Match Preview: Challenge Cup- Thorns v OL Reign
The Thorns play in their last Challenge Cup match on Sunday August 6
The Thorns are coming into this match after a loss against Angel City last week. This Sunday they travel to Seattle to take on OL Reign.
The game will take place at 4 pm p.s.t and can be watched on Paramount+.
This season The Thorns are currently tallying one loss and one win against Seattle, this means that this game is kind of a tiebreaker.
The NWSL Challenge Cup standings currently see the Thorns in third place while the Reign top the group.
At this point, The Thorns are basically out of the running for the Challenge Cup title so this game really comes down to bragging rights.
Players to watch
Hannah Betfort- She’s really proved herself these last few games, stepping up in the goalscoring category as well as in the midfield.
Bethany Balcer- For Seattle, she’s always a danger in the box and we’ve been struggling with that so far.
Reyna Reyes- Switching her to midfield is something I can say I expected but I’m thoroughly enjoying it that’s for sure.
Predicted starting lineups:
Portland:
Goalie- Bella, she’s back
Backline- Kling, Menges, Hubly and Kuikka
Midfield- Coffey, Moultrie and Reyes
Frontline- Betfort, Weaver and D’Aquila
Seattle:
Goalie- Tullis-Joyce
Backline- Hiatt, McClernon, Latsko and Holmes
Midfield- Stanton, Van Der Jagt, Athens
Frontline- Blacer, King, and Bennett
Score prediction
Honestly, I’m nervous about this one… we lost to Angel City who I must say we shouldn’t have lost to.
I’m thinking if The Thorns can get their feet back under them it could be a good match. Betfort has been scoring, and Reyes in the midfield is a lot of fun to watch. I’m gonna say a draw; 1-1.
What do you guys think?
Bonus: Final Score?
Don’t think a full post-mortem on the nats is needed given we all know the many things that went wrong, so a quick bit of positivity:
Naomi Girma is maybe the best pure CB I’ve ever watched in woso and I actually don’t think that’s hyperbolic? Her positioning is impeccable, she has fantastic recovery speed, she reads the game like prime Becky, and she’s excellent on the ball. I legitimately can’t remember her making a mistake in NWSL or internationally. Unreal player.
Reason for USWNT optimism. This is what will be available, even before we talk about new players who will come onto the scene or come into their own in the next 3-4 years.
From Mike DeCourcy at The Sporting News:
"The forward group has seen its growth accelerate because of the injuries to young stars Catarina Macario and Mallory Swanson. At 18, Alyssa Thompson got to make a World Cup roster and feel how it is to step onto that stage. At 21, Trinity Rodman got minutes and responsibility in this World Cup she’d would not have seen for years. At 22, Sophia Smith had the weight of the USWNT offense — and, ultimately, the potential for advancement in the penalty shootout — on her shoulders. Sometimes, failure teaches lessons.
The attacking midfield duo of Rose Lavelle and Lindsey Horan will be 32 and 33 in four years. Savannah DeMelo (who appeared in this World Cup), Ashley Sanchez (who never got off the bench), and Sam Coffey (who just missed the cut) will be well short of their 30th birthdays.
The unquestioned standout of the USA in Oceania, center-back Naomi Girma, still is only 23. Right-back Emily Fox is 25. Versatile defender Tierna Davidson, who was not quite sharp enough to be selected after recovering from injury, is only 24."