ORLANDO, Fla. - The Orlando Pride recorded their second regular-season victory of all-time over the Portland Thorns tonight, getting goals from Alex Morgan and Sydney Leroux en route to a 2-1 victory at Exploria Stadium. Portland's goal came from Simone Charley, her career's first regular-season score.
Portland regular-season record is now 1-2-0, and they return to the field on Sunday at NY/NJ Gotham FC.
Here is how the night unfolded:
- MATCHCENTER: Lineups | Play-by-play | Stats
Match Moments
14' — SHOT (POR) — There were few chances over the match's first quarter-hour, with Simone Charley's header at Ashlyn Harris the only shot either team put on target. The U.S. international saved the try, the Thorns' second of the match.
19' — SHOT (POR) — The match's first real moment of pause comes as a ball finds Christine Sinclair was space about the Orlando arc. After her trap and turn, Sinclair sends Harris diving toward her left post, though the shot goes just wide.
22' — GOAL (ORL) — Moments after Taylor Kornieck threatens Portland's goal, a lofted ball from the Pride midfielder puts Alex Morgan behind the Thorns defense. First time, Morgan hits her volley into the right-side netting, putting Orlando up, 1-0.
31' — SHOT (POR) — Good defensive work from Tyler Lussi wins a ball back in a dangerous area, with Crystal Dunn left with an open chance from 17 yards out. Harris gets her left foot on the shot, though, keeping her team in front.
42' — GOAL (POR) — There's the equalizer. Off a far-post cross from Natalia Kuikka, Simone Charley vaults over her Ali Rily and heads down for Portland's opener. It's 1-1.
45' — SUBSTITUTION (POR) — A change coming out of the break for Mark Parsons, who is bringing on forward Sophia Smith for Lussi.
46' — GOAL (ORL) — The Pride are back in front, and it only took 18 seconds after the second-half kickoff. Moving back toward her own goal, Kelli Hubly loses possession into her own penalty area. Sydney Leroux is there for Orlando and beats Adrianna Franch to make it 2-1.
60' — SUBSTITUTIONS (POR) — More changes for Parsons, but this time, they're at the back. Meghan Klingenberg is on for Madison Pogarch while Emily Menges gets her first regular-season minutes in place of Hubly.
70' — SUBSTITUTION (POR) — It's Rocky RodrÃguez's turn to come on. The Costa Rican international takes Angela Salem's place at the base of Portland's midfield. At the same time, Parsons uses his final sub, with Morgan Weaver on for Simone Charley.
80' — SHOT (POR) — It wasn't a difficult save, but the space Crystal Dunn created was notable. With a defender on her back at the edge of the 18-yard box, Dunn spins onto her left foot and fires near post. Harris gets down quick and smothers the shot.
88' — SHOT (POR) — Dunn nearly does it. After dispossessing a defender near the byline, Dunn dribbles back toward goal and gets under a shot for the far corner. The ball sails over the crossbar and out for a goal kick.
Notes:
- Portland is 9-2-1 all-time against Orlando, outscoring the Pride 24-12 across 12 matches.
- Simone Charley logged her first career regular season goal for the Thorns FC.
- Natalia Kuikka logged her first career assist for Portland in the match.
- Five Thorns FC players earned their first starts of the 2021 regular season: Charley, Kuikka, Madison Pogarch, Tyler Lussi and Angela Salem.
- Kuikka made her first start in a regular-season match for Portland.
- Emily Menges made her 2021 regular-season debut, logging 29 minutes.
- Thorns FC lost just their second game in its last 12 matches, dating back to the 2020 campaign.
Portland Thorns FC (1-2-0, 3pts) vs. Orlando Pride (2-0-1, 7pts)
May 26, 2021 – Exploria Stadium (Orlando, Fla.)
Goals by Half 1 2 F
Portland Thorns FC 1 0 1
Orlando Pride 1 1 2
Scoring Summary:
ORL: Morgan (Kornieck), 22
POR: Charley (Kuikka), 42
ORL: Leroux, 46
Misconduct Summary:
POR: Charley (caution), 28
POR: Salem (caution), 45+3
OLR: Harris (caution), 90+7
Lineups:
POR: GK Franch, D Kuikka, D Hubly (Menges, 61), D Sauerbrunn, D Pogarch (Klingenberg, 61), M Salem (RodrÃguez, 70), M Dunn, M Horan, M Sinclair ©, F Lussi (Smith, 45), F Charley (Weaver, 71)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Bixby, D Westphal, M Boureille, F Everett
TOTAL SHOTS: 21 (Dunn, Charley, 4); SHOTS ON GOAL: 8 (Charley, 3); FOULS: 9 (Horan, 3); OFFSIDES: 3; CORNER KICKS: 3; SAVES: 1
OLR: GK Harris ©, D Riley, D Krieger, D McClernon, D Petersen, M Jónsdóttir, M Marta (Haran, 85), M Dougherty Howard (Viggiano, 64), F Leroux (Washington, 90+1), F Morgan, F Kornieck
Substitutes Not Used: GK McLeod, D Plummer, D Pressley, M Tymrak, F Kim, F Thomas
TOTAL SHOTS: 12 (Leroux, 4); SHOTS ON GOAL: 3 (three players tied, 1); FOULS: 5 (Morgan, 2); OFFSIDES: 1; CORNER KICKS: 4; SAVES: 7
Referee: Lauren Rodriguez
Assistant Referees: Ashlee Varnson, Laura Waliski
4th Official: Alejo Calume
Weather: Partly cloudy, 91 degrees
All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial
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