MATCH RECAP | Thorns FC, Current split points in Kansas City

KANSAS CITY, KS. - The drama came late in Kansas City as the Portland Thorns FC and Kansas City Current each scored goals after the 87th minute to draw 1-1 and split the points on a toasty Sunday afternoon in the Midwest.

Rocky Rodríguez delivered a late goal for the Thorns, which outshot the Current 28-11, but it was Kansas City's Hailie Mace who scored from a set piece with the game's last true opportunity to ensure both teams left Children's Mercy Park with a point.

• MATCHCENTER: Stats and Boxscore

Match Moments

6' - CHANCE (POR) - Bearing in on the left side of Kansas City's box, Sophia Smith dribbled past a couple of defenders before unleashing a shot that Adrianna Franch comfortably saved with a kick.

8' - CHANCE (POR) - Christine Sinclair nearly opened the scoring a minute later as the ball rolled into her path at the top of the box. Her shot went high and wide past Franch's goal.

16' - CHANCE (POR) - After some build-up play at the top of the box, Morgan Weaver unleashed a shot that hit side-netting.

18' - CHANCE (POR) - Running at goal, Yazmeen Ryan struck a driving shot that clanged off the top post, keeping the score at 0-0.

35' - CHANCE (POR) - Cutting in on goal, Weaver took a powerful shot with her right foot from close range, forcing a difficult sliding save by Franch.

38' - CHANCE (POR) - Given acres of space after receiving the ball in midfield, Sam Coffey elected to have a go from long range that forced a simple save out of Franch.

45+' - CHANCE (POR) - Quick on the break, the Thorns nearly found the back of the net after an individual display of transition combination play between Smith, Coffey, Ryan and Hina Sugita. Franch closed Smith's angle quickly to prevent a shot on target and a potential game-opening goal.

49' - CHANCE (POR) - About to take a shot in the box, Smith had the ball blocked away from behind.

51' - SAVE (POR) - Facing a shot from outside the box, Bella Bixby got down to make a save off the line.

59' - SAVE (POR) - Defending her near post Bixby makes another save, this time in a one-on-one situation against Lo'eau LaBonta

61' - CHANCE (POR) - With the ball falling to her feet off a set piece, Sinclair took a shot back across the goal that was saved once again by Franch.

65' - CHANCE (POR) - Smith went for the near post with a powerful shot at a tight angle that was saved by Franch. The ball rebounded to Sinclair in the box, but she sent her effort wide.

70' - SAVE (POR) - Bixby's biggest save of the afternoon came with 20 minutes remaining. With Elyse Bennett racing at her, Bixby slid to clear the ball away with her foot.

87' - GOAL (POR) - Rodríguez finally found Portland's breakthrough three minutes from stoppage time. After winning the ball at the top of the box, Rodríguez took a shot that deflected off the far post and back into her path for a finish that finally beat Franch.

90+4' - GOAL (KC) - The Current cashed in on the final dangerous opportunity of the night with a set-pice goal, scored by Mace with a rocket at the top of the box.

-----------

With two regular-season games remaining, the Thorns return to Providence Park for a crucial two-game homestand, beginning Sept. 21 against Racing Louisville (7 p.m. PT, Paramount+, TICKETS).

Notes:

• Thorns FC recorded their 40th goal of the season in the match, tying the club’s single season record (2019, 2018).
• In five matchups all time, Portland is unbeaten against the Current (3-0-2).
• Thorns FC has the fewest road losses in the league this season (4-1-5).
• Portland has scored 19 goals on the road in 2022 – the most of any team in the league.
• Thorns FC have scored in all 10 of their road matches, recording multiple goals in seven of those games.
• Portland had a season best 29 shots in the match.
• Rocky Rodríguez registered her second goal of the season, and second in Portland’s last three matches.
• Rodríguez is Portland’s eighth player to tally two or more goals this season. 
• Portland is tied with the Chicago Red Stars for most players with two or more goals this season (8). 
• Sam Coffey finished the match with a game-high 12 possessions won.
• Christine Sinclair started her 150th NWSL match with Thorns FC.
• Sinclair is just the seventh player to start 150 regular-season games, and the third to do so with same club (Lauren Barnes & Jess Fishlock RGN).
• Kelli Hubly and Sugita are the only two players to appear in every match this season.
• Hubly has played every minute of every match during the regular season.

Portland Thorns FC (8-3-8, 32pts) vs. KC Current (9-5-6, 33pts) 
Sept. 18, 2022 – Children’s Mercy Park (Kansas City, Kan.)

Scoring Summary:
POR: Rodríguez, 87
KC: Mace (Edmonds), 90+4

Misconduct Summary:
KC: Bennett (caution), 73
POR: Sauerbrunn (caution), 90+3

Lineups:
POR: GK Bixby, D Kuikka, D Hubly, D Sauerbrunn, D Klingenberg, M Coffey, M Sugita, M Sinclair © (Rodriguez, 69), F Ryan (Beckie, 69), F Smith, F Weaver (Everett, 90)

Substitutes Not Used: GK A. Smith, D Nally, D McGrady, M Porter, M Moultrie, M Dunn

TOTAL SHOTS: 28 (Weaver, 7); SHOTS ON GOAL: 9 (Smith, 4); FOULS: 12 (Weaver, 3); OFFSIDES: 3; CORNER KICKS: 6; SAVES: 8

KC: GK Franch, D Loera (Leach, 90), D Edmonds, D Merrick, M Scott, M Mace, M Del Fava, M LaBonta (Bennett, 64), M Lavogez (Winebrenner, 90), F Kizer (Rodriguez, 64), F Hamilton (Curran, 80)

Substitutes Not Used: GK Schneider, GK Miller, M Logarzo, M McCain

TOTAL SHOTS: 11 (Lavogez, 3); SHOTS ON GOAL: 4 (four players tied, 1); FOULS: 10 (Mace, Curran, 2); OFFSIDES: 1; CORNER KICKS: 2; SAVES: 3

Referee: Calin Radosav 
Assistant Referees: Jennifer Garner, Matthew Seem
Fourth Official: Patricia McCracken
Weather: Sunny, 87 degrees
Attendance: n/a

All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial