Match Preview: Portland Thorns vs Washington Spirit

A busy week.

Photo: Thorns FC / Craig Mitchelldyer

Portland will host Washington Spirit in what will be their third game in just one week.

The Thorns have improved and after their match against Bay FC on Wednesday, they got their third consecutive win. It is also a little reassuring to think that history says that when it comes to play at home against the Spirit, Portland is unbeaten. What is more, the Thorns have the longest run of most home matches played by one team against another without losing with 12.

However, Washington is in good form and sits second in the table. After Ashley Sanchez's departure, it was a question mark who would team up with Trinity Rodman in the attack. The answer came in the form of rookie Croix Bethune and international signee Ouleymata Sarr. That trio has been causing havoc in the NWSL and it’s fun to watch them doing so. They did it against Houston and Chicago, with Orlando being the only team that was able to stop them recently.

Will Portland’s defense be able to keep them at bay? It will surely be a good test for the entire team, especially the defense, and coach Rob Gale will probably put Becky Sauerbrunn and Isabella Obaze as centrebacks since it was the duo that helped to get the first clean sheet of the season.

Breaking records

Sophia Smith keeps breaking records and putting her name on the league’s soccer books. With the brace scored against Bay last Wednesday, she played the 10th multi-goal regular season game of her career. That leaves her with only three games shy of Sam Kerr, who holds the record for more such games in an NWSL regular season.

Nonetheless, Portland’s best player is not the only one breaking records. Washington’s Trinity Rodman made her 40-goal career contribution (22 goals, 18 assists) when she scored a goal and made an assist against Chicago last Wednesday. In this way, at 21 years old, she has become the youngest player to reach that milestone, surpassing Smith who did it at 22 years.

Expected lineup

While we await news on Morgan Weaver, we think it is safe to say that no matter what injury she’s sustaining she’ll miss the next match against the Spirit. It’s going to be a tough battle and since Payton Linnehan and Smith have shown great chemistry in the first half against Bay. Maybe coach Gale will bet on them again to tally some goals.

Shelby Hogan

Reyna Reyes - Beckie Sauerbrunn - Isabella Obaze - Marie Müller

Hina Sugita - Sam Coffey - Jessie Fleming

Payton Linnehan - Sophia Smith - Janine Beckie

What’s your prediction for this game?