No wave can douse this fire

Thorns FC advance to the 2022 NWSL Championship with 2-1 win over San Diego Wave FC

Portland Thorns FC advanced to the 2022 NWSL Championship with a 2-1 win over San Diego Wave FC, earning their league-leading sixth playoff win in club history, on Sunday afternoon at Providence Park. After conceding early in the match, Rocky Rodríguez helped Portland equalize in the 20th minute. The match saw the next 73 minutes remain scoreless, until Crystal Dunn netted the game winner in the 93rd minute to secure Portland’s spot in the final. \

Thorns FC will face the KC Current in the championship match at Audi Field in Washington D.C., on Saturday, Oct. 29 at 5 p.m. (Pacific) on CBS.

Championship Appearances

With the win, Thorns FC are the first team in league history to qualify for four NWSL Championship games (2013, 2017, 2018, 2022). Portland has advanced to the final more than any team in league history. This will mark Thorns FC’s first appearance in the NWSL Championship game since 2018 when the team played in the final at Providence Park. Portland’s other two trips to the NWSL Championship were on the road (2013, 2017), both of which they won.

Home Semifinals

Today’s match marked the fifth time (2016, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022) Portland has played host to a home NWSL semifinal match. Thorns FC have won three of their last four home semifinal playoff games, advancing to the NWSL Championship in 2017 and 2018 after earning victories at Providence Park. In five NWSL semifinals at Providence Park, Portland has scored multiple goals in four of those matches (2016, 2017, 2018, 2022).

Legends and Bangers

Rodríguez scored her first career NWSL playoff goal and her third of the 2022 campaign. Rodríguez is the first NWSL player with a goal from outside the box in a home playoff game since Denise O’Sullivan for North Carolina in 2017. Crystal Dunn registered her fifth career NWSL playoff goal, which ranks as second most in league history and first amongst active NWSL players (Amy Rodriguez – 6). Dunn also became the first player in league history to score playoff goals for three different teams (POR, NC, WAS). It marked Dunn’s first goal of the 2022 campaign and came just 156 days after giving birth to her son Marcel. Christine Sinclair featured in her 11th career NWSL playoff game today, setting a new league record for postseason appearances.

Goal-Scoring Plays

SD – Taylor Kornieck (Alex Morgan), 8th minute: *From the right sideline, Alex Morgan lofted a cross into the middle of the six-yard box, picking out Taylor Kornieck to finish with her head.

POR – Rocky Rodríguez, 20th minute: *San Diego attempted to clear the ball from the box following a corner kick. Rodríguez settled the ball out of the air and fired a half volley from distance into the upper-right hand corner of the goal.

POR – Crystal Dunn, 90+3 minute: *Off a Thorns FC corner kick, San Diego was unable to clear the ball, but Crystal Dunn pounced on the loose ball at the top of the 18-yard box and drilled a one-time shot into the upper-left corner of the goal.

Click here for full stats and play-by-play summary.

Notes:

• With the win, Thorns FC are the first team in league history to qualify for four NWSL Championship games (2013, 2017, 2018, 2022).
• Today’s result marked Thorns FC’s sixth playoff win in club history, a new league best.
• Portland has advanced to the final more than any team in league history.
• This will mark Thorns FC’s first appearance in the NWSL Championship game since 2018 when the team played in the final at Providence Park.
• Portland’s other two trips to the NWSL Championship were on the road (2013, 2017), both of which they won.
• Today’s match marked the fifth time (2016, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022) Portland has played host to a home NWSL semifinal match.
• Thorns FC have won three of their last four home semifinal playoff games, advancing to the NWSL Championship in 2017 and 2018 after earning victories at Providence Park.
• In five NWSL semifinals at Providence Park, Portland has scored multiple goals in four of those matches (2016, 2017, 2018, 2022).
• Rocky Rodríguez scored her first career NWSL playoff goal.
• It marked Rodríguez’s third goal of the 2022 campaign.
• Rodríguez is the first NWSL player with a goal from outside the box in a home playoff game since Denise O’Sullivan for North Carolina in 2017.
• Crystal Dunn registered her fifth career NWSL playoff goal, which ranks as second most in league history and first amongst active NWSL players (Amy Rodriguez – 6).
• Dunn also became the first player in league history to score playoff goals for three different teams (POR, NC, WAS).
• The goal marked Dunn’s first of the 2022 campaign and came just 156 days after giving birth to her son Marcel.
• Christine Sinclair featured in her 11th career NWSL playoff game today, setting a new league record for postseason appearances.
• Hina Sugita, Sam Coffey, Kelli Hubly and Janine Beckie each made their NWSL playoffs debut in the match.
• Crystal Dunn appeared in her first playoff match with Portland and her ninth overall.