MATCH INFORMATION
Date: Saturday, Aug. 26, 2017
Kickoff: 1 p.m. (Pacific)
Location: Memorial Stadium (Seattle, Wash.)
Forecast: Sunny, 78 degrees
Referee: Farhad Dadkho
Assistant Referees: Alicia Messer, Maggie Short Fourth Official: Kelsey Harms
Broadcast: nwslsoccer.com and go90.com
Broadcast talent: Mike Watts (play-by-play), Matt Pedersen (analyst)
MATCH PREVIEW
WIth just five matches remaining in the regular season, Portland Thorns FC travel to square off against Cascadia-rival Seattle Reign FC in the third meeting this season between the two sides on Aug. 26. Additionally, Saturday’s match is the first of three road matches for Portland in its last five regular-season contests.
Portland is currently second in the NWSL standings with 34 points, trailing the first-place North Carolina Courage (39pts) by five points, while holding onto a five-point lead over the Chicago Red Stars and Orlando Pride (29pts) for third place. Thorns FC currently hold the tiebreaker with Chicago for playoff positioning.
LAST MATCH RECAP
Portland registered its fifth straight home win, setting a new single-season record for consecutive home wins, defeating the Houston Dash 2-0 on Aug.19 at Providence Park. Lindsey Horan tallied the game-winning goal, her fourth of the season, while Amandine Henry scored for a second straight game to help Thorns FC secure the win. Meghan Klingenberg registered her team-leading fifth assist of the year, while Nadia Nadim returned to action for the first time at Providence Park since rejoining the club after the 2017 EUROs and recorded the assist on Henry’s goal. Additionally, Portland recorded its eighth clean sheet of the campaign, establishing a new single-season record for shutouts.
SERIES HISTORY
Saturday’s match is the third, and final regular-season meeting between Seattle and Portland. Thorns FC rallied to earn a 2-2 draw at Providence Park on May 6, while Reign FC recorded a 2-0 win at Memorial Stadium on July 1. Portland has earned at least a point in four of the last six meetings against Seattle as the two clubs meet for the 16th time this week.
SCOUTING SEATTLE
Reign FC return to Seattle after back-to-back road games, earning a 2-1 come- back win against Chicago on Aug. 16 before falling 5-4 on the road to Sky Blue FC on Aug. 19. Reign FC enter this week with one of the best home records (5-1- 4) in the league and also lead the league in goal scored (37). Seattle is without the second-leading scorer in the league Megan Rapinoe due to injury, but Reign FC forward Naho Kawasumi has provided six goals and eight assists.
