Forward Morgan Weaver scored her third goal of the tournament, but the Thorns' 2-1 loss at Angel City FC eliminated the club from advancing out of the group stage of the UKG Challenge Cup.
LOS ANGELES – Portland Thorns FC were unable to rally from a deficit, falling 2-1 on the road to Angel City FC in UKG NWSL Challenge Cup play at BMO Stadium on Saturday night. Morgan Weaver scored Portland’s lone goal in the match – her third of the tournament. Portland nearly equalized late in the second half after Olivia Moultrie won a penalty kick, but her attempt from the spot was saved in the 84th minute. With the loss, Portland has been eliminated from the Challenge Cup, but will conclude group play in the West Division on the road against OL Reign on Aug. 6.
Weaver Time
Weaver scored her third goal of the 2023 Challenge Cup and her sixth career goal in all-time Challenge Cup play. Her six goals are fourth-most in the history of the tournament, while her three goals in 2023 are tied for the most in this year’s edition. The Portland forward has scored in back-to-back games. Notably, Weaver has three goals in four career Challenge Cup games against Angel City FC.
Goal-Scoring Plays
ACFC – Savannah McCaskill (Jasmyne Spencer), 9th minute: Jasmyne Spencer drifted out wide on the right wing and received the ball in space. Spencer surged toward the edge of the box, delivering a cross to the center of the box for Savannah McCaskill, who directed the ball with a header inside the right post.
POR – Morgan Weaver (Natalia Kuikka), 44th minute: On the counterattack, Hannah Betfort received the ball in the center of the field. Betfort dribbled forward and played the ball into the box for Natalia Kuikka, making a run down the right side of the box. Kuikka pulled the ball back for Morgan Weaver, who sent a curling strike into the top right corner of the goal.
ACFC – Savannah McCaskill, 47th minute: Direct off a free kick, McCaskill unleashed a well-placed free kick from 25 yards just inside the right post.
Notes
- Weaver has scored in all three matches across all competitions against Angel City in 2023.
- Weaver has three goals in four career Challenge Cup matches against Angel City.
- Weaver scored her sixth career Challenge Cup goals, which ranks as the fourth-most in the history of the tournament.
- Weaver has a team-high three goals in the 2023 Challenge Cup.
- Weaver is tied for the Challenge Cup lead in goals with Debinha, Savannah DeMelo, Kristen Hamilton and Brittany Ratcliffe.
- With the goal, Weaver equaled the record for a Portland player in the tournament, matching Sophia Smith’s three goals from the 2022 Challenge Cup.
- Kuikka notched her second career Challenge Cup assist. She joins Meghan Klingenberg as one of two players with multiple Challenge Cup assists.
- Kuikka is the sixth player to register an assist for Portland in the 2023 Challenge Cup.
- Kelli Hubly became the third player to start 20 career Challenge Cup matches.
- Taylor Porter and Reyna Reyes are the only two Thorns FC player to start every Challenge Cup match in 2023.
- As a team, Thorns FC have scored 26 goals in the Challenge Cup. That ranks as tied for the second-most in Challenge Cup history.
- Kayla Morrison made her NWSL debut as a second-half substitute.
Next Game
Thorns FC conclude UKG NWSL Challenge Cup play with a road match against OL Reign at Lumen Field on Sunday, Aug. 6; kickoff is set for 3 p.m. (Pacific) on Paramount+.
Portland Thorns FC (2-3-0, 6pts) at Angel City FC (2-2-1, 7pts)
(UKG NWSL Challenge Cup)
July 29, 2023 – BMO Stadium (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Scoring Summary:
ACFC: McCaskill (Spencer), 9
POR: Weaver (Kuikka), 44
ACFC: McCaskill, 47
Misconduct Summary:
ACFC: Eddy (caution), 38
Lineups:
POR: GK Bixby, D Kuikka (D’Aquila, 46), D Hubly, D Menges, D Klingenberg (Nally, 69), M Porter, M Coffey ©, M Moultrie, M Reyes (Morrison, 85), F Betfort (Walker, 69), F Weaver (Beckman, 46)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Hogan, D Provenzano, D McGrady, M Dehakiz
TOTAL SHOTS: 17 (Moultrie, 4); SHOTS ON GOAL: 8 (Moultrie, Weaver, 2); FOULS: 9 (Three players tied, 2); OFFSIDES: 1; CORNER KICKS: 5; SAVES: 3
ACFC: GK Anderson, D Spencer (Hill, 75), D Gorden, D Nielsen, D Reid, M Hammond (Nabet, 66), M McCaskill (Le Bihan, 57), M Weatherholt ©, F Camberos (Emslie, 75), F Eddy (Pluck, 66), F Johnson
Substitutes Not Used: GK Isenhour, GK Haracic, M Henry
TOTAL SHOTS: 14 (Three players tied, 3); SHOTS ON GOAL: 6 (McCaskill, 3); FOULS: 16 (Camberos, Johnson, 4); OFFSIDES: 2; CORNER KICKS: 9; SAVES: 7
Referee: Brandon Stevis
Assistant Referees: Noah Kenyawani, Alicia Messer
Fourth Official: Adam Zarrin
VAR: Kevin Terry Jr.
Weather: Sunny, 79 degrees
Attendance: 13,154
All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial`
