Thorns FC

NWSL PLAYOFFS RECAP | Thorns FC lose 2-0 to Chicago Red Stars

NWSL HIGHLIGHTS | Thorns lose 2-0 to Red Stars | NWSL Playoffs

PORTLAND, Ore. – Despite a 21-5 advantage in shots, Portland Thorns FC lost 2-0 to the Chicago Red Stars in the semifinals of the 2021 NWSL Playoffs at Providence Park Sunday afternoon.

Match Moments

2' - CHANCE (POR) - Forward Morgan Weaver received the ball near the edge of the area, made a quick turn and then fired a right-footed shot that was wide of the near post.

28' - CHANCE (POR) - On a Portland corner kick, the ball bounced around near the six-yard box before falling to forward Sophia Smith. Her shot was saved in the lower left cover before Chicago cleared the ball away.

31' - CHANCE (POR) - Three minutes later, Smith broke free down the left channel, cut towards goal and hit a low diagonal shot that skipped wide of the far post.

37' - GOAL (CRS) - Coming completely against the run of play, Red Stars forward Katie Johnson hit a shot towards the near post that snuck inside to put the Thorns down 1-0 in the 37th minute.

44' - CHANCES (POR) - The Thorns let fly a flurry of shots searching for an equalizer. Two were blocked before Smith's attempt to the lower far corner was stopped by Chicago goalkeeper Cassie Miller.

59' - GOAL (CRS) - Chicago went up 2-0 on a long-distance shot from Sarah Woldmoe.

66' - CHANCE (POR) - Midfielder Angela Salem sent an out-swinging corner into the mixer that forward Simone Charley headed down towards goal but right at Miller.

76' - CHANCE (POR) - Defender Becky Sauerbrunn made a great tackle in the Chicago half with the ball rolling towards midfielder Rocky Rodríguez. Rodríguez sprinted ahead with the ball and fired a shot that forced a diving save from Miller.

-----------

Portland Thorns FC vs. Chicago Red Stars – 2021 NWSL Semifinal
Nov. 14, 2021 – Providence Park (Portland, Ore.)

Scoring Summary: 
CHI: Johnson (DiBernardo), 37
CHI: Woldmoe (Gautrat), 59

Misconduct Summary: 
None

Lineups:
POR: GK Bixby, D Kuikka, D Menges, D Sauerbrunn, D Klingenberg, M Salem, M Rodríguez, M Ryan, M Sinclair ©, F S. Smith, F Weaver (Charley, 59)

Substitutes Not Used: GK A. Smith, D Nally, D Hubly, Pogarch, M Boureille, M Everett, M Moultrie, F Lussi

TOTAL SHOTS: 18 (Smith, 5); SHOTS ON GOAL: 6 (Rodríguez, Smith, 2); FOULS: 7 (Klingenberg, Kuikka, 2); OFFSIDES: 1; CORNER KICKS: 6; SAVES: 0

CHI: GK Miller, D Milazzo, D Gorden, D Davidson, D Wright, M Gautrat, M Woldmoe, M Colaprico, M DiBernardo ©, F Hill, F Watt (Johnson, 29)

Substitutes Not Used: GK Boyd, D Goralski, D Morse, D St. Georges, M Stevens, M Stanton, M Mautz, F Doniak

TOTAL SHOTS: 5 (DiBernardo, 2); SHOTS ON GOAL: 2 (Johnson, Woldmoe, 1); FOULS: 9 (Gautrat, 3); OFFSIDES: 2; CORNER KICKS: 1; SAVES: 6

Referee: Ekaterina Koroleva
Assistant Referees: Deleana Quan, Meghan Mullen
4th Official: Samantha Martinez
Attendance: 15,832
Weather: Cloudy, 63 degrees

All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial

Notes:

  • Portland closed out the regular season in first place with a record of 13-6-5 (44 pts).
  • Thorns FC set a new NWSL single-season record for shutouts (13).
  • Thorns FC finished the season with their second-most wins in club history (13), behind the 14 they recorded in 2017.
  • Portland conceded the fewest goals in NWSL this season (17).
  • Portland’s 17 goals allowed in the regular season is the fewest in club history, and tied the NWSL record for fewest goals allowed in a season (North Carolina, 2018).
  • Thorns FC registered the second-most goals in the regular season (33). 
  • Angela Salem was named the Supporters Player of the Year.
  • Salem is the only player to appear in all 24 matches this year.
  • Bella Bixby had the second-most shutouts in the NWSL this season (9).
  • Sophia Smith led the team in chances created today with four.
  • Christine Sinclair registered a team-high 11 possessions gained. 
  • Sinclair has played in every Thorns FC playoff game in club history (10). She is one of three players in league history to appear in 10 or more postseason matches. 
  • Bella Bixby, Simone Charley, Natalia Kuikka, Rocky Rodríguez, Yazmeen Ryan, Sophia Smith and Morgan Weaver all appeared in their first NWSL playoff game.
Western Rivals Pack

Western Rivals Pack

Welcome Western Conference foes FC Dallas, Real Salt Lake and Colorado Rapids to Providence Park with this pack.

One month free trial for MLS Season Pass on us

One month free trial for MLS Season Pass on us

Click above to redeem and start watching the Portland Timbers every week on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV