ORLANDO, Fla. – After falling behind early in the match, Portland Thorns FC rallied to score three unanswered goals in a 3-1 win against the Orlando Pride at Orlando City Stadium on Saturday night. Caitlin Foord notched her second goal of the season, while Andressinha and Dagny Brynjarsdottir recorded their first goals of the campaign to help Portland remain undefeated in 2019.
Recent form
Thorns FC (2-0-2, 8pts) extended their regular-season unbeaten streak to nine games (6-0-3), dating back to the 2018 season. Portland has scored two or more goals in eight of its last nine matches and all four of its matches in 2019.
Against Orlando
Saturday’s match marked the second meeting of the season between Portland and Orlando, with Thorns FC recording a 2-0 win the first game between the two sides on April 14. With the win, Portland improved to 7-1-1 all-time against the Pride, scoring multiple goals in all seven of its wins. Thorns FC are undefeated in five road contests against Orlando, holding a record of 4-0-1. The two teams will meet for the third and final time in the regular season on July 14 at Providence Park.
Goal-scorers
With her finish, Foord has now tallied two goals and an assist in two matches against the Pride in 2019. Brynjarsdottir and Andressinha each scored their first goals of the season. The goal marked the first of Andressinha’s Thorns FC career since joining the club last season. Brynjarsdottir scored her first goal for Portland since finding the back of the net in a 3-2 win over the Western New York Flash on Sept. 11, 2016.
Road warriors
Sunday’s match marked the fourth consecutive road match for Portland as part of a stretch of six straight road games to begin the 2019 season. Dating back to Aug. 25, 2018, Thorns FC are unbeaten in their last six road matches (4-0-2).
Thorns firsts
Andressinha, Emily Menges, Britt Eckerstrom and Gabby Seiler each made their first starts of the 2019 NWSL season. The start for Seiler marked her first as a professional. Eckerstrom logged four saves in her first appearance of the campaign. Additionally, Hayley Raso made her first appearance of the season, playing 45 minutes as a second-half substitute.
Key plays
Orlando took a 1-0 lead in the 10th minute when Toni Pressley headed in Carson Pickett’s corner service from the right edge of the six-yard box.
Thorns FC nearly scored in the 19th minute when Celeste Boureille’s looping cross found Ana Crnogorcevic in space behind the Orlando backline, but her header missed just inches past the left post.
Portland tied the match at 1-1 in the 28th minute after Boureille’s shot from distance was deflected off the left post to inside the six-yard box. Brynjarsdottir was first to the rebound, placing her sliding finish past Orlando goalkeeper Haley Kopmeyer.
Thorns FC took a 2-1 lead in the 36th minute just after Ellie Carpenter was fouled on the edge of the 18-yard box. Andressinha’s ensuing free kick was curled into the top right corner of the net, scoring the club’s first goal from a free kick in 2019.
Portland added to its advantage in the 58th minute when a rebounded shot fell to Foord, who powered her volleyed shot past Kopmeyer into the lower right corner to give Thorns FC a 3-1 lead.
After second-half substitute Midge Purce was fouled inside the penalty area by Pressley, Foord’s ensuing penalty kick was saved by Kopmeyer in the 65th minute. Raso’s follow-up rebound shot was parried away by Kopmeyer from close range.
Next match
Thorns FC will return to action on Saturday, May 18, traveling for a road match against the Washington Spirit. Beginning at 4 p.m. (Pacific), the match will be broadcast on Yahoo! Sports.
Notes:
- Portland is unbeaten in its last nine regular-season matches (6-0-3), dating back to Aug. 11, 2018.
- Thorns FC extended their road unbeaten streak to six games (4-0-2), dating back to Aug. 25, 2018.
- Thorns FC have now scored two or more goals in four straight games matches to begin the 2019 season. Additionally Portland has scored two or more goals in its last five regular-season matches, dating back to a 3-1 win against the Seattle Reign on Sept. 7, 2018.
- In two matches against Orlando this season, Portland is 2-0-0. In those two matches, Thorns FC have outscored the Pride 5-1.
- Foord scored her second goal of the 2019 season. In two matches against Orlando this season, Foord has tallied two goals and an assist.
- Brynjarsdottir and Andressinha both scored their first goals of the 2019 season.
- In four career matches against Orlando, Brynjarsdottir has tallied three goals.
- Meghan Klingenberg made her 60th regular-season start for Portland, dating back to the 2016 season.
- Katherine Reynolds made her 50th regular-season start for Portland, dating back to the 2016 season.
- In her first start of the 2019 season, Eckerstrom finished the match with four saves.
2019 NWSL Regular Season
Portland Thorns FC (2-0-2, 8pts) vs. Orlando Pride (0-5-1, 1pt)
May 11, 2019 – Orlando City Stadium (Orlando, Fla.)
Goals by Half 1 2 F
Portland Thorns FC 2 1 3
Orlando Pride 1 0 1
Scoring Summary:
ORL: Pressley (Pickett), 10
POR: Brynjarsdottir, 28
POR: Andressinha, 36
POR: Foord, 57
Misconduct Summary:
ORL: Hill (caution), 35
POR: Boureille (caution), 61
ORL: Pickett (caution), 73
Lineups:
POR: GK Eckerstrom, D Carpenter, D Reynolds, D Menges ©, D Seiler, D Klingenberg, M Bourielle, M Brynjarsdottir, M Andressinha (Purce, 61), F Foord (Lussi, 88), F Crnogorcevic (Raso, 45)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Bixby, D Ball, D Hubly, M Salem
TOTAL SHOTS: 11 (Andressinha, Foord, 3); SHOTS ON GOAL: 5 (Foord, 2); FOULS: 8 (Three players tied, 2), OFFSIDES: 3; CORNER KICKS: 2; SAVES: 4
ORL: GK Kopmeyer, D Greening, D Reid, D Pressley, D Pickett, M Van Egmond, M Boyles, M Hill, M Weatherholt (Elinsky, 78), M Marta, F Ubogagu (Camila, 59)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Burdett, M Callahan, M Viggiano, F Evans
TOTAL SHOTS: 16 (Marta, 6); SHOTS ON GOAL: 5 (Marta, 2); FOULS: 17 (Hill, Weatherholt, 3); OFFSIDES: 3; CORNER KICKS: 8; SAVES: 1
Referee: Marie-Soleil Beaudoin
Assistant Referees: Kali Smith, Matthew Osterhouse
4th Official: Jasmine Peralta
Attendance: 4,369
Weather: Cloudy, 83 degrees
All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial
