That was a great game because Britt was massive and Debinha couldn’t believe how often Eckerstrom denied her. That was Hubly’s first great game she was overcome with emotion knowing she played so well.
You know an opponent is hated league-wide when the Thorns are getting encouragement from other teams to knock out the Courage. The Thorns were seen as the only ones who could do it and thus were doing it for everybody else too.
Riley was red-lining that team. They had won the 2019 Shield and Championship and were laying waste to everybody in the Challenge Cup: 4-0 on +6 GD in the opening round. Relying heavily on his starters, playing them long minutes.
We, on the other hand, finished the opening round in dead-last, having lost the opener to NC 2-1 [Goals by Debinha (75th), Charley (80th), and Williams (94th)], followed by 3 draws in which we scored but a single goal (Horan, against Chicago).
So, what do we do in response?
Brick -- in a backup capacity -- stands on her head, Weaver opens her account, and we show the Courage the exit!
Thorns hopefully brought the Mojo Detector along with on this trip. Utah are really bad and other than altitude, have no home advantage to speak of. Score early (remember that?) and keep the hammer down the rest of the way. Make that flight home a pleasant one.
You don't mean Ken's Mojo Dojo Casa House Bros, do you?
We don't really have a chance of gaining ground on anybody this weekend, save for San Diego (seriously, WTF is going on there? Girma conceded an OG!)
But we need to make sure we don't concede more ground to anybody still possibly within reach (Washington and Gotham) or right behind us (Chicago and NC).
This seems like a must-win game. Since the streak's end Thorns have been unconvincing to horrid and look poised to repeat last year's collapse. Every team has injuries and yet some are performing at the highest level. Player accountability across the roster, trust and support your teammates, focus for 90. My TED talk is very popular with chain restaurant manager trainees.
That is a good motivational speech. They need to trust each other but the backups need to cash in on the trust. So come on Janine, Ana and Jessie, put away those chances.
A great chance to see the two best 6's that Portland has ever had. Mandy and Sam are pretty different despite playing the same position.
Hopefully, Soph will have a great night and if she gets some support it will be.. As SactoRick noted the altitude is the biggest card in the Utah deck, so rotation will be important. I hope that circumstances allow Olivia Wade Katoa to play in front of family and friends. Our other Olivia will be sad to miss this one. Go Thorns!
Actually that is good, I prefer seeing her play other teams. Utah has played well for the first half of the game with other opponents but when the other team scores it seems to rain goals. For sentimental reasons I would like the Thorns to score early so they can play some of the bench, especially OWK.
Yeah I'd love to see Soph pad her goals scored since she's no longer on top for the golden boot, but in general I'd love to see other players step up to put goals in. The drop off of other players scoring goals from last year is pretty drastic. We need to get our GD right because it could very well count towards the end for a home playoff game and we've let in some real doozies this year. Utah not having 2/3 of their starting midfielders should certainly help.
I know this is soccer heresy, but playing on grass doesn't play to Washington's strengths. They just play like they're not used to how it slows down the ball and slows them down too.
Krueger's been down a couple of times in the 2nd half. Hopefully just fatigue.
Bay just jumped to #8, 5 points behind us, and leaped ahead of Loovull, SD, and Angel City.
I think we have a reasonable chance of catching Gotham after the Olympics, just because so many of their players -- Nighswonger, Davidson, Sonnett, Dunn, Lavelle, Williams as alternate, Berger, and perhaps Bruninha -- are going to Paris.
Henry out, as well as several of their other starters and first subs. Not sure what they're gonna do in midfield. Looks like they have Riehl back at CB, which should be a help on their backline, but her injury has kept her out a while so not sure how much she'll play or how rusty she'll be.
On our end, Obaze is off the report finally. Doubt she starts, but I sure hope if we are a few up that she gets some minutes tonight to work her way back. Sam only played, what, 30 mins last game? So maybe she's at 45, maybe she's at 60? Who knows if she starts, but I don't wanna see Kling at DM again lol. Guessing we see Wade-Katoa tonight since she'll be in front of family and we're short on midfielders. And hoping we see more Ana Dias...her Soph and Linnehan would be a good start. Let her and Soph interchange. Not sure if she can do much on the wing, but Izzy def is not a winger. Let's see if Ana can be more productive than she is...
Finally leaks into my thick skull this is their first ever meeting. Old Royals don't count on accounta the move. Only remnant is coach Amy, who seems at significant risk WRT her tenure.
Two memorable matches in Sandy:
(1) Sauerbruun's header goal against us and Sonnett's second yellow converting to a red - the beginning the Thorns 2019 tailspin.
(2) The 2020 Challenge Cup match when Eckerstrom stonewalled NC in front of unused playground equipment and not much else.
That was a great game because Britt was massive and Debinha couldn’t believe how often Eckerstrom denied her. That was Hubly’s first great game she was overcome with emotion knowing she played so well.
One must add the Weaver goal.(1:08). Welcome, rook. :-)
https://www.timbers.com/thornsfc/video/nwsl-challenge-cup-match-highlights-north-carolina-courage-0-portl-6172621131001
Highlights Eck's heroics nicely, too. God I hated NCC so hard back then. Still can on my good days.
You know an opponent is hated league-wide when the Thorns are getting encouragement from other teams to knock out the Courage. The Thorns were seen as the only ones who could do it and thus were doing it for everybody else too.
