Match Preview: Portland Thorns v Racing Louisville

The Thorns finish up their two game stint on the road with a match against Racing Louisville.

Media Credit: Thorns FC

The Thorns first took on Racing Lousiville all the way back in April of this season. They beat the Kentucky side 2-0 with goals coming from Christine Sinclair and Morgan Weaver (both assisted by the now injured Sophia Smith)

The match will take place on Sept. 2, at Lynn Family Stadium, Kickoff is set for 4:30 p.m. (PST) on FOX 12 PLUS and Paramount+

Currently, the Thorns have returned to their spot at the top of the standings while Louisville is 8th overall. The Thorns sit at 8-4-5 with their last three matches resulting in a draw, a win, and a loss. Louisville sits at 4-4-9, their last three matches have been two draws and a win.

The biggest thing that’s on all our minds is: Sophia Smith. She went off at the end of the first half against Washington with a knee injury. We only recently heard back about the severity of the injury. Smith sustained a mild medial collateral ligament (MCL) sprain in her right knee. Smith’s status is currently week-to-week meaning we shouldn’t rule her out for some playoff action.

Players to watch

Racing Louisville:

Katie Lund: Always a solid keeper, she puts up some good saves consistently so she’ll be a challenge. This year, Lund leads all NWSL goalkeepers in saves (67) while ranking second in save percentage (82.1), following a 2022 season in which she set the league’s single-season record for saves with 112

Media Caption: Racing Louisville

Ary Borges: Returning from a stint with Brazil for the WC Borges is a tough midfielder, she picked up a yellow in Racing’s last match to show for it.

Wang Shuang: Yet another WC retournee, this time for China, Shuang is a talented forward who has recently been playing on the right.

Portland Thorns:

Morgan Weaver: Weaver was just named to August’s NWSL Best IX, she’s been scoring left and right and providing great assists. Additionally, now that Soph is injured she’ll really have to step up.

Sam Coffey: Another Thornie to be named to the NWSL’s Best IX. Coffey is also the league leader in assists.

Hannah Betfort: Betfort was holding her own in the attacking half while Smith was at the WC and now that she’s injured she has another opportunity to step up.

Kelli Hubly: She’s been solid in our backline all season and now that her red card suspension is done she’ll be back for sure.

Some fun facts:

• Thorns FC have scored in their last 21 NWSL away games. 

• Portland has scored in 16 out of 17 games, more often than any other team in the league this season.

• Weaver’s goal against D.C. was her 20th career goal

• Weaver is tied with Crystal Dunn for the second-most goals for Portland this season, trailing only Sophia Smith (11).

• Bella Bixby surpassed 150 career NWSL saves in Washington’s match. 

• After Weaver's goal in D.C. last Sunday means the Thorns have now scored at least one goal in 21-straight road matches.

The Mike Norris Perspective

On Hannah Betfort:

“How fortunate are we to have Hannah in the form that we do… she’s chomping at the bit, obviously understanding that last week with Soph coming in.

Portland and its deep bench:

“It’s a luxury in terms of choices on who start's games but also who finishes them...we’ve got players in form coming in and having an impact”

Match Prediction and Starting Lineups:

Media Credit: Thorns FC

PDX

Bixby

Kuikka-Hubly-Menges-Klingenberg (Though Becky Sauerbrunn is available, and if I had my way she’d be back in the lineup)

Rodriguez-Coffey-Moultrie-Dunn

Weaver-Betfort

Racing

Lund

Holloway-Erceg-Lester-Milliet

DeMelo-Pikkujämsä-Borges

Monaghan-Davis-Shuang

Score prediction

I’m hoping for a 3-0 win with goals from Weaver (2) and Betfort (1).