MATCH INFORMATION
Date: Sunday, Sept. 4, 2016
Kickoff: 4 p.m. (Pacific)
Location: Providence Park (Portland, Ore.)
Forecast: Mostly cloudy, 67 degrees
Referee: Jon Freemon
Assistant Referees: Artyom Arustamyan, Joshua Haimes
Fourth Official: Kelsey Harms
Webstream: www.thornsfc.com
MATCH PREVIEW
Playing the first of three straight home games, Portland Thorns FC play host the Boston Breakers for the second and final match between the two teams this season.
With four games remaining on the schedule, Portland currently sits in second place in the NWSL standings. Thorns FC are six points out of first place and hold a one-point edge over third place Chicago Red Stars and are two points ahead of the Western New York.
Portland and Boston have squared off four times in the past two seasons, with Thorns FC holding a 3-1-0 record dating back to April 11, 2015, while outscoring the Breakers 10-4.
LAST MATCH RECAP
Portland Thorns FC conceded an early goal and were unable to mount a comeback, falling 3-1 to Seattle Reign FC at Memorial Stadium on back on Aug. 27. Trailing after a pair of goals from Seattle forward Manon Melis in the 27th and 50th minute, midfielder Allie Long scored her first goal of the season in the 91st minute when she got on the end of midfielder Tobin Heath’s delivery from a set piece and her right-footed flick from inside the area found its way into the back of the net to make it a 2-1 game. Seattle midfielder Megan Rapinoe made it a 3-1 game in the 94th minute.
SERIES HISTORY
Sunday’s match marks the 11th all-time meeting between Portland and Boston, and the second and final meeting between the two clubs this season. The two teams squared off early in the season, with Thorns FC earning a 1-0 victory on the road at Jordan Field back on May 1. Midfielder Dagny Brynjarsdottir scored the game-winning goal in the 79th minute from an assist by midfielder Tobin
Heath. The all-time series record between the two clubs is tied at 5-5-0 and Portland holds a 3-1-0 record at Providence Park against Boston.
SCOUTING BOSTON BREAKERS
The Breakers (3-12-1,10pts) visit Portland following a 3-1 loss against the Houston Dash on Aug. 31 at Jordan Field, which snapped a two-match winning streak. Boston is 2-6-0 in their last eight matches dating back to June 18 and have scored at least one goal in its last five games. The Breakers have scored the fewest goals in the league this season (10) and have also given up the most-goals allowed (32). Goalkeeper Jami Kranich has tallied 32 saves on the season and foward Natasha Dowie, who last scored in the 3-1 loss to the Dash, leads the team with two goals. Eight players have scored one goal for Boston, while four players have recorded an assist.
