PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland Thorns FC surrendered a goal in the second half and were unable to find the equalizer, falling 1-0 to Reign FC in front of 19,116 fans at Providence Park on Friday night.
Homecoming
Friday’s match marked the first home match of the 2019 season for five players returning from the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup: Ellie Carpenter, Caitlin Foord, Hayley Raso, Christine Sinclair and Andressinha. In addition, the match marked the first appearance for Foord, Raso and Sinclair since returning from the World Cup. Carpenter, Foord and Sinclair started the match, while Raso and Andressinha both made substitute appearances.
Home form
The loss snapped an eight-game unbeaten run in regular-season play at Providence Park, dating back to the 2018 season. Since 2016, Thorns FC have posted a record of 26-6-6 at Providence Park. Friday’s match marked just the third time in 38 regular-season home games Portland has not recorded a goal.
Key plays
In the 37th minute, Gabby Seiler intercepted the ball in midfield and passed it to Sinclair. She quickly played the ball back to Seiler, who dribbled to the edge of the box and fired a low, hard shot at the goal that skipped just wide of the left post.
Portland nearly grabbed the lead in the 44th minute. Carpenter dribbled down the right side of the field and played a cross to Foord near the right post. Foord attempted to direct the ball with her back to goal inside the post, but Reign FC goalkeeper Casey Murphy dove to her left to get a touch and make the save.
Thorns FC generated a scoring chance off a set piece in first-half stoppage time. Meghan Klingenberg served the ball from the right wing into the center of the box. The ball was headed to Elizabeth Ball at the edge of the box and she hit a looping shot just over the crossbar.
Reign FC took a 1-0 lead in the 55th minute on a free kick. Lauren Barnes delivered a ball into the box from the left wing. Portland was unable to clear the ball and it landed for Celia Jiménez, who unleashed a long-range strike into the back of the net.
Thorns FC had a chance to level the match in the 86th minute. Carpenter played a long throw-in from the right sideline into the box. The ball was flicked on by Dagny Brynjarsdottir to Sinclair, who headed the ball down for Midge Purce near the six-yard box, but Purce’s shot went over the crossbar.
Next match
Thorns FC play host to the Orlando Pride on Sunday, July 14, at Providence Park. Beginning at 12 noon (Pacific), the match will featured a national television broadcast on ESPNEWS.
Portland Thorns FC (5-2-4, 19pts) vs. Reign FC (5-1-5, 20pts)
July 5, 2019 – Providence Park (Portland, Ore.)
Goals by Half 1 2 F
Reign FC 0 1 1
Portland Thorns FC 0 0 0
Scoring Summary:
RFC: Jiménez (Onumonu), 55
Misconduct Summary:
RFC: Barnes (caution), 22
RFC: Groom (caution), 52
POR: Brynjarsdottir (caution), 54
RFC: Jiménez (caution), 64
Lineups:
POR: GK Eckerstrom, D Carpenter, D Ball (Charley, 59), D Reynolds, D Menges ©, D Klingenberg, M Seiler (Andressinha, 67), M Brynjarsdottir, M Sinclair, F Purce, F Foord (Raso, 50)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Bixby, D Hubly, M Boureille, F Lussi
TOTAL SHOTS: 10 (Seiler, 3); SHOTS ON GOAL: 1 (Foord, 1); FOULS: 6 (Brynjarsdottir, 2), OFFSIDES: 2; CORNER KICKS: 3; SAVES: 2
RFC: GK Murphy, D Nielsen, D Barnes ©, D Oyster, D Catley, M Proffitt, M Jiménez, M Yanez, F Groom (Steiner, 76), F Balcer, F Onumonu (Cox, 83)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Williams, D Westphal, M Yenney, F Dallstream, F Kelly
TOTAL SHOTS: 7 (Delgado, Balcer 2); SHOTS ON GOAL: 3 (Three players tied, 1); FOULS: 13 (Delgado, 5), OFFSIDES: 1; CORNER KICKS: 3; SAVES: 1
Referee: Farhad Dadkho
Assistant Referees: Salma Perez, Kali Smith
4th Official: Chad Stewart
Attendance: 19,116
Weather: Mostly cloudy, 69 degrees
All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial
