SEATTLE, Wash. – Playing their first game following a 25-day league-wide break, Portland Thorns FC conceded an early goal against Seattle Reign FC and were unable to mount a comeback, falling 3-1 in front of 5,888 fans on Saturday afternoon at Memorial Stadium.
The match was the final of four regular-season meetings between Portland (8-3-5, 29pts) and Seattle (6-5-5, 23pts) this season and Thorns FC’s ninth road match of the 2016 season. Despite the loss – just their second on the road this season – Thorns FC still have the second best road record in the NWSL this season (3-2-4) and have scored in seven of their nine away from Providence Park.
Trailing after a pair of goals from Seattle Reign FC forward Manon Melis in the 27th and 50th minute, Portland registered 10 of their total 16 shots in the second half to make a late push in the game. Midfielder Allie Long, making her first appearance since a 2-1 win against the Orlando Pride on June 26, tallied her first goal of the 2016 season in the 91st minute when she got on the end of midfielder Tobin Heath’s delivery from a set piece and her right-footed flick from inside the area was placed over Reign FC goalkeeper Haley Kopmeyer to make it a 2-1 game.
After Portland pushed bodies forward looking for a late equalizer, Seattle made it a 3-1 game in the 94th minute after second-half substitute Megan Rapinoe’s left-footed shot from inside the 18-yard was placed into the back of the net.
Portland created a number of scoring opportunities in the first half as forward Nadia Nadim’ fired a header on frame that was saved by Kopmeyer in the third minute. After midfielder Lindsay Horan played a through ball that released Nadim behind the Seattle defense, Nadim’s shot was saved in the 11th minute. Heath threatened late in the first half for Portland after her low-driven shot from the left edge of the 18-yard box was saved by Kopmeyer in the 41st minute.
Thorns FC return to the Rose City for their next match at Providence Park on Sunday, Sept. 4, against the Boston Breakers. The match on Sept. 4 kicks off at 4 p.m. (Pacific) and will feature a live national broadcast on FS1.
Notes:
- Midfielder Allie Long and defender Katherine Reynolds appeared in their 75th career NSWSL match.
- With her sixth assist of the season, midfielder Tobin Heath became the third player in club history to register double-digit career assists (10).
- Defender Emily Menges and forward Nadia Nadim are the only two players to start all 16 matches for Portland this season.
- Goalkeeper Michelle Betos registered four or more saves in a match for the 12th time in her Thorns FC career.
Portland Thorns FC (8-3-5, 29pts) at Seattle Reign FC (6-5-5, 23pts)
Aug. 27, 2016 – Memorial Stadium (Seattle, Wash.)
Goals by Half 1 2 F
Portland Thorns 0 1 1
Seattle Reign FC 1 2 3
Scoring Summary
SEA: Melis (Kawasumi), 27
SEA: Melis (Yanez), 50
POR: Long (Heath), 90+2
SEA: Rapinoe (Fishlock), 90+4
Misconduct Summary
SEA: Barnes (Caution), 54
SEA: Fishlock (Caution), 65
POR: Reynolds (Caution), 71
Lineups & Stats
POR: GK Betos, D Reynolds, D Sonnett, D Menges, D Klingenberg, M Long, M Henry (Shim, 18), M Horan, M Weber (Raso, 76), M Heath ©, F Nadim
Substitutes Not Used: GK Franch, D Williamson, D Skogerboe, M Boureille, M Brynjarsdottir
TOTAL SHOTS: 16 (Heath, 5); SHOTS ON GOAL: 7 (Nadim, Long, 2); FOULS: 13 (Nadim, Weber, 3); OFFSIDES: 3; CORNER KICKS: 8; SAVES: 4
SEA: GK Kopmeyer, D Fletcher, D Barnes, D Utsugi, M Kawasumi, (Rapinoe 78), M Winters © (Pickett, 89), M Fishlock, M Little, M Yanez, F Mathias, F Melis (Dallstream, 76)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Elston, GK Tostanoski D Reed, M Solaun
TOTAL SHOTS: 18 (Melis, 4); SHOTS ON GOAL: 7 (Kawasumi, Melis, 2); FOULS: 9 (Fishlock, 3); OFFSIDES: 5; CORNER KICKS: 7; SAVES: 6
Referee: Rosendo Martinez
Assistant Referees: Alicia Messer, Francisco Bermudez
4th Official: Levi Rippy
Attendance: 5,888
Weather: Partly cloudy, 77 degrees
All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial.
