Thorns earn road point to wrap up 2023 Challenge Cup play

Thorns FC wrapped up their UKG 2023 Challenge Cup with a result on the road, playing rival OL Reign to a draw on Sunday afternoon at Lumen Field.

SEATTLE – Portland Thorns FC closed out their 2023 UKG NWSL Challenge Cup campaign with a scoreless draw against OL Reign at Lumen Field on Sunday afternoon.

• MATCHCENTER | Stats, notes and more on the draw in Seattle

Competing in the West Division, Portland finished third in the group with a 2-3-1 record. Thorns FC return to regular-season play on Sunday, Aug. 20, playing host to the North Carolina Courage at Providence Park.

2023 Challenge Cup Campaign
In its 2023 Challenge Cup campaign, Portland registered wins against Angel City FC (May 31) and San Diego Wave FC (July 21) at home. Earning a start in today’s match, Meghan Klingenberg became the fourth player in the NWSL to start in at least 20 Challenge Cup matches all time. Klingenberg led Portland with two assists in this year’s Challenge Cup, tallying two against Wave FC on July 21. Taylor Porter was the only Thorns FC player to start all six Challenge Cup matches in 2023, logging a team-high 489 minutes played. Morgan Weaver led Portland in the Challenge Cup with three goals scored, tallying two against Angel City (May 31, July 29) and one against San Diego (July 21).

Looking Ahead
With seven games left to play in the regular season, Thorns FC (7-4-4, 25pts) sit at second place in the table, just one point behind the first-place Courage (8-5-2, 26pts). Four of those matches will be played at home: North Carolina (Aug. 20), OL Reign (Sept. 16), San Diego (Sept. 30) and NJ/NY Gotham FC (Oct. 7). Portland has a league-best +13 goal differential with 34 goals scored in the 2023 campaign – 11 more goals than the next best in the league (OL Reign – 23).

• STANDINGS | NWSL Regular-Season Standings

Goal-Scoring Plays
None

Notes:

• Thorns FC are unbeaten in their last four matches against OL Reign at Lumen Field across all competitions (1-0-3).
• Portland kept consecutive clean sheets at Lumen Field this year after earning a 2-0 regular season win against OL Reign on June 3.
• Thorns FC closed out their 2023 Challenge Cup campaign with a mark of 2-3-1, registering wins against Angel City FC (May 31) and San Diego Wave FC (July 21) at home.
• Michele Vasconcelos tallied a match-best 12 duels won, six tackles won and five successful dribbles today.
• Portland has a league-best +13 goal differential with 34 goals scored in the 2023 campaign – 11 more goals than the next best in the league (OL Reign – 23).

Next Game
Thorns FC will return to NWSL competition on Sunday, Aug. 20, playing host to the North Carolina Courage at Providence Park; kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. (Pacific). Ticket are on sale through SeatGeek. Watch the match live on Paramount+.

Portland Thorns FC (2-3-1, 7pts) at OL Reign (4-0-2, 14pts)
(UKG NWSL Challenge Cup)
Aug. 6, 2023 – Lumen Field (Seattle, Wash.)

Scoring Summary:
none

Misconduct Summary:
none

Lineups:
POR: GK Hogan, D Kuikka, D Hubly, D Menges (Nally, 64), D Klingenberg, M Porter (Provenzano, 70), M Coffey ©, M Moultrie, M Vasconcelos (Beckman, 63), F Betfort (Weaver, 80), F D’Aquila (Walker, 64) 

Substitutes Not Used: GK Bixby, D Reyes, D McGrady, M Morrison

TOTAL SHOTS: 8 (Vasconcelos, 3); SHOTS ON GOAL: 1 (Moultrie, 1); FOULS: 9 (four players tied, 1); OFFSIDES: 2; CORNER KICKS: 2; SAVES: 3

OLR: GK Ivory, D Malonson (Barnes, 62), D Holmes, D McClernon, D Brown (Hiatt, 46), M Canales, M Stanton (Van der Jagt, 46), M King, M Athens (Viggiano, 87), M Latsko, F Balcer (Bennett, 46)

Substitutes Not Used: GK Dickey, M Fitzgerald, F Weinert, F Edwards 

TOTAL SHOTS: 11 (Latsko, Bennett, 3); SHOTS ON GOAL: 3 (three players tied, 1); FOULS: 16 (Bennett, 2); OFFSIDES: 0; CORNER KICKS: 2; SAVES: 1

Referee: Matthew Corrigan 
Assistant Referees: Salma Perez, Jacob Little 
Fourth Official: Hunter Zachwieja
VAR: Jorge Gonzalez
Weather: Sunny, 83 degrees
Attendance: 12,061

All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial