MATCH RECAP | Thorns FC open 2022 regular season with big 3-0 win over Kansas City Current

PORTLAND, Ore. – Morgan Weaver, Christine Sinclair and Sophia Smith all scored as Portland Thorns FC opened their 10th NWSL regular season with a resounding 3-0 victory over the visiting Kansas City Current Saturday afternoon at Providence Park.

• MATCHCENTER: Stats and Boxscore

Match Moments

3' - CHANCE (POR) - Meghan Klingenberg sent a corner kick to the far side of the KC 18-yard box where Janine Beckie collected. She settled the ball and hit a curling left-footed shot on goal but Current goalkeeper Adrianna Franch made the save.

8' - GOAL (POR) - The Thorns took a 1-0 lead in the eighth minute with some beautiful combination play. Kelli Hubly chipped a ball upfield that Rocky Rodríguez gently took down in traffic. She pushed a ball out left to Christine Sinclair to rush in on and fire a shot on goal. Franch made the save but Morgan Weaver was there to jump on the rebound and score into an open net.

33' - CHANCE (POR) - A chipped ball up to Weaver was mis-played but the KC backline. Weaver rounded onto the loose ball and arrowed a shot on goal from a tight angle, forcing Franch to jump and parry over the bar.

34' - GOAL (POR) - A minute later, following the ensuing corner, Portland patiently moved the ball around the edge of the area, eventually getting to Natalia Kuikka on the right side. Her far post cross found Weaver in traffic but the ball fell to Sinclair who smashed it into the back of the net for a 2-0 lead.

45+2' - CHANCE (POR) - Moments before the halftime whistle, Rodríguez attempted a low-driving shot from atop the arc that Franch dove to her left to save.

51' - GOAL (POR) - Sophia Smith, who came in at the half, uncorked a dipping, swerving shot that sailed into the top corner for a 3-0 Thorns lead.

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The Thorns continue their 2022 season next Saturday when they travel to take on the North Carolina Courage on May 7 (4pm PT, Paramount+).

Portland Thorns FC (1-0-0, 3pts) vs. KC Current (0-1-0, 0pts) 
April 30, 2022 – Providence Park (Portland, Ore.)

Scoring Summary: 
POR: Weaver, 8
POR: Sinclair, 34
POR: S. Smith, 51

Misconduct Summary:
None

Lineups:
POR: GK Bixby, D Menges, D Hubly, D Nally, M Klingenberg (Pogarch, 82), M Coffey, M Kuikka, M Rodríguez (Sugita, 46), M Sinclair © (Ryan, 81), F Beckie (S. Smith, 46), F Weaver (Everett, 74) 

Substitutes Not Used: GK A. Smith, D Provenzano, M Porter, M Moultrie

TOTAL SHOTS: 19 (S. Smith, 4); SHOTS ON GOAL: 12 (four players tied, 2); FOULS: 6 (six players tied, 1); OFFSIDES: 1; CORNER KICKS: 6; SAVES: 1

KC: GK Franch, D Rodriguez, D Ball, D Winebrenner, D Weber, M Del Fava, M Edmonds, M Curran (Leach, 75), F McCain (Scott, 46), F Bennett (Hamilton, 65), F LaBonta (Pickett, 65)

Substitutes Not Used: GK Schneider, GK Miller, M Nolf

TOTAL SHOTS: 5 (five players tied, 1); SHOTS ON GOAL: 1 (Curran, 1); FOULS: 7 (LaBonta, 2); OFFSIDES: 0; CORNER KICKS: 3; SAVES: 9

Referee: Brandon Stevis
Assistant Referees: Christian Clerc, Matthew Schwartz
4th Official: Jacklyn Metz
Weather: Rain showers, 56 degrees

All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial