Recap & Highlights: Portland Thorns 1, Racing Louisville 2

The Portland Thorns end their two-game east coast road trip with a loss against Racing Louisville.

Credit: Portland Thorns FC

After settling for a brutal (& incorrect) draw against Washington Spirit, Mike Norris and the Portland Thorns end their second consecutive east coast road game in Louisville.

They have won all five previous meetings against Racing Louisville (5-0-0).

Both teams needed three points with Portland looking to breakaway at the top of the table and Louisville trying to stay in the playoff chase. The home side was also unbeaten in their last 5 matches (2-0-3).

That winning streak would come to an end with the 1-2 loss at Lynn Family Stadium.

In their first game without superstar, Sophia Smith, Portland opted for Hannah Betfort in the starting lineup. Also, Hina Sugita would fill in for Christine Sinclair at midfield.

Injury Report:

POR OUT: Janine Beckie (SEI – knee), Sophia Smith (knee)

LOU OUT: J. Baggett (lower leg), J. Bloomer (D45), S. DeMelo (suspension), J. Howell (hip), J. McDonald (ML), C. Pickett (lower leg), N. Nadim (thigh)

Racing Louisville would be missing two of their best midfielders in Savannah Demelo and Jaelin Howell. They would also be without star left back, Carson Pickett.

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In the first five minutes, Racing Louisville had three chances on goal and somehow did not score. Davis and Monaghan both hit the post. They had 0.97 xG in this span which was already more than Washington Spirit without their gifted PK.

This was one of the worst starts Portland could of asked for, but luckily they came out unscathed.

In the 6th minute, Katie Lund mishit a clearance. Morgan Weaver picked up the ball and took a few dribbles before putting the road team up 1-0. This goal came completely against the run of play.

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Both teams lacked composure with the ball and any sort of rhythm was very hard to identify through either team. There were plenty of chances in the first half, but very little to show from it. Racing Louisville and Portland Thorns did an excellent job mixing in the high press and get turnovers from that.

Once the game settled down, each side would have their fair share of possession and scoring opportunities. The last touch in the final third let both teams down, mightily.

In the 4-4-2, Portland struggled to get proper width in this formation. When they struggle to possess in midfield, it is a huge, huge issue. Racing Louisville created too many chances and was only missing their finishing. The Thorns did not have the composure on the ball they needed and nearly cost them in the first half.

The Thorns continued to be sloppy with the ball especially from the back. Racing continued to have waves of attack and piled on the shots. Portland was kept on the back foot and rarely had chances

In a four minute span, Racing Louisville took over control of this game off set pieces. They scored the equalizer in the 60th minute off a Abby Erceg header and in the 64th minute a rebound off a corner kick gave them the lead thanks for Thembi Kgatlana.

Portland has conceded six goals in the first 15 minutes of the seconf half of games, and that’s the most in NWSL (Credit: Taylor Vincent).

The passing from Portland’s backline was atrocious all game, and they gave up so many chances. However as a team, they could not consistently get out of the press. There was absolutely no calmness or comfort with the ball. There was absolutely no excuse for this as they have the talent in any system or formation to make it work. The lack of attention to detail has cost this mightily all season and it came to fruition in this game.

Crystal Dunn tried to singlehandedly create chances for her teammates in the last ten minutes of the game, but the end product was not there.

At the end of the day, Louisville was able to genrate more expected goals, 1.94 to Portland’s 1.14. They also outshot Portland 26-15, and put more shots on goal (10) than Portland (5).

Make no mistake — Racing Louisville deserved to win this game. The Portland Thorns looked completely unprepared to play. To play a team without three of their top players and come out this flat, is hard to accept.

Highlights:

2’ Kirsten Davis is on on goal from Bella Bixby denies

3’ Davis in again, but this time off the post.

5’ Paige Monaghan inexplicably misses from point blank range. The score

6’ 1-0 Portland Thorns! Morgan Weaver scores completely in the run of play. Katie Lund misplayed the ball and the Portland Thorns forward takes advantage.

12’ Julia Lester with the yellow card after sliding in against Weaver.

14’ Kelli Hubly wins the header off the set piece, but can’t get it on frame.

22’ Hannah Betfort with a left-footed volley attempt that goes off frame. Great looped pass by Olivia Moultrie there to set up the opportunity.

36’ Rocky delivers a perfect ball to wide open Kuikka who just can’t steer her shot on frame.

38’ Thembi Kgatlana shown a yellow card for a hand to Natu’s face.

41’ Weaver from distance and forces a jumping Katie Lund save.

42’ Kuikka’s intervention could have saved a goal. Rebecca Holloway would have been in on goal.

45’ +4 Ary Borges is denied by Bixby! There are several rebound opportunities and Racing Louisville still can’t find the back of the net. How did they not score there?

50’ Monaghan is played in by Wang Shuang. Her shot goes wide of the goal.

53’ Bella Bixby comes up big again! Another bad turnover from Portland leads to a Kgatlana shot on goal.

60’ 1-1. Abby Erceg headed goal off the corner kick. Hina Sugita, who is in front of goal, tries to clear but it goes off her head into the back of the net.

61’ Taylor Porter and Crystal Dunn on for Rocky and Hina.

62’ Another giveaway in the back leads to a Davis shot, that Bixby once again saves.

64’ 1-2 Kgatlana scores off the rebound from the corner kick.

74’ Christine Sinclair and Reyna Reyes on for Weaver and Klingenberg.

85’ Hannah Betfort is played in by Dunn. The shot sailed over the bar. Has to do better there.

90’ Izzy D’Aquila on for Betfort

90’ + 4 Dunn tries to catch Lund offguard, but the keeper makes the save.