NWSL Challenge Cup Preview: San Diego @ Portland
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NWSL Challenge Cup Preview: San Diego @ Portland
Is it time for Mike Norris to rest the veterans and give opportunity to the young players who need the minutes?
The Portland Thorns are in the midst of a three-match losing streak (in all competitions). Although making the NWSL Challenge Cup semi-finals is almost impossible, they have the opportunity to give minutes to players who absolutely need it. With that being said, it’s time for the young talent on the team to get more minutes the rest of the challenge cup.
They host the San Diego Wave at Providence Park on Friday (7:30pm, Paramount +). In the World Cup window, they have two more matches left in their Challenge Cup group against San Diego and at Angel City.
Projected Thorns Starting XI
Hogan
Reyes - Hubly - Natu - McGrady
Moultrie - Provenzano - Porter
Beckman - Betfort - D’Aquila
Players to Watch
Tegan McGrady - This is another opportunity for Mike Norris to give her more minutes. The team needs to see what they have in McGrady. The three fullback rotation the rest of the season is not enough and having her as part of the that would be huge.
Natalie Beckman - Absolutely needs the minutes and is one of the only pure wingers left on the team. Was played out of position as a defender last year, but was a highly rated attacker out of college. Her dribbling and service will give a huge boost to the offense. If the 4-3-3 must be played, it’s time to give Beckman big minutes the next two CC games.
Gabby Provenzano - In the limited minutes she received as a 6 and it was a good cameo. Can she become the backup six if given the opportunity?
Prediction
Both teams are struggling without their stars. Goals have been hard to come by for both sides, but San Diego has the better team right now.
The home field boost should help the Portland Thorns, even if the timing is awfully close to the USWNT game.
0-0
Goals: N/A
Assists: N/A
NWSL Challenge Cup Preview: San Diego @ Portland
Just wanted to share this really, very lovely and well-written article about Crystal. Some good quotes from Soph and Becky as well. There are some good, eye-opening bits about where the Soubrier’s heads are at with his whole suspension, and makes me more hopeful that she won’t actually be leaving Portland. She opines about wanting to open an Afrobeat night club in Portland in the future, says Pierre is spending a lot more time with Marcel and doing things he never had time for with a full-time job, and apparently, meets with the NWSL monthly to stay in touch about his progress. I didn’t realize his ban for the league was only a year, and the way it sounds/looks to me (pure speculation ofc), he may try to come back to the Thorns for next season. Not sure how I feel about that given the image problems we already have, but, I guess we’ll see…
Also, some nice bits from Sophia about how this is kinda just the beginning of what they can do together on the field, so I’m hoping this means they’re both sticking around a bit longer. ::)
Quote:
“I have always wanted to play with a player who just understands me and knows what I’m gonna do before I do it, and I feel like we kind of give that to each other,” Smith said. “That’s why you see us combining a lot. If I’m wide and I’m about to cross it, I don’t even have to look up and know Crystal’s there. It’s just so fun to play with a player like that. I feel like we complement each other, and this is really just the beginning of what I feel like we could do together.”
Either way, the article is good and makes it seem like Crystal has a nice life here in the PNW.
https://andscape.com/features/crystal-dunn-is-playing-with-freedom-and-fury/
Why not?
We're not going to advance in the Challenge Cup, and we'll need rested and healthy vets for the stretch run when all the Nats come back, especially now that we've dropped down the table a bit.
So, may as well see who can do what.