PORTLAND, Ore. – Four goals from four different players. Four different players contributing assists on each of them.
On Saturday, Thorns FC downed Orlando Pride 4-1 in the NWSL Playoffs to advance to the 2017 NWSL Championship, and Portland was able to put on a clinic in terms of team depth across the board. The squad's energy went exactly to plan for Portland head coach Mark Parsons.
“What a group and team effort that was,” Parsons said after the match. “If you could draw up a playoff win to start off these playoffs, to have everybody involved and everyone impacting to influence the game like we did today, [that] would be the way you’d draw it up.
“I’m very proud of the group.”
Amandine Henry, Emily Sonnett, Hayley Raso and Christine Sinclair all found the back of the net for the Thorns with assists coming from Meghan Klingenberg (who led the team in assists during the regular-season), Tobin Heath (in her first start of the season coming back from injury), Lindsey Horan (who sprung Raso with a ball served from her own end) and Nadia Nadim (who came on in the second half in the 81st minute) all playing a key part in the win.
Moreover, the Thorns defensively allowed only one shot on goal in the match—Orlando’s lone tally—and smothered the Pride’s attack throughout the game.
It was the kind of depth and commitment that has Portland building strong momentum heading into the championship game and is something that Parsons has been working on all season.
“You look at the players that came on today, the way that they came on and the way they impacted the game,” he said. “It’s one thing to have depth, it’s another to have all-in depth and depth that is bought in, that is going to give to this club.”
Sinclair, whose 82nd minute goal helped ice the game, agreed.
“We’ve got some world-class players coming on to the field,” she said. “Obviously, Tobin—she missed pretty much the whole year—to have her here now back healthy, it’s like a whole player you’re adding to your team.
“To bring in someone like Nadia off the bench. She comes on and makes a huge impact right off, I think, with her first touch. Not many teams in this league have that type of depth.”
Now the Thorns find themselves preparing for their first NWSL Championship match since they won it all during their 2013 inaugural campaign. Coming off of last year’s heartbreaking playoff loss at home against the Western New York Flash in extra time, today’s win and the team effort in achieving the feat feels particularly sweet.
“Last year, we left our fans disappointed,” said Sinclair. “We were disappointed. All year, it was our focus to not only host a playoff game but then win it. It was, I think, a statement from us . . . We just killed it. It was an amazing team performance tonight.”
