the game after trying all first half, she beats the Thorns’ back line and calmly chips Hogan. Portland 0-1 Utah.

50’ Goal Utah- After a Utah free kick went off the crossbar, Utah’s Tanaka put away the rebound with a header. Portland 0-2 Utah.

52’ GOAL THORNS- The Thorns were awarded a PK after Fleming went down. Moultrie stepped up to take it and buried it side netting. Portland 1-2 Utah.

58’ Utah substitution: Tucker replaces goalscorer Tanaka

60’ Sentnor with another close shot, it was from the corner of the 18 and went out just wide of the far post.

68’ Weaver had a promising run where she was alone with two players but her shot went sailing over the crossbar.

70’ Hogan went down with a non-contact injury,

72’ Portland substitution: Müller makes way for Linnehan

75’ Weaver found Linnehan in the box but she was tackled off the ball and denied a shot. No foul was called.

77’ Portland substitution- Nicole Payne replaced Kelli Hubly

78’ Reyna does well to stop the Utah attack in the box, she had a slide tackle that allowed Hogan to collect the ball.

82’ Haught went down after collecting the cross sent in by Payne. She returns to play though a few minutes later.

8 minutes were added to the match

90+1’ Portland substitution- Spaanstra replaced Weaver.

90+7’ Moultrie very nearly leveled the match with a rocket that was curving towards the upper 90 but it didn’t curve enough and went wide.

Final: Portland 1-2 Utah

Reaction

Overall Portland was very messy throughout the game. There were times when players should have passed and they held onto the ball and times when players passed when they should have scored.

It felt very NWSL after dark when all the goals came in the span of 5 minutes.