BROADCAST INFORMATION
Broadcast:go90.com and go90 app (United States), NWSLsoccer.com (International)
Broadcast talent: Tyler Terens (play-by-play), Matt Stubbington (analyst)
MATCH INFORMATION
Date: Saturday, June 17, 2017
Kickoff: 7 p.m. (Pacific)
Location: Providence Park (Portland, Ore.)
Forecast: Cloudy, 74 degrees
Referee: Timothy Ford
Assistant Referees: Deleana Quan, JJ Blodgett Fourth Official: Cephas Quartson
MATCH PREVIEW
Following an international break, Portland Thorns FC return to action, squaring off against Sky Blue FC for a second straight match after earning a 2-0 win on the road in their last game before the break on June 3.
Thorns FC enter Saturday’s match unbeaten in their last six games (3-0-3), including consecutive wins. Additionally, Portland has not lost in its last eight regular-season home contests (7-0-1).
Portland has found an offensive spark, scoring two goals in three straight matches. Thorns FC have scored two or more goals in nine of their last 12 games, dating back to last season.
LAST MATCH RECAP
Behind a first-half brace from midfielder Lindsey Horan, Thorns FC picked up their first win on the road this season and extended their unbeaten streak to six games with a 2-0 win against Sky Blue FC on June 3. Horan delivered the game-winning goal in the 20th minute, sending a diving header into the far right corner as she connected with a well-placed free kick from Nadia Nadim. Portland doubled its lead in the 42nd minute when Horan got on the end of cross delivered from the left flank to the near post by Meghan Klingenberg. Goalkeeper Adrianna Franch made five of her six saves in the second half, including a stop on a Sarah Killion penalty kick to preserve the shutout.
SERIES HISTORY
Saturday’s match marks the 13th meeting all-time between Portland and Sky Blue FC, and the second of back-to-back matches this season. Thorns FC have won four out of the last six meetings, including three straight and have outscored Sky Blue FC in the last three matches 7-2. The last time these two teams squared off at Providence Park on July 2, 2016, Portland registered a 2-1 win behind goals from Dagny Brynjarsdottir and Nadia Nadim.
SCOUTING SKY BLUE FC
Sky Blue FC (4-4-1, 13pts) visits Portland as part of stretch of three of its next four games on the road and has played well as of late with three wins in its last five matches. This season, Sky Blue FC has posted a record of 1-3-1 on the road. Sky Blue FC is one of the top attacking teams in the league, ranking third in the NWSL with 12 goals scored. Midfielder Sarah Killion leads the league with five goals, while forward Sam Kerr has tallied a team-best two assists to go along with two goals for Sky Blue FC. Rookie goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan has shown well in her first season, ranking third in the NWSL in saves with 35.
