SEATTLE, Wash. – Midielder Hina Sugita scored her third goal of the season as Portland Thorns FC played rival OL Reign to a 2-2 draw at Lumen Field on Sunday afternoon.
The Thorns are now unbeaten in their last seven games and continue their unbeaten record on the road during the regular season.
With the draw, the Thorns (4-1-6, 18pts) are just three points back of first place in the NWSL standings.
The club has not lost a game since late May, and five games of their seven-game unbeaten streak have come on the road.
The longtime rivals traded goals early in the match before Sugita scored a go-ahead goal off a well-placed cross by defender Meghan Klingenberg the 60th minute. OL Reign forward Bethany Balcer found the equalizer with a glancing header with just nine minutes left in the match.
The Thorns took an initial lead in 12th minute on an own goal by OL Reign. The home side equalized a minute later on Olivia Athens’ first professional goal.
Portland goalkeeper Bella Bixby made an NWSL Save of the Week-caliber stop in the 78th minute to push a driven header by OL Reign’s Jessica Fishlock over the cross bar.
Next Match
After consecutive away matches, the Thorns return home on Saturday, July 16, as they play host to NJ/NY Gotham FC at Providence Park, presented by Toyota; kickoff is 7:30 p.m. (Pacific). Tickets are available through SeatGeek.
Goalscoring Summary
12’ – Thorns took the lead early on an OL Reign own goal. Madison Pogarch’s cross into the box started the sequence.
13’ – OL Reign leveled a minute later when Olivia Athens scored her first professional goal. She took advantage of deflected ball and was able to holder offer defender to get a shot on target.
60’ – Klingenberg served a beautiful cross from the right side that found Sugita in-stride on the back post.
81’ – Balcer leveled the score, 2-2, with a glancing header inside the right post.
Portland Thorns FC (4-1-6, 18pts) vs. OL Reign (4-2-5, 17pts)
July 10, 2022 – Lumen Field (Seattle, Wash.)
Scoring Summary:
POR: McClernon (own goal), 12
RGN: Athens, 13
POR: Sugita (Klingenberg), 60
RGN: Balcer, 81
Misconduct Summary:
RGN: Fishlock (caution), 87
Lineups:
POR: GK Bixby, D Hubly, D Klingenberg ©, D Pogarch, D Nally (Provenzano, 73), M Ryan (Beckman, 73), M Coffey, M Moultrie, M Sugita, F Everett (Porter, 81), F Weaver (Betfort, 73, French, 90+6)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Hogan, GK A. Smith, D Shorts, M Byrne
TOTAL SHOTS: 16 (Weaver, 6); SHOTS ON GOAL: 4 (Four players tied, 1); FOULS: 9 (Ryan, 3); OFFSIDES: 2; CORNER KICKS: 3; SAVES: 2
RGN: GK Tullis-Joyce, D Barnes ©, D Hiatt, D McClernon, D Miramontez, M Athens (Watt, 63), M Canales (Latsko, 64), M Van der Jagt, M Little, M Fishlock, F Balcer
Substitutes Not Used: GK Ivory, D Malonson, D Reed, F Brown, F Heath, F Latsko
TOTAL SHOTS: 10 (Fishlock, 4); SHOTS ON GOAL: 4 (Balcer, 2); FOULS: 3 (Three players tied, 1); OFFSIDES: 1; CORNER KICKS: 3; SAVES: 3
Referee: Mark Allatin
Assistant Referees: Katarzyna Wasiak, Baboucarr Jallow
Fourth Official: Kelsey Harms
Weather: Sunny, 70 degrees
Attendance: 9,032
All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial
