53 Comments

SD Wave just tied Louisville 0-0. So SD is in front by a point, but hopefully only temporarily. Go Thorns, grab that top spot!

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Also, Alex Morgan didn't play and wasn't even on the bench. Anyone know why?

...he asked anxiously, thinking about USWNT training camp starting in just over a week....

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Apparently Morgan left last week's game early. She wasn't on the NWSL injury report though, suggesting she was absent out of a pre-WC abundance of caution.

In the part of the game I watched, SD still played their game of defending like crazy and immediately booting the ball long. It was as ugly as it sounds and deservedly gave them 0 goals.

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KC Current: The only team that can stop Debinha.

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KCSoccerJournal is trying to be diplomatic:

"Consistent problems seem to be emerging for the Current, and unfortunately it’s a combination of both defense and offense. Defensively, as was mentioned in the match preview article, KC has a pattern of giving up more goals than they should. Often that’s a result of bad giveaways in the back, but today it was more bad luck (the handball) and poor marking (Huitema splitting Soto and Robinson with little effort on her way to scoring). Since the calendar flipped past April, Kansas City has allowed 14 goals in 7 matches in all competitions. It’s hard to have a winning team when you give up two goals per game."

"Over that same time period, KC has scored just six—an average of less than one goal per match. Some growing pains on the defensive side of the ball could be excused as KC are starting two rookies at center back, but no such excuses exist moving forward for the Current. Yes, injuries are still a thing for the team, but most of the attacking players are healthy and there is no reason why this group couldn’t be a lot more threatening."

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And Debinha nearly killed Tullis-Joyce just now.

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Must win game. The team needs to gather as many points as possible before the WWC. Here hoping for a strong starting line-up, and a Sinc super sub appearance.

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In some respects this has trap game written all over it:

- Every player got up for that last game, and it was an emotional win; it'll be hard to generate that level of intensity for this one.

- Our previous game against Orlando was a relative walk in the park, so players might subconsciously think it'll be that way again. But this is a pretty different Orlando team who have figured out how to play better.

- Same for the standings: We're in first place (at least today) while they're in ninth, so Thorns players might relax just a fraction.

- The weather will be against us. Orlando players are used to Orlando conditions, while we are decidedly not.

Hopefully all this won't be enough to turn the tables from the last time we played them.

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Oh god the referee is Chesky

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Could be bad lol

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Fuck

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Weather forecast of low 90's with scattered thunder storms . Let's hope for an uninterrupted match.

Go Thorns!

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My first stop was NWS and 90-47% (presently) is nasty for gals used to frolicking in the PNW maritime climate.

[clears throat} Coach: like last game, begin with Sinc on the bench 'cause if you start her we all know you won't pull her earlier than 70 minutes. This is time for the youngsters, and Becky, to lock the Pride down in the first half and score two or three. Then sub as needed starting at minute 60.

This should be very familiar territory for your squad.

https://www.nwslsoccer.com/game/portland-thorns-fc-vs-orlando-pride-2022-06-19/latest

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Norris def needs to consider weather conditions when crafting his starting XI.

I remember going to Hawaii for a tournament in my teens. We had a great team, and I personally was in good form at the time, but playing those games felt like running in water. We were from SoCal, and the Hawaiian teams literally ran circles around us the entire tournament. Living in Orlando is a definite advantage for the Pride. Norris is gonna have to avoid an intense first half press, and, make subs early.

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A thunderstorm might actually help us, since it will cool things down and could make the game happen later in the evening. Yes it could add humidity, but the humidity will be bad no matter how you slice it.

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Yeah, temp usually drops about 10 degrees with the onset of a thunderstorm, so any help, I’d take. That would generally mean a game is delayed or has to stop/start/stop/start, though. Rough for a team that will continue to be on the road (to Chicago next.) Looks like thunderstorms are forecasted tomorrow from 3pm to 10pm, so I hope there’s some plan ahead of time. Game is scheduled for 7pm!

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We're also facing a different Orlando team from the one who came here to start the year.

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Watching the OL/KC game and good looord is KC's defense/keeper combo dreadful. Just a complete and utter disaster. Seattle looking meek as hell, then bang, wide open header for Huitema out of nowhere.

Also, the fact that Sonnett is gonna be in NZ feels like a slap in the face to whatever defenders she inevitably makes the roster over.

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KC is SO BAD. Like, how are they so bad?! I feel bad for Debinha (and all the players honestly.) They seem to be dealing with the product of terrible FO-ing. The coach has no idea what she's doing.

Also, Ol Reign won that game, but I don't think they looked great either.

