Match Recap: Portland Thorns at Houston Dash

Thorns scorch the Dash with a 4-1 finish

Credit: Portland Thorns FC

Match Recap:

It was 90 degrees in Houston at kickoff and that’s because the Thorns brought the heat. On a fiery night offensively, the Thorns defeat the Dash 4-1, picking up their fifth win of the season, and remaining unbeaten on game two of their four game road trip.

Tonight, Thorns head coach Rob Gale rolled out a brand new starting XI. With the addition of Sam Hiatt, Mallie McKenzie, Mimi Alidou, Caiya Hanks, Payton Linnehan, and Pietra Tordin, this tallied six changes to the lineup we saw just last week against the Wave. Gale opted for two wingers and a nine.

Credit: Portland Thorns FC

A new lineup that appeared sharper than ever, both shutting out the Dash in the first half and recording three goals in the first 45 minutes.

The Thorns have extended their unbeaten streak to five heading into a break from NWSL play. Up next for the Thorns: they’re off the Mexico to break open play in the CONCACAF Champions Cup, where they will be facing Tigres on Wednesday, May 21.

Highlights:

10’ Mallie McKenzie’s transition game 🔥

A moment we’d seen the Thorns defense historically falter — was upheld by Mallie McKenzie in transition, not once, but twice within the first 10 minutes of this match.

16’ Alidou shoots her shot

On a little flip from Pietra Tordin, Alidou gets a shot off on target. Challenging former Thorn and current Houston keeper, Abby Smith, who walks away with the win from this battle. Keeping Alidou and Portland out of the Houston goal for now.

26’ PIETRA TORDIN, FIRST START = FIRST GOAL

How impressive was that? Two beautiful touches on the ball before nailing it in the back of the net, Pietra Tordin scores her first professional goal in the rookie’s first start. Showcasing the raw talent that’s available at the front line for the Thorns.

It seems almost surprising it took the Thorns nearly 30 minutes to record a goal, as they had controlled much of the possession in the first half hour of this one, with 8 shots on target before Tordin weasles one in on the ninth.

30’ PEEPS SAYS GOALLLLLL

No one could have set Payton Linnehan up better than Sam Coffey, except Peeps herself. Off a dime upfield from Coffey, Linnehan takes it off her chest before striking one past the Houston keeper.

Putting the Thorns up 2-0 before heading into the hydration break in the 31st minute.

45’ and Houston’s first shot

The Thorns defense withstood the offense of the Dash for 45 minutes, before Delanie Sheehan was able to get the first shot off for the club from Houston. The Thorns starting keeper, Bella Bixby, gets the save.

45’+8 SHE LIKES HER COFFEY HOT IN HOUSTON

The referees head to the VAR, before ultimately ruling a penalty on the Dash. It appears to be from a play minutes earlier when Reyna Reyes was taken down in the box.

With Jayden Perry on the bench, captain Sam Coffey steps up to the plate and converts on the PK for Portland — recording her, highly anticipated, first goal of the season.

Halftime: Thorns 3, Dash 0

The Thorns rolled out pretty much the same lineup out of the locker room after the half, with the only change being Jessie Fleming coming onto the pitch for Payton Linnehan.

54’ THORNS GOAL — Caiya Hanks says thanks!

Caiya Hanks puts her ball handling abilities on display, her defender on skates, and sinks one into the corner of the Houston net to notch her second goal of the season.

After Hanks puts the Thorns up 4-0, three players on the front line have now recorded a goal so far in this one, and the widening offensive threat of this team continues to trend upwards.

60’ BIG. SAVE. BIXBY.

Bella Bixby settles some chaos in the box, with her save keeping the sheet clean for the Thorns in the 60th minute.

Bixby’s big save prompts a triple substitution for the Dash.

63’ PORTLAND SUBS

Alexa Spaanstra replaces Hanks, Liv Moultrie replaces Sugita, and Sophie Hirst for Sam Coffey.

75’ Houston Goal — the Dash get one back

Houston’s Michelle Alozie goes 1v1 against Portland’s Sam Hiatt, and scores the first goal of the night for the Dash in the 75th minute. This is the first time the Thorns have conceded a second half goal in the 2025 season.

Alozie’s shot deflected off Hiatt, into the goal and away from Bixby. This would be Alozie’s first NWSL goal since the 2023 season, leading us into the 2nd half hydration break.

77’ SUB PORTLAND — Castellanos for Tordin

Deyna Castellanos comes onto the pitch, replacing Pietra Tordin. This would be the final sub of the night for both teams.

Full Time: Portland 4, Houston 1

Photo Credit: Kelsey Baker

Final Thoughts:

Another balanced night offensively for the Thorns continues to prove just how dangerous the versatility of this team can be as the season goes on. It is a more than pleasant contribution to the equation when the Thorns can shut out a team from scoring within the first fifteen minutes, let alone the entire first half.

Despite the defensive blip late in the second half, an occurrence that continues to hinder this team, overall I would say this game was extremely close to a complete 90+ minute performance for the Thorns.