SEATTLE, Wash. – Despite a first-half golazo from midfielder Angela Salem, Portland Thorns FC lost 2-1 to OL Reign Sunday at Lumen Field.
- MATCHCENTER: Stats and Boxscore
Match Moments
5' - CHANCE (POR) - Thorns FC forward Sophia Smith stayed strong on the ball as she went out wide right in the attacking third. She directed a cross to Christine Sinclair near the penalty spot but her shot went off the crossbar.
16' - GOAL (OLR) - The Reign took a 1-0 lead in the 16th minute as midfielder Megan Rapinoe was sprung into space with a throughball from Jessica Fishlock. Rapinoe cut the ball back to her right foot and then scored into the bottom corner of the Portland net.
40' - PK GOAL (OLR) - Rapinoe scored her second goal of the game on a penalty kick in the 40th minute. Referee Jon Freeman had pointed to the spot moments earlier for a hand ball call in the box against Portland's Natalia Kuikka.
45+4' - GOLAZO (POR) - The Thorns pulled a goal back on the final play of the first half with an amazing strike from midfielder Angela Salem. On a Portland free kick from the right side, the ball was headed to just outside the Reign's 18-yard box. Salem smashed the ball on a full volley whereupon it dipped and swerved into the far corner of the net.
71' - CHANCE (POR) - Portland's Becky Sauerbrunn carried the ball upfield before passing forward to Smith. Smith dribbled into the box and hit a rolling shot that was saved by Reign goalkeeper Sarah Bouhaddi.
74' - CHANCE (POR) - Thorns midfielder Lindsey Horan threaded a pass into Smith but her left-footed shot went just over the bar.
70' - SAVE (POR) - Thorns goalkeeper Bella Bixby tipped up and over the bar a well-taken shot from the Reign's Fishlock.
80' - CHANCE (POR) - Midfielder Crystal Dunn sent a weighted ball forward for Morgan Weaver to run on to but Reign's Bouhaddi came off her line to cut down the angle and deny the striker's sharp-angled shot.
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The Thorns return home on Sept. 4 when they host the Washington Spirit at Providence Park (7:30pm PT, FOX 12 PLUS, Paramount+).
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Portland Thorns FC (10-4-2, 32pts) vs. OL Reign (8-7-2, 25pts)
August 29, 2021 – Lumen Field (Seattle, Wash.)
Scoring Summary:
OLR: Rapinoe (Fishlock), 16
OLR: Rapinoe (penalty kick), 40
POR: Salem, 45+4
Misconduct Summary:
OLR: Huerta (caution), 3
OLR: McNabb (caution), 45+4
OLR: Angelina (caution), 87
POR: Kuikka (caution), 90+1
Lineups:
POR: GK Bixby, D Westphal (Pogarch, 63), D Menges (Hubly, 46), D Sauerbrunn, D Kuikka, M Rodríguez (Weaver, 46), M Salem, M Horan, M Dunn, F Sinclair ©, F S. Smith
Substitutes Not Used: GK Hogan, D Nally, D Betfort, M Moultrie, M Everett, M Ryan
TOTAL SHOTS: 19 (Smith, 6); SHOTS ON GOAL: 6 (Smith, Weaver, 2); FOULS: 10 (Kuikka, 3); OFFSIDES: 4; CORNER KICKS: 6; SAVES: 2
OLR: GK Bouhaddi, D McNabb, D Barnes, D Cook, D Huerta, M Quinn, M Fishlock, M Lavelle, F Rapinoe (Balcer, 83), F Marozsán (Angelina, 87), F Le Sommer (Cox, 90+2)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Tullis-Joyce, D Jiménez, D Hammond, D Brooks, M Weatherholt, M Cruz
TOTAL SHOTS: 15 (Rapinoe, 7); SHOTS ON GOAL: 4 (Rapinoe, 2); FOULS: 13 (Lavelle, 4); OFFSIDES: 0; CORNER KICKS: 8; SAVES: 5
Referee: Jon Freeman
Assistant Referees: Deleana Quan, Walter Heatherly
4th Official: Christian Cleric
Attendance: 27,278
Weather: Mostly Sunny, 75 degrees
All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial
Notes:
- Thorns FC (10-4-2) are at the top of the NWSL table with 32 points.
- Portland leads the NWSL in goals scored (24) during the 2021 campaign.
- Thorns FC have allowed the second-fewest goals in the NWSL (11) this season.
- Angela Salem recorded her third career goal, and second of the 2021 campaign.
- Sophia Smith led the team in shots with six.
- Crystal Dunn had a team-high six chances created.
- Tonight’s match marked Emily Menges’ 150th appearance for Portland across all competitions.
- Lindsey Horan made her 100th appearance across all competitions for Thorns FC.
- Portland recorded 15 or more shots for the 14th time in the regular-season.
