HARRISON, N.J. – Portland Thorns FC pulled a goal back in the second half after trailing 2-0 but were unable to find a late equalizer, falling 2-1 to NJ/NY Gotham FC on Sunday afternoon. Hannah Betfort tallied her first goal of the season, while Meghan Klingenberg notched her third assist of the campaign.
Goals+Assists
Betfort’s goal was her first of the campaign. She is the 13th different player to score a goal for Portland in 2023. Notably, Thorns FC have scored in 14 of their 15 regular season matches this campaign. Klingenberg provided the assist on Betfort’s goal. The assist was her third of the season and her 20th career assist with the club. Klingenberg is one of two players in club history with 20 or more assists and the sixth player in the league history to record 20 assists all with the same team.
Goal-Scoring Plays
NJNY – Allie Long, 21st minute: Jenna Nighswonger delivered a cross from the right corner of the box. The ball took a deflection off Meghan Klingenberg’s head and landed at the back post for Allie Long, who converted near the goal line.
NJNY – Katie Stengel, 56th minute: Nighswonger played a deep cross into the center of the box. Midge Purce delivered a looping header that was initially saved by
Thorns FC goalkeeper Bella Bixby, but Katie Stengel pounced on the loose ball and finished the rebound.
POR – Hannah Betfort (Meghan Klingenberg), 62nd minute: Hannah Betfort stayed with the play as Gotham FC’s Ali Krieger attempted to clear the ball. Betfot laid the ball off to Meghan Klingeberg, who played it back to Betfort making a run down the left side. Betfort turned and curled a shot into the bottom right corner of the goal.
Next Game
The NWSL will take a mandatory league-wide break and Thorns FC will return to action with an UKG NWSL Challenge Cup match at Providence Park on Friday, July 21, against San Diego Wave FC. The July 21 match kicks off at 7:30pm PT (TICKETS) with a broadcast available on Paramount+.
Notes:
- Hannah Betfort tallied her first goal of the 2023 season.
- Betfort is the 13th player to score a goal for Thorns FC this campaign.
- Meghan Klingenberg tallied her 20th career assist for Portland.
- Klingenberg is the sixth player in NWSL history to register 20 assists with the same club.
- Klingenberg joins Tobin Heath (24) as one of two players in club history with 20 or more career assists.
- The assist for Klingenberg was her third assist of 2023.
- Portland has five players with three or more assists this season, more than any other team in the NWSL.
- Natalie Beckman made her regular season debut as a substitute in the match.
- Goalkeeper Bella Bixby made her 50th career NWSL appearance in the match. She is the fourth player (Sophia Smith, Natalia Kuikka, Morgan Weaver) to hit 50 NWSL appearances with Portland this season.
- Portland has scored in 14 of its 15 regular season matches, more games than any other team in the league.
Portland Thorns FC (7-4-4, 25pts) at NJ/NY Gotham FC (7-4-4, 25pts)
July 9, 2023 – Red Bull Arena (Harrison, N.J.)
Scoring Summary:
NJNY: Long, 21
NJNY: Stengel, 56
POR: Betfort (Klingenberg), 62
Misconduct Summary:
POR: Bixby (caution), 6
NJNY: Purce (caution), 27
Lineups:
POR: GK Bixby, D Kuikka, D Hubly, D Menges, D Reyes, M Klingenberg (Porter, 81), M Moultrie, M Coffey ©, F Vasconcelos (Betfort, 54), F D’Aquila (Beckman, 78), F Weaver
Substitutes Not Used: GK Hogan, D McGrady, D Nally, D Provenzano, D Morrison, M Dehakiz
TOTAL SHOTS: 12 (Weaver, 4); SHOTS ON GOAL: 5 (Weaver, 2); FOULS: 12 (Reyes, 2); OFFSIDES: 3; CORNER KICKS: 3; SAVES: 5
NJNY: GK Smith, D Freeman, D Jean, D Krieger ©, M Long, M Ryan (Shim, 81), M Martin, M Sheehan (Zerboni, 89), F Purce (López, 72), F Stengel (Kawasumi, 89), F Nighswonger
Substitutes Not Used: GK Betos, GK Haught, D Otto, M Gudmunsdóttir, F Hintzen
TOTAL SHOTS: 13 (Purce, 5); SHOTS ON GOAL: 7 (Purce, 4); FOULS: 7 (Purce, Stengel, 2); OFFSIDES: 0; CORNER KICKS: 8; SAVES: 4
Referee: Greg Dopka
Assistant Referees: Joe Suchoski, Rachel Smith
Fourth Official: Kenneth Rojas
VAR: Robi Hullner
Weather: Cloudy, 78 degrees
Attendance: N/A
All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial
