KANSAS CITY, Kan. – Bella Bixby made two saves to pick up her seventh clean sheet of 2021 and Portland Thorns FC battled Kansas City NWSL to a scoreless draw Sunday afternoon at Legends Field.
- MATCHCENTER: Stats and Boxscore
MATCH MOMENTS
23' - CHANCE (POR) - Following a Portland corner kick, defender Natalia Kuikka collected the ball on the right wing and sent in a lofted cross that midfielder Lindsey Horan headed down but just wide of the left post.
45' - SAVE (POR) - Portland goalkeeper Bella Bixby made a quick save to her left on a hard shot from Darian Jenkins near the edge of the area.
53' - CHANCE (POR) - With Portland on the attack, Meghan Klingenberg fired a shot towards goal but it was deflected by a KC defender up and over the bar.
59' - CHANCE (POR) - Midfielder Rocky RodrÃguez hit a skipping shot from 30-yards out that narrowly missed the near post.
75' - CHANCE (POR) - Midfielder Angela Salem's corner kick found Morgan Weaver on the back post who snapped her header down that forced a reaction save from KC goalkeeper Adrianna Franch.
85' - PK MISS (POR) - Weaver was brought down in the box and a penalty was awarded. Christine Sinclair stepped to the spot but her low shot went off the left goalpost and away.
90+2' - CHANCE (POR) - Klingenberg whipped in a late cross that Simone Charley flicked on frame but France made a diving save to her right to catch it.
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The Thorns return home on Wednesday, Oct. 13 to host OL Reign at Providence Park (7:30pm PT, TICKETS, FOX 12 PLUS, Paramount+)
Portland Thorns FC (12-6-3, 39pts) vs. KC NWSL (2-12-6, 12pts)Â
Oct. 10, 2021 – Legends Field (Kansas City, Kan.)
Scoring Summary:Â
None
Misconduct Summary:Â
None
Lineups:
POR: GK Bixby, D Kuikka (Hubly, 90+3), D Menges, D Sauerbrunn, D Klingenberg, M Salem, M Horan (Ryan, 71), M RodrÃguez, M Dunn (Weaver, 61), F Sinclair ©, F S. Smith (Charley, 61)
Substitutes Not Used: GK A. Smith, M Everett, M Boureille, M Moultrie, F Lussi
TOTAL SHOTS: 18 (Horan, 4); SHOTS ON GOAL: 2 (Charley, Weaver, 1); FOULS: 10 (RodrÃguez, 4); OFFSIDES: 2; CORNER KICKS: 5; SAVES: 2
KC: GK Franch, D K. Pickett, D Ball, D Corsie ©, D Mace, M Scott, M Bowen (Del Fava, 77), M Edmonds (McCain, 72), M LaBonta, F Jenkins (Larroquette, 83), F Hamilton
Substitutes Not Used: GK Rowland, D Miramontez, D Leach, D Maemone, M Nolf, F Silva
TOTAL SHOTS: 9 (LaBonta, Jenkins, 2); SHOTS ON GOAL: 2 (Hamilton, Jenkins, 1); FOULS: 8 (LaBonta, 2); OFFSIDES: 3; CORNER KICKS: 2; SAVES: 2
Referee: Alyssa Nichols
Assistant Referees: Maggie Short, Melissa Beck
4th Official: Velimir Stefanovic
Weather: Mostly sunny, 82 degrees
Notes:
- Portland became the first team to clinch a spot in the 2021 NWSL Playoffs.
- Thorns FC have qualified for the playoffs in five consecutive seasons.
- Portland had a penalty kick attempt in the 85th minute. Christine Sinclair’s attempt went off the post.
- Mark Parsons has qualified for the playoffs in every season he has served as the head coach from the beginning of the season. Parsons took 12 games into the 2013 season with the Washington Spirit.
- Portland has earned a berth in the postseason seven times in eight regular seasons – the most of any club in the NWSL.
- Thorns FC recorded their 11th shutout of the season, tying the club’s single season record.
- Portland has six shutouts on the road in 2021, which is the second-most in the league.
- Bella Bixby registered her seventh shutout of the campaign. She ranks second in the NWSL in shutouts this season.
- Meghan Klingenberg surpassed 10,000 career minutes played in the match. She is the 26th player in NWSL history to reach this milestone.
- Portland finished the 2021 campaign unbeaten in three regular-season matches against KC NWSL, posting a record of 2-0-1 with three clean sheets.
- Rocky Rodriguez and Angela Salem appeared in their 20th match for Thorns FC this season. They are the only two players to appear in every match.
