Match Recap: Thorns vs. Angel City FC

Opening night ends in a draw in Soccer City, USA

For the first time in Thorns history, Portland walked away from a home opener with a draw.

Despite early scoring from both teams in this match, neither had enough offense in the second half to muster up a win. The Thorns and Angel City ended in a 1-1 draw, with goal contributions from Portland’s Reilyn Turner and ACFC’s Kennedy Fuller.

Photo Credit: Kelsey Baker

Lineups & Prematch

Both teams rolled out a 4-3-3 starting formation for Friday night’s matchup.

From the Thorns we saw Olivia Moultrie playing at inverted winger yet again, with Kaitlyn Torpey, Sam Hiatt, Isa Obaze and Reyna Reyes on the back line. However, different from last week’s draw up at Kansas City, Payton Linnehan and Reilyn Turner got the start up front as the two big offensive threats for the Thorns.

We knew coming into this one that there would be no Jessie Fleming, as she was ruled out with a concussion that was suffered in the team’s season opener. Rob Gale would later mention in the post-game press conference that Fleming’s timeline is unpredictable at the moment due to the nature of her injury, and is unsure of when we can expect to see her back on the pitch.

Match Recap & Storyline

9’ GOAL Angel City — Kennedy Fuller, 1-0

After assisting on Angel City’s sole goal in their season opener, Kennedy Fuller seemed to easily find the back of the net early with one of her own for ACFC — putting them up 1-0.

Was this an early indication of the dreaded defensive breakdown of the Thorns this season? Something fans have all been wondering, and the first time we can chalk a goal up to something other than an explosive and quick Kansas City team.

Was this a simple miscommunication? Or poor defending altogether?

30’ GOALLL PORTLANDDD — Reilyn Turner, 1-1

After coming up short in the 29th minute, Reilyn Turner came right back to chip one in off of a corner kick for Portland’s first goal in Providence Park this season.

Not only was this Turner’s first goal of the season, but only her second as a Thorn, and her very first in Providence Park.

45’ Chances for ACFC, Hiatt says no.

If fans were pleased to see Sam Hiatt in tonight’s starting lineup, I can imagine they were ecstatic with the defense she put on display late in the first half.

Angel City threatened to score not once, but twice in the 45th minute — first stopped with a brilliant slide from Hiatt, before Mackenzie Arnold controlled the ball for a save.

Two minutes of stoppage time were added to the end of the first half.

Halftime: Portland 1, Angel City 1

46’ Substitution POR — Payton Linnehan OFF// Caiya Hanks ON

Rob Gale wasted no time getting Caiya Hanks on the pitch for the Thorns early in the second half.

Coming in for Payton Linnehan, post game Rob Gale would admit this was a change he didn’t expect to make until closer to the 60th minute, but was happy to see more time on the field for his young rookie.

This will be something to keep an eye on moving forward as Gale alluded to some physical struggles Linnehan was going through, which prompted the early sub.

69’ Yellow Card POR — Kaitlyn Torpey

Torpey earned herself a yellow card in the 69th minute with a shove in the midfield. This physicality would begin to compile for both sides as the game grew nearer to the 90th minute, both teams still without the go ahead goal in the second half.

72’ Missed call on Moultrie

A missed call on Olivia Moultrie in the box would be the first of a flurry of missed calls, which would seemingly add up for the Thorns in trying to close this one out.

73’ Substitution POR — Deyna Castellanos OFF// Alexa Spaanstra ON

Portland fans will have to wait a little longer to see Deyna Castellanos score in a Thorns uniform. Although her brilliance with the ball was on display tonight, she was unable to find the goal in her first game in Providence Park as a Thorn before being subbed out in the 73rd minute.

76’ Substitution ACFC — Riley Tiernan OFF// Christen Press ON

The Angel City jersey Christen Press had on her back made no difference in the amount of love that was shown to her from fans at Providence Park. A member of the USWNT and an NWSL fan favorite, Press received a standing ovation as she stepped onto the pitch for the first time late in this game.

80’ Substitution POR — Reilyn Turner & Kaitlyn Torpey OFF// Pietra Tordin & Mallie McKenzie ON

A substitution that you can assume was made at this point in the match to get fresh legs on the pitch and a different look at the goal in the remaining minutes — this would also be rookie Pietra Tordin’s Providence Park debut.

89’ The Thorns come knocking, the officials don’t answer

After a tackle from behind goes uncalled on a Caiya Hanks breakaway in the 86th minute, another missed call in the 89th minute nearly gives ACFC an offensive break of their own — igniting the Providence Park faithful in the first “ref you suck,” chant of the season.

Three minutes of stoppage time were added to the end of the second half.

91’ Yellow Card ACFC — Savy King

A card coming in from the midfield, after an ACFC player delayed play on the ball, was too little too late for the Thorns. With just 2 minutes left in stoppage time they would not get another opportunity to score in their attempt to write tonight’s storybook ending.

Full time: Portland 1, Angel City 1

Rob Gale shared his thoughts on the outcome of tonight’s 1-1 draw in the post-game press conference.

“I think we deserved to win,” said Gale. “I’ll reserve comment on any officiating this evening to not get myself in trouble, but I felt we didn’t quite get the breaks at the right time.”

Gale also mentioned the difference that could have been made had his team found a way to settle in earlier in this match, but time keeps ticking as the clock looks on to next week where the Thorns are scheduled back at home taking on the North Carolina Courage.

Kickoff against the Courage is scheduled to take place at 7 p.m. PT at Providence Park on Saturday, March 29.