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https://twitter.com/SouthernSylvs/status/1667723300473282560?s=20

"Reign fan watches Emily Sonnett play CDM for 45 minutes"

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KC have fewer and fewer excuses for poor performance. They're inching closer and closer to a healthy roster.

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Yeesh no Menges tomorrow. Don’t loveeee that

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This a new development? Nobody is listed yet on the PTFC availability report.

After today I think it's time to again hate on NCC. Oof, they murdilated CRS.

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Yeah and Sauerbrunn listed as questionable again. Not even sure if she’s traveled…I haven’t seen her in any pics or videos from Orlando.

What to do? Menges is the left-sided CB. Kuikka can play CB, but she really was not good on the left side every time she was tried there. Do we play her out of position as a CB, and on the wrong side with Reyes as the RB? Or do we play Nally? I think she’s usually on the L side of the CB’s? 90 minutes of Nally running in Orlando humidity sounds bad.

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It'll be Nally if Becky can't go.....unfortunately. If she's questionable she must have traveled, though.

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Yeah, I thought the same re: Becky. I just haven't seen her in the myriad pics/videos they've posted so far. But, they are on a two-game road trip. I really hope Menges' excused absence is for just this game, and Becky actually did travel with the team.

Although, Norris did have Natu tuck in to CB during a game with Reyes as a RB. I think I prefer Reyes over Nally at this point, but yeah, it's not as simple as just a like for like swap there....Messiah Bright running against Nally could be, uh, trouble lol.

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Does anyone know when the USWNT will start its final training sessions prior to the WWC?

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Players are called into camp June 26th! There’s a send-off game vs. Wales July 9th in San Jose.

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Ok, thanks.

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91 in Orlando right now. Supposed to be about 86 at kickoff and 80 by 9pm local time.

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Let's play SECOND GUESS THE REF...

https://youtu.be/RQP9SPE_XM0?t=447

Should this have been a yellow as called or a straight red?

Play it back at 1/4th speed and watch the reactions from Harvey, Huerta and Sonnett. While I expect a certain amount of partial advocating, Huerta's expression is pretty telling -- the look of astonishment on her face and how she covers her mouth as she's kneeling over Tullis Joyce. She's reflexively shocked by something.

Obviously it's a dangerous play by Debinha, how she just lowered her head and went for it, diving into where Tullis-Joyce is fully exposed, though they both went up for a 50/50 ball at the same time.

But I'm not sure I can call it a serious foul or say that Debinha used excessive force.

What do others think about this one?

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Without another angle yellow reckless launch for a ball high in the air.

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Well, we're relatively healthy today, but I have no idea how this goes if Becky doesn't play.

OUT: Janine Beckie (SEI – knee), Emily Menges (excused absence), Rocky Rodríguez (knee)

QUESTIONABLE: Becky Sauerbrunn (foot)

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Chicago have reclaimed bottom of the table, but the only reason why ACFCNFT aren't in 11th is because KC are already there.

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Crap, just noticed tomorrow's match is on CBSSN, "Where sports go to die."

My afternoon just opened up.

1-3 Thorns.

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Interesting, from her story, it looks like Adriana Leon is not going to Orlando. Anyone know why?

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Remember when everyone was panicking she'd take minutes from Hina and Izzy? Those were the dayzzz

(It's actually quite strange how little PT she's gotten given she came here to get minutes and is now getting less time than a journeywoman and a rookie, but it's a good check in the "CWNT doesn't control the Thorns lineup decisions" box)

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Looks like she’s in pictures and videos from training in Orlando, though? (I haven’t seen her video, though)

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I actually don’t see her in any Orlando training pics. It’s of course possible I missed some, but I’d be incredibly embarrassed if so.

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Watch the video on IG and twitter. She’s pretty indistinguishable bc she’s super blond!

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Oh, OK there she is. The story from the pdx salon must’ve been a pic from a few days ago.

How are you not watching her stories though? I thought I knew you better than that.

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Lol, I think I never bothered because I knew she wasn’t sticking around very long!

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My rule is, I give them 24 hours after they make their “Thanks Thorns, it’s been amazing,” post and then I unfollow. Brutal I know, but gotta keep the feed lean and focused.

By the way, are punks nerds?

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Adriana Leon doesn't make Orlando....

Hmmm... Let's see...

O...r...l...a...n...d...

Crap!

Can I trade the leftover a, a, e, i, and n for another o?

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You would really, really like Orland.

https://www.cityoforland.com/

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Ah, Orland.... gateway to Corning AND Willows!

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