Match Preview: Portland Thorns vs Chicago Red Stars
Can the Thorns break their draw/loss streak against last place Chicago?
Well… the Portland Thorns’ undefeated streak was broken last week, against none other than the Houston Dash.
Portland now sits fourth overall after Washington, Seattle, and Gotham. It’s still close with only three points separating the Thorns from the top. This weekend will for sure see some changes in the standings.
The Thorns (3-1-3) are hosting the Red Stars (1-5-1) this weekend (kickoff is Sunday, May 21 at 2 p.m. PT) in what should be an easy match. The match will be streamed on Paramount+.
A Look at the opposition
The Red Stars have been struggling to find their footing this season with the notable loss of Mallory Swanson early on in the year. However, their problems didn’t start with her loss. They dropped their opening match to San Diego 2-3 and it seems that it just kept going downhill from there, culminating in a loss against OL Reign where they lost 2-5.
All that aside there are still some players to watch — Tierna Davidson, Casey Kreuger, Alyssa Naeher, Yuki Nagasato, Cari Roccaro, and Bianca St-Georges are all difference makers.
Davidson and Kreuger make up the backline for Chicago, and while they have seen some adversity they are still a solid defense.
Alyssa Naeher will forever and always be one of the better goalies in the league. She has her effective time on the USWNT to show for it as well. She became the first goalie in the NWSL to reach 150 regular season appearances in Chicago’s last match against Lousiville. All this considered, she’s a seasoned vet who will be challenging to get the ball past.
All of Chicago’s goals this season have come from inside the box, which means that the Thorns have to work to keep them outside and defend well (which we know we have the backline that is up for the task).
The state of the Thorns
I’m pretty sure Portland will still be missing Becky Sauerbrunn as she recovers from injury, so I assume Menges will step in again next to Hubly.
The Thorns have hit a bit of a slump — two draws followed by a loss to Houston. But, I see this game as an opportunity to get back on track. If Portland plays like they were at the beginning of the season and find all our chances they can totally get a win out of this one.
The last few matches have seen some changes to the lineup that a lot of people liked. For example, Sinclair starting on the bench and being replaced by either Rocky Rodriguez or Olivia Moultrie. And it pains me to say this because I’m a Sinclair apologist until the day I die, but those moves do give the midfield a lot more energy and flow.
If that change happens again, it would be Moultrie stepping in as Rodriguez is on the mend after suffering a sprained MCL.
Dunn and Coffey have been staples in the midfield and I’m loving it. I also don’t want to change anything about the three up top… why mess with perfection? Smith, Weaver, and Hina have been doing a great job this season.
In the back, it’s largely the same… Kuikka, Hubly, and Klingenberg are staples of the Thorns backline (and Becky when she’s back in business). Then there’s our keep Bella Bixby — she is great, nothing to mess with there in my opinion.
Predicted Lineups and Score Prediction
Chicago: 3-4-3 or 3-4-2-1
Naeher in goal
Davidson, Kreuger, and Tatum Milazzo make up their backline
Roccaro and St-Georges are joined in midfield by Julia Bianci and Arin Wright
Up front, I’ve got Nagasato, Penelope Elizabeth Hocking, and Ella Stevens
Portland 4-3-3
Bixby in goal
Kuikka, Menges, Hubly, and Klingenberg in the back
Moultrie, Dunn, and Coffey in the midfield
Hina, Smith, and Weaver up front.
Score Prediction
Optimistically, 4-0. But realistically maybe a 3-1 or a 2-0 victory for Portland. Goals from Smith, Weaver, and then I’m hope for a Sinclair sub-in and score situation.
What do you think? Can the Thorns turn things around in Chicago? Let us know in the comments.
If there was ever a trap game, this is it. I am worried and would not be surprised if the Thorns lose. Immensely disappointed, but not surprised. Arguing against that is that the Thorns are coming off a loss and should be angry. A truly determined Thorns squad could grind the Red Stars into a smooth paste.
Can I just say how much I’d love to have Savannah DeMelo on the Thorns? She just really proves how critical an 8/10 can be for connecting lines and creating.
And this is why you don’t want a 40yr old striker in that position: watching the LOU v KC game, and Carson Pickett was taking a corner for LOU. It’s quickly turned over and there’s a fast transition for KC headed the opposite direction. Pickett is caught way high near the corner flag, and on the opposite side of her usual LB position, and you see DeMelo quickly get back to cover Pickett’s LB position, keeping goal side of the running KC player and totally cutting off any service potentially for that player who would otherwise be wide open. Can you imagine Sinc ever doing this? Not in a million trillion years. Having quick-thinking and mobile midfielders is so so important…