PORTLAND, Ore.- Portland Thorns FC started the 2021 NWSL regular season with a resounding 5-0 victory over the Chicago Red Stars on Sunday at Providence Park. Sophia Smith scored twice and forced an own goal, all in the first 30 minutes of the match.
Christine Sinclair added a penalty kick, substitute Tyler Lussi scored, and Morgan Weaver delivered two assists in the blowout. Thorns FC thoroughly dominated the match, outshooting Chicago by a 22-to-four margin.
With the victory, Portland now has a 10-match unbeaten streak in all competitions, dating back to last season.
Match Moments
4' — GOAL (POR) — Sophia Smith whipped in a ball through the box after a short corner that was turned into the net by Chicago defender Tierna Davidson.
13' — GOAL (POR) — After Meghan Klingenberg was taken down in the area, Christine Sinclair smoothly finished a penalty kick under the outstretched arm of the goalkeeper. It was Sinclair's 15th goal against the Red Stars for her career.
16' — GOAL (POR) — Making her NWSL regular season debut, Smith gave Portland a three-goal advantage when she finished off a Morgan Weaver after a swift counter attack. Adrianna Franch started the break after diving to catch a Chicago pass, dropkicking over the Red Stars to a sprinting Weaver.
24' — SHOT (POR) — Thorns FC again threatened the goal when Smith backheeled the ball to Crystal Dunn, who then fired an angled shot from the top of box that sailed just over the bar.
30' — GOAL (POR) — It was again Weaver setting up Smith, when the two 2020 draft picks paired up to give Portland a four-goal advantage. Weaver played a ball through three Chicago defenders while Smith took care of the rest, putting the ball into the net with a left-footed shot.
40' — SHOT (POR) — Horan found herself unmarked on a Portland corner but her headed shot went wide.
45+1' — SHOT (POR) — Horan forced a save when she headed a Sinclair pass towards goal only to be denied by Alyssa Naeher.
54' — SHOT (POR) — Rocky Rodriguez forced a diving save from Naeher when the Costa Rican International fired a volley direct from a corner kick only to be denied by Naeher.
64' — SHOT (POR) — After coming into the match as a substitute, Simone Charley fired a left-footed shot wide of target after being set up by fellow substitute, Tyler Lussi.
72' — GOAL (POR) — Lussi added to the lead when she was first to react to Naeher being unable to corral a Sinclair shot. The Portland forward took one touch to get the ball over the keeper and then fired home from inches away from goal.
90+1' — SHOT (POR) — Dunn forced a late save from Naeher with a long-range shot.
Portland Thorns FC (1-0-0, 3pts) vs. Chicago Red Stars (0-1-0, 0pts.) - 2021 NWSL Regular Season
May 16, 2021 – Providence Park (Portland, Ore.)
Goals by Half 1 2 F
Portland Thorns FC 4 1 5
Chicago Red Stars 0 0 0
Scoring Summary:
POR: Own Goal (Davidson), 4
POR: Sinclair (Penalty Kick), 13
POR: Smith (Weaver, Franch), 16
POR Smith (Weaver), 30
POR: Lussi, 72
Misconduct Summary:
POR: Horan (caution), 64
Lineups:
POR: GK Franch, D Westphal, D Hubly, D Sauerbrunn , D Klingenberg (Pogarch, 82), M Dunn, M RodrÃguez (Salem, 62), M Horan (Boureille,83), F Smith (Charley, 62), F Weaver (Lussi, 62), F Sinclair ©
Substitutes Not Used: GK Bixby, D Menges, D Kuikka, F Everett
TOTAL SHOTS: 22 (Four players tied, 4); SHOTS ON GOAL: 10 (Three players tied, 2); FOULS: 7 (Horan, Lussi, 2); OFFSIDES: 2; CORNER KICKS: 10; SAVES: 1
CHI: GK Naeher, D Wright (Milazzo, 45), D Gorden, D Davidson, D Short, M Colaprico (Stanton, 83), M DiBernardo, M Ertz © (Hill, 29), F Pugh (Doniak, 73), F Johnson (Woldmoe, 45), F Ohai
Substitutes Not Used: GK Miller, D Sharples, F Luebbert
TOTAL SHOTS: 4 (DiBernardo, 3); SHOTS ON GOAL: 1 (DiBernardo, 1); FOULS: 8 (Doniak, Pugh, 2); OFFSIDES: 1; CORNER KICKS: 2; SAVES: 6
Referee: Ekaterina Koroleva
Assistant Referees: Christian Clerc, CJ Koll
4th Official: Jacklyn Metz
Weather: Sunny, 83 degrees
All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial
Everything from Portland's Sunday win over Chicago:
