Match Recap: Portland Thorns at Racing Louisville

Late game antics earn the Thorns 3 points on the road.

Credit: NWSL

The Portland Thorns picked up a critical three points on the road against Racing Louisville tonight with a final score of 2-1.

With goal contributions from Julie Dufour, and an own goal in the 90th minute, the Thorns picked up their first win in Louisville since April of 2022.

A solid performance in the goal from Mackenzie Arnold limited a talented Louisville offense to just one goal, and dare I say that tonight it looked like Portland may be back on track?

Lineups & Prematch

Credit: Portland Thorns FC

“We were inevitably going to make some changes,” Thorns head coach Rob Gale told the media prior to the match regarding his starting XI.

Changes he said were both due to an accumulation of minutes and some minor bumps and bruises the team has picked up over the last few weeks.

Said changes — Pietra Tordin was back with Reilyn Turner on the offensive for the Thorns. Similarly, Jessie Fleming was back in the midfield, with Hina Sugita starting on the bench.

Defensively, Rob Gale elected Kaitlyn Torpey for the start tonight with both Sam Hiatt and Mallie McKenzie on the bench.

And making her very first start for the Thorns, French forward, Julie Dufour.

Highlights

5’ Tordin gets a shot off

Something we don’t see often from Portland — an offensive attack early.

With Reilyn Turner and Pietra Tordin in the box, Tordin shoots a ball right at Racing Louisville’s keeper. A testament to the power of having Pietra Tordin in the starting XI and a display of the opportunities she creates early, and effectively, in a game (even more so when it’s alongside Turner).

17’ The Thorns survive the first 15

Emma Sears is shut down by Mackenzie Arnold, and the Portland Thorns have narrowly survived the first 15 minutes of this one.

22’ … but not the first 30

After an abundance of opportunities in the box, something finally comes to fruition for Racing Louisville with a goal from Katie O’Kane.

Another lackluster example of the Portland backline we’ve seen in the last few matchups for the Thorns, who have now allowed 6 goals in the last 4 games. This would be the first goal of O’Kane’s professional career.

31’ AND THAT’S TWO FOR JULIE DUFOUR

Liv Moultrie is able to find Reilyn Turner through the midfield, who puts her skills with the ball on display and rockets a ball off of the Racing Louisville keeper.

A ball that travels right into the air space of none other than, Julie Dufour.

In just her second game with the Thorns, Dufour has already tallied her second goal with the club and it’s the equalizer for her team in the first half.

36’ yellow card for Dufour

Despite having not played in the first matchup between these two teams, Dufour didn’t shy away from the hype or the physicality.

With DeMelo on a breakaway ball, Dufour delivers a little forearm shove — halting Racing’s momentum, and earning her the first yellow of her Thorns career.

+2 minutes of stoppage time added

Halftime: Thorns 1, Racing 1

Coming into tonight, the Thorns were 2-1-0 when tied at the half this season.

47’ THANK YOU MACCA

Another error by the backline opens up a wide open box for Emma Sears.

A typically given goal for the sophomore phenom Sears, is shut down yet again by Mackenzie Arnold.

48’ PK Portland, can’t capitalize

Reilyn Turner draws a foul in the box, earning the Thorns a PK in the 48th minute.

Both Sam Coffey and Jayden Perry were on the field, but the captain steps up to this one only to be denied by Racing’s keeper Jordyn Bloomer (less a miraculous save, more a highly telegraphed shot from Coffey).

This was Portland’s 7th penalty this season, and a new NWSL record.

64’ switching up the side with some subs

At the hour mark, Portland opts to bring subs onto both sides of the ball.

Defensively, Mallie McKenzie comes on for Kaitlyn Torpey and on the offensive, Mimi Alidou replaces Julie Dufour.

75’ yellow card JP

A similar look to the foul on Dufour, JP delivers a slight forearm into the back of a Racing player and earns herself a yellow.

77’ the Thorns 🤝 the goalpost

How many times can Emma Sears be stopped tonight? So far, the answer is three.

Twice by MACCA and once by the goal post (who in recent weeks, has been the Thorns best friend!).

87’ Thorns sub once more

Daiane takes the pitch in exchange for Pietra Tordin.

89’ Mimi Alidou EARNS a yellow

Another smart take by the Thorns, Alidou makes grabs a fistful of jersey slowing down Racing and earning her the third yellow card of the night for the Thorns.

90’ JESSIE FLEMING GETS HER MOMENT

In the 90th minute, Mallie McKenzie lofts a ball into the box that lands right at the feet of who else, Jessie Fleming.

Fleming skids the ball into the hands of the Racing keeper who ushers said ball into the foot of her own teammate.

This will go down as an own goal for Racing, but Jessie said it best “I was just in the right place at the right time.”

Right place at the right time, indeed Jessie.

*It was later ruled an own goal on Ellie Jean.

+6 minutes of stoppage time added

90’ +3 the last sub for Portland

Hina Sugita comes on for Turner, a move I would assume to be made in an attempt to hold the ball, as the Thorns look to close out the final minutes of this one.

Final: Portland 2, Louisville 1

Final Thoughts

This was arguably the biggest win of the season for the Portland Thorns.

Coming off back to back losses, and a miserable result last week against the league’s worst, the Thorns desperately needed three points on the road tonight — and we all know that’s no small feat.

And still, this is another game that this Thorns team is walking away from with room to grow.

For example, I was surprised to see yet another sloppy performance from Portland’s backline.

While yes, we’ve seen some unsettling performances in the first half of matches throughout the season, it has only been as of late that we’ve seen an influx of goals that are chalked up to the fault of the backline.

A stellar showing from MACCA tonight has the final score looking better than than the backline, as she took on (and putout) the firepower from some of the best in the league.

My most important takeaway, and preeminent question for the weeks to come: will Julie Dufour continue to be a bright spot of offense for the Thorns?

Without goals from neither Turner or Tordin, and with the lack of an offensive showing elsewhere, it seems that not only is Dufour the offensive threat they’ve so desperately needed, but one they will continue to need heading into a crucial stretch of the season.