Preview: Portland Thorns vs Club Tijuana

Get ready - it's Summer Cup time.

Photo: Thorns FC

Liga MX Femenil is coming to the US for the ultimate clash of the summer!

Five groups, four teams in each… and the Thorns got squared up with Seattle Reign, Utah Royals, and Xolas de Tijuana. Hold on to your seats because Portland will begin their road to the Cup this Sunday when they play Las Perrísimas.

But who are they and what players should you pay attention to?

Players to watch for

After scoring 14 goals in two seasons with Puebla, Guatemalan international Aisha Solórzano decided to go north to play with Tijuana. The striker was one of the best foreigners since her arrival in the league last year and caught the eye of many teams. Her tenacity, speed, and technique piqued the interest of many clubs and it was only a matter of time until she got offers from one of the clubs that is often spotted playing Liguilla.

Another international player who arrived this season is the Panamanian Marta Cox. After spending a season with Pachuca, she’s now with Xolas and she’s ready to make her impact on this team. The forward can certainly score from distance, her right foot is a menace, and she can also be temperamental if provoked.

Marta Cox's golazo against France in the 2023 FIFA WWC. Credit where is due.

Costa Rican international Melissa Herrera also joined the team last year and likes to change positions with Venezuelan international Paola Villamizar on the right wing when the team is in the attacking phase. Both are seasoned players who have competed at the international level and can be game changers if they have the opportunity.

Another important piece up front is former Club América player Mayra Pelayo. She’s listed as a midfielder but usually plays as a forward. She’s very fast and that’s why it’s important to keep an eye on her connection with defender Bibiana Quintos who tends to send long balls to Pelayo. It’s also important to say that she can use both feet which makes her a little unpredictable. Oh, and if Pelayo’s name rings a bell, she’s the one who scored the lone goal that got the win for Mexico against the USWNT earlier this year.

Mayra Pelayo celebrates her goal in the Gold Cup against the USWNT. Credit where is due.

Last but not least, we have to mention captain Daniela Espinosa. She’s also listed as a forward but depending on the match, she tends to stay near the midfield to get the ball and go from there either with the ball at her feet or to distribute it to a teammate in a better position. She’s the glue that connects the team on the field and if she’s on, then the team plays well.

Last season, Xolas were very dangerous in set pieces and led the league in free-kick goals. They lost some of that power, though, after Sanjuana Muñoz signed with club León in the off season since she was one of the players in charge of set pieces.

What about the Thorns?

Well, this will be a good tournament for Portland to warm up their engines for the rest of the season. Now that Rob Gale is in full function and the appointment of a new head coach is off the table, that should give the team and himself some inner peace that they can go all-in now.

Giving minutes to players who barely have played is something that’d be good to see. With six goalkeepers on the roster, it’d also be good to see any of them not named Shelby Hogan starting, and more so against this Mexican team that just started its season last week (they collected a loss in their opening match).

The Thorns should be able to at least win the group knowing that the other three teams they have been matched with are not in the best of form. It is true that Portland is having a difficult time scoring, but this Cup should serve them to find some answers in the attack.

Do not miss the game. It will kick off at 4 PM PT and will be streamed on Paramount+ and CBS Sport Golazo network.