PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland Thorns FC booked their spot in the 2017 NWSL Championship game after downing the Orlando Pride 4-1 at Providence Park Saturday in front of a crowd of 18,193.
Paced by two first-half goals from Amandine Henry and Emily Sonnett and two second-half goals from Hayley Raso and Christine Sinclair, Portland will be heading to their first championship final since winning it in the club's inaugural season in 2013.
Tobin Heath, making her first start of 2017, contributed an assist along with Meghan Klingenberg,Lindsey Horan and Nadia Nadim also adding helpers in the victory.
Match Moments
12' - GOAL (POR) - The Thorns jumped out to a dream start as defender Meghan Klingenberg whipped in a cross with her right foot to the far post that midfielder Amandine Henry stretched to tap in and give Portland a 1-0 lead.
Just a little poke from @amandinehenry6. #BAONPDX#PORvORLpic.twitter.com/2egv96Ylvk
— Portland Thorns FC (@ThornsFC) October 7, 2017
15' - GOAL (POR) - Three minutes later, midfielder Tobin Heath–making her first start of 2017 following injury–curled in a pinpoint free kick that defender Emily Sonnett leaped high to flick on and into the back of the net for a 2-0 Thorns lead.
A thing of beauty. #BAONPDX#PORvORLpic.twitter.com/hwsi2yFx9K
— Portland Thorns FC (@ThornsFC) October 7, 2017
23' - GOAL (ORL) - The Pride pulled a goal back as Orlando worked a corner kick from the right that was flicked on by Toni Pressley to Alanna Kennedy who headed it in to make the score 2-1.
71' - GOAL (POR) - Thorns FC midfielder Hayley Raso, sprung by a gorgeous through ball from Lindsey Horan, sped in on goal alone and fired her shot into the right side to give Portland a 3-1 lead.
Just Hayley Raso doing Hayley Raso things. #BAONPDX#PORvORLpic.twitter.com/sE2C9PHKBA
— Portland Thorns FC (@ThornsFC) October 7, 2017
82' - GOAL (POR) - Forward Nadia Nadim, just subbed on a few moments before, lofted a cross to the back post to an open Christine Sinclair. Sinclair took a touch and scored in the lower right corner to put the Thorns up 4-1.
The Thorns will now host the winner of the North Carolina Courage-Chicago Red Stars semifinal next week on Oct. 14, 2017 in Orlando at Orlando City Stadium in the 2017 NWSL Championship (1:30pm PT, Lifetime).
Portland Thorns FC vs. Orlando Pride – NWSL Semifinal
Oct. 7, 2017 – Providence Park (Portland, Ore.)
Goals by Half 1 2 F
Orlando Pride 1 0 1
Portland Thorns FC 2 2 4
Scoring Summary
POR: Henry (Klingenberg), 12
POR: Sonnett (Heath), 15
ORL: Kennedy (Pressley), 23
POR: Raso (Horan), 71
POR: Sinclair (Nadim), 82
Misconduct Summary
POR: Henry (caution), 80
Lineups & Stats
POR: GK Franch, D Reynolds, D Sonnett, D Menges, D Klingenberg, M Henry (Long, 81), M Horan, M Sinclair ©, F Sykes (Brynjarsdottir, 67), F Raso, F Heath (Nadim, 80)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Eckerstrom, D Boureille, F Weber, F Lussi
TOTAL SHOTS: 11 (Sinclair, 3); SHOTS ON GOAL: 6 (Henry, Sonnett, 2); FOULS: 15 (Henry, Horan, 3); OFFSIDES: 5; CORNER KICKS: 4; SAVES: 0
ORL: GK Harris, D Edmonds (Evans, 89), D Monica, D Krieger, D Catley, D Pressley, M Weatherholt (Spencer, 81), M Kennedy, M Ubogagu (Hill, 73), F Marta, F Morgan
Substitutes Not Used: GK Bledsoe, M Driesse, M Blankenship, F Fields
TOTAL SHOTS: 13 (Pressley, 4); SHOTS ON GOAL: 1 (Kennedy, 1); FOULS: 4 (Monica, 2); OFFSIDES: 3; CORNER KICKS: 9; SAVES: 2
Referee: Timothy Ford
Assistant Referees: Deleana Quan, John Krill
4th Official: Farhad Dadkho
Attendance: 18,193
Weather: Cloudy, 60 degrees
All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial.
