Match Preview & Discussion Thread: Thorns vs. Angel City FC
The Thorns home opener is here at last
Providence Park will be seeing Thorns action for the first time this regular season on Friday night. Taking on Angel City FC, kick off is set for 7 p.m. PST with streaming available on Prime Video, and a radio broadcast on iHeart.
Here’s everything you need to know ahead of kickoff, and your spot to discuss the match.
Preview
The Thorns and Angel City last faced off in the 2024 regular season finale, where the Thorns walked away with a 3-0 victory from Christine Sinclair’s last match at Providence Park.
And if it’s any indication how different this game will look than it did just four months ago, the three players to contribute goals in the match up to close out last year’s regular season were Christine Sinclair, Sophia Wilson (nee Smith), and Morgan Weaver — none of which will we be seeing on the pitch tonight.
However, there are a few things we can expect to remain the same: the rain, and a rowdy group of Rose City Riveters and Portland Thorns supporters and fans in attendance.
Opening Week Recap
The Thorns and Angel City both opened up NWSL regular season play last weekend.
From Kansas City, the Thorns recorded a 1-3 loss in their first game of the season. While the Thorns were able to stifle a hot 3-0 first half from the Current, Olivia Moultrie’s goal in the 48th minute wasn’t enough to propel a second half comeback from the team.
As for Angel City, they opened up the 2025 season at home against the San Diego Wave — a match that ended in a 1-1 draw. Alyssa Thompson notched the sole goal for Angel City, which also happened early in second half action for their squad.
Ahead of tonight’s game, the current NWSL table has the Thorns sitting at 13th and Angel City at 7th.
The name of this game: YOUTH
While the Thorns have reinforced the youthfulness of their squad this season, they won’t be the only team on the pitch tonight who will be boasting some young talent.
In last week’s season opener, Angel City had four players under 21 in their starting lineup — midfielder Kennedy Fuller, defenders Savy King and Gisele Thompson, and forward Alyssa Thompson.
It will be a battle of the midfielders, between Portland’s 19 -year-old Olivia Moultrie and Angel City’s 18-year-old Kennedy Fuller. While Moultrie started her year off with a goal last week, Fuller assisted on one herself.
However, with last week’s goal, Moultrie’s 25 career goal contributions (12 goals, 13 assists) surpassed Trinity Rodman for most by a teenager in NWSL history.
What to expect — lineup changes?
Jessie Fleming has been ruled out of tonight’s game with a concussion that she suffered in the season opener.
Inevitably this will result in a change to tonight’s lineup, if that change is a full reformation, or a simple 1:1 substitution — that’s up to Rob Gale.
A surprise from last week was the absence of Payton Linnehan and Reilyn Turner on the pitch for the Thorns until late into second half action. Should we expect to see the two of them in the game earlier tonight, preferably in the starting XI with the absence of Fleming?
On another note, fans who watched last week’s season opener were left with questions about the health and status of Thorns defender, Sam Hiatt, who we did not see on the pitch against the Current.
In the post-game press conference, head coach Rob Gale alluded to a knee injury Hiatt has spent this offseason rehabbing and stated that she is getting closer to being able to go 60+ minutes for this team.
The question remains: will Hiatt be healthy enough to find her way onto the field for this Thorns team, for any amount of time, in tonight’s home opener?
Stumptown Footy’s very own Phuoc Nguyen was able to attend the Thorns’ first trainings and media availabilities this week where he got the chance to see what fans should be expecting out of this team ahead of Friday night’s home opener.
Make sure to check out the rest of Phuoc’s coverage to hear more from Rob Gale on his first home opener as Thorns head coach, Thorns President & GM Jeff Agoos on Soph Wilson’s much anticipated attendance at tonight’s game, and Deyna Castellanos who will be exiting the Thorns tunnel with the Providence Park faithful at her back for the first time tonight.
Sugita has been a wiz tonight.
Hina had a fantastic game, Olivia was really good and Hiatt impressed. Hanks and Tordin were really good. Hanks is sooo fast. Tordin has a scorers eye for being in the right spot.
After a good first half Deyna faded. So good substitution by the gaffer.
Disappointing result but I am not too discouraged.