ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Portland Thorns FC scored a goal late in second-half stoppage time, but could not overcome an early three-goal deficit, falling 3-2 on the road in their final match of the 2015 NWSL season against the Western New York Flash in front of 4,147 at Sahlen’s Stadium on Friday night.
Midfielder Allie Long led a late charge in the second half as Thorns FC (6-9-5, 23pts) outshot the Flash 8-4 in the final 45 minutes, while Long registered her team-leading 10th goal of the season in the final minutes of second-half stoppage time.
Trailing 3-0 after the first 25 minutes, forward Jodie Taylor scored for a second consecutive match, finishing a low, well-placed cross played into the box by forward Alex Morgan from the left side for the finish from close range in the 29th minute.
Portland continued to attack as two chances just missed late in the first half. Taylor connected with a pinpoint cross by midfielder Sinead Farrelly from the right side near the penalty spot with a looping header in the 44th minute that sailed just over the crossbar. Deep into first-half stoppage time, Long lined up a free kick near the left side of the box, bending a shot around the wall towards the upper-right corner that bounced off the crossbar.
With time winding down in the second half, Taylor played a well-timed through ball into space for midfielder Mana Shim running down the left side. Shim dribbled into the box and cut the back towards the middle firing a shot towards the near post. Western New York goalkeeper Chantel Jones was unable to make the save and Long pounced on the loose ball for the finish. Shim tallied her fourth assist of the season on the play.
Thorns FC created several other goal scoring opportunities in the second half, including a pair of free kicks. Long had another attempt go just over the bar in the 51st minute, while midfielder Lianne Sanderson delivered a low, swerving free kick from 25 yards out towards the left post that was saved by Jones.
Friday marked the conclusion of the 2015 NWSL season for Portland. The 2015 NWSL Championship match will take place at Providence Park on Thursday, Oct. 1; kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. (Pacific) with a national television broadcast on FOX Sports 1.
Notes:
- Midfielder Allie Long and defender Kat Williamson finish the season as the only two players to start and play in all 20 matches this season.
- Long became just the second player in Thorns FC history to register double-digit goals in a season, tallying her 10th goal of the season.
- Long established a new Thorns FC single-season record for points (24).
- Forward Alex Morgan tallied her 11th career assist in the match, claiming sole possession of first place in all-time career assist for Thorns FC.
- Long registered a goal against the Flash for a third consecutive match, including back-to-back road matches against Western New York.
- Forward Jodie Taylor finished the season scoring three goals in her last five matches.
- Long logged 1,793 minutes, the most of any player on the team, as she played in all but seven minutes of the team’s 20 matches this season.
- Long made her 26th consecutive start and her 32nd consecutive appearance in the match for Portland.
- Midfielder Mana Shim tallied her eighth career assist in the match.
Portland Thorns FC (6-9-5, 23pts) at Western New York Flash (6-9-5, 23pts)
Sept. 4, 2015 – Sahlen’s Stadium (Rochester, N.Y.)
Goals by Half 1 2 F
Portland Thorns FC 1 1 2
Western NY Flash 3 0 3
Scoring Summary
WNY: Ayinde (Mewis), 6
WNY: Spencer (Heyman), 8
WNY: Mewis, 24
POR: Taylor (Morgan), 29
POR: Long, 90+2’
Misconduct Summary
POR: Morgan (Caution), 59
POR: Farrelly (Caution), 62
WNY: Taylor (Caution), 65
Lineups & Stats
POR: GK Michelle Betos, D Sinead Farrelly, D Kat Williamson (Catley, 46) ©, D Clare Polkinghorne, D Kendall Johnson (Kyle, 82), M Allie Long, M McCall Zerboni (Shim, 46), M Tobin Heath, M Lianne Sanderson, F Jodie Taylor, F Alex Morgan
Substitutes Not Used: GK Emily Kruger, D Alyssa Kleiner, F Ayo
TOTAL SHOTS: 13 (Long, Taylor, 3); SHOTS ON GOAL: 7 (Morgan, Taylor, 2); FOULS: 7 (Farrelly, 2); OFFSIDES: 2; CORNER KICKS: 1; SAVES: 4
WNY: GK Chantel Jones, D Whitney Engen, D Abby Dahlkemper, D Brittany Taylor ©, D Jaelene Hinkle, M Sam Mewis, M Halimatu Ayinde (Nick, 67), F Jasmyne Spencer, F Lady Andrade (Eddy, 74), F Michelle Heyman (Hamilton, 89)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Sabrina D’Angelo, D Kristen Edmonds, F Ajara Nchout, M Amanda Frisbie
TOTAL SHOTS: 9 (Mewis, 3); SHOTS ON GOAL: 8 (Mewis, Spencer, 2); FOULS: 12 (Taylor, 3); OFFSIDES: 2; CORNER KICKS: 2; SAVES: 5
Referee: Karen Abt
Assistant Referees: Amanda Ross, Jennifer Gardner
4th Official: Chris Trottier
Attendance: 4,147
Weather: 78, Clear
All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial.