Riley was red-lining that team. They had won the 2019 Shield and Championship and were laying waste to everybody in the Challenge Cup: 4-0 on +6 GD in the opening round. Relying heavily on his starters, playing them long minutes.
We, on the other hand, finished the opening round in dead-last, having lost the opener to NC 2-1 [Goals by Debinha (75th), Charley (80th), and Williams (94th)], followed by 3 draws in which we scored but a single goal (Horan, against Chicago).
So, what do we do in response?
Brick -- in a backup capacity -- stands on her head, Weaver opens her account, and we show the Courage the exit!
That was a good day.
I was so sad that Eckerstrom retired purely because of that performance. Didn’t get to see her nearly as much as I would have liked to.
Thorns hopefully brought the Mojo Detector along with on this trip. Utah are really bad and other than altitude, have no home advantage to speak of. Score early (remember that?) and keep the hammer down the rest of the way. Make that flight home a pleasant one.
LFG
You don't mean Ken's Mojo Dojo Casa House Bros, do you?
We don't really have a chance of gaining ground on anybody this weekend, save for San Diego (seriously, WTF is going on there? Girma conceded an OG!)
But we need to make sure we don't concede more ground to anybody still possibly within reach (Washington and Gotham) or right behind us (Chicago and NC).
I would love to see a massive game from Fleming!
This seems like a must-win game. Since the streak's end Thorns have been unconvincing to horrid and look poised to repeat last year's collapse. Every team has injuries and yet some are performing at the highest level. Player accountability across the roster, trust and support your teammates, focus for 90. My TED talk is very popular with chain restaurant manager trainees.
Most popular item on the Cracker Barrel menu!
That is a good motivational speech. They need to trust each other but the backups need to cash in on the trust. So come on Janine, Ana and Jessie, put away those chances.
A great chance to see the two best 6's that Portland has ever had. Mandy and Sam are pretty different despite playing the same position.
Hopefully, Soph will have a great night and if she gets some support it will be.. As SactoRick noted the altitude is the biggest card in the Utah deck, so rotation will be important. I hope that circumstances allow Olivia Wade Katoa to play in front of family and friends. Our other Olivia will be sad to miss this one. Go Thorns!
Mandy is out tonight! Apparently on int'l duty for France....unfortunately for Utah.
You hate to see it. 🙄
Wonder if she'll bother getting back on the plane for the return flight? "Zut alors, les baguette! Les coffee!"
Actually that is good, I prefer seeing her play other teams. Utah has played well for the first half of the game with other opponents but when the other team scores it seems to rain goals. For sentimental reasons I would like the Thorns to score early so they can play some of the bench, especially OWK.
Yeah I'd love to see Soph pad her goals scored since she's no longer on top for the golden boot, but in general I'd love to see other players step up to put goals in. The drop off of other players scoring goals from last year is pretty drastic. We need to get our GD right because it could very well count towards the end for a home playoff game and we've let in some real doozies this year. Utah not having 2/3 of their starting midfielders should certainly help.
Krueger did everything but put the ball in the upper 90. Great shot.
But what the hell is with Washington in the box? They've wasted many opportunities.
Seemed really sluggish tonight…glad it’s not just us lol.
I know this is soccer heresy, but playing on grass doesn't play to Washington's strengths. They just play like they're not used to how it slows down the ball and slows them down too.
Krueger's been down a couple of times in the 2nd half. Hopefully just fatigue.
Sanchez just showed why you should always put the ball on frame: Because you make the keeper make a play.
1-0 NC off a Kingsbury miscue.
And if not a goal, you may get a rebound in front of net. Learned at like age 7 that's why you follow up either your own, or your teammates' shots!
Love the revenge goal.
It's true what they say -- you miss every shot you don't take!
Bay just jumped to #8, 5 points behind us, and leaped ahead of Loovull, SD, and Angel City.
I think we have a reasonable chance of catching Gotham after the Olympics, just because so many of their players -- Nighswonger, Davidson, Sonnett, Dunn, Lavelle, Williams as alternate, Berger, and perhaps Bruninha -- are going to Paris.
Availability for tonight:
#BAONPDX
OUT: B. Bixby (ML), G. Provenzano (SEI), M. Weaver (D45), O. Moultrie (knee)
#URFC
OUT: Dorsey (SEI), Nelson (excused), Griffitts (hamstring), Cluff (foot), Vasconcelos (hip), Fraser (ankle), Tagliaferri (excused)
INTL DUTY: Henry (FRA)
Henry out, as well as several of their other starters and first subs. Not sure what they're gonna do in midfield. Looks like they have Riehl back at CB, which should be a help on their backline, but her injury has kept her out a while so not sure how much she'll play or how rusty she'll be.
On our end, Obaze is off the report finally. Doubt she starts, but I sure hope if we are a few up that she gets some minutes tonight to work her way back. Sam only played, what, 30 mins last game? So maybe she's at 45, maybe she's at 60? Who knows if she starts, but I don't wanna see Kling at DM again lol. Guessing we see Wade-Katoa tonight since she'll be in front of family and we're short on midfielders. And hoping we see more Ana Dias...her Soph and Linnehan would be a good start. Let her and Soph interchange. Not sure if she can do much on the wing, but Izzy def is not a winger. Let's see if Ana can be more productive than she is...
suffering from cluff foot.
(shows self out)
{rimshot} hey-ooh!
Finally leaks into my thick skull this is their first ever meeting. Old Royals don't count on accounta the move. Only remnant is coach Amy, who seems at significant risk WRT her tenure.