Thorns suffer 1-0 defeat to OL Reign in 2023 UKG Challenge Cup

Thorns fall short at home, suffer 0-1 defeat to OL Reign in 2023 UKG Challenge Cup action.

PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland Thorns FC dropped a 1-0 result to OL Reign in UKG NWSL Challenge Cup play at Providence Park on Wednesday night. Thorns FC will return to regular season play this Saturday, July 1, playing host to the Kansas City Current at Providence Park.

Challenge Cup CompetitionPortland (1-2-0, 3pts) played its third match of the 2023 UKG NWSL Challenge Cup. Playing alongside San Diego Wave FC, Angel City and OL Reign in the West Division, Thorns FC have three remaining matches in the group stage – OL Reign away (Aug. 6), San Diego at home (July 21) and ACFC away (July 29). Tegan McGrady and Natalie Beckman made their 2023 debuts for Thorns FC in tonight’s match.

Goal-Scoring Plays
OLR – Elyse Bennett (Alyssa Malonson), 55th minute: Alyssa Malonson received a short pass off an OL Reign free kick and drove a diagonal ball towards the back post. Elyse Bennett fired a header across the goal and into the back of the net.

Notes:

• Tonight’s match snapped a 10-game unbeaten streak (8-0-2) across all competitions at home for Thorns FC, dating back to 2022. 
• Portland (1-2-0, 3pts) played its third Challenge Cup match tonight in the West Division and have three remaining group stage matches in the tournament.
• Thorns FC are 7-6-6 all-time in Challenge Cup play and 5-2-1 at Providence Park.
• Tonight marked the 35th matchup across all competitions between Portland and OL Reign. 
• Olivia Moultrie led the match in shots (4) and shots on goal (3).
• Reyna Reyes led Thorns FC in successful dribbles (3) and duels won (12).
• Sam Coffey led Portland in chances created (4) and possessions won (11).
• Tegan McGrady made her 2023 debut for Thorns FC.
• Natalie Beckman also made her 2023 debut for Portland. 
• Meaghan Nally will miss Portland’s next Challenge Cup match due to yellow card accumulation.

Portland Thorns FC (1-2-0, 3pts) vs. OL Reign (3-0-1, 10pts)
(NWSL Challenge Cup)
June 28, 2023 – Providence Park (Portland, Ore.)

Scoring Summary:
OLR: Bennett (Malonson), 55

Misconduct Summary:
POR: Nally (caution), 54

Lineups:
POR: GK Hogan, D Klingenberg (Klingenberg, 77), D Nally, D Hubly, D Reyes, M Coffey, M Porter (Provenzano, 77), M Moultrie, F Vasconcelos (Beckman, 63), F Betfort (Kuikka, 63), F D'Aquila

Substitutes Not Used: GK Bixby, GK Kozal, D Menges, F Weaver

TOTAL SHOTS: 9 (Moultrie, 4); SHOTS ON GOAL: 4 (Moultrie, 3); FOULS: 6 (Latsko, 3); OFFSIDES: 0; CORNER KICKS: 2; SAVES: 2

OLR: GK Ivory, D Malonson, D Holmes, D Hiatt (Barnes, 75), D Brown (Balcer, 75), M Canales, M Van der Jagt (McClernon, 70), M Weinert (Viggiano, 83), M Athens (Edwards, 76), M Latsko, F Bennett

Substitutes Not Used: GK Dickey, M Fishlock, M Luany, F King

TOTAL SHOTS: 7 (Weinert, 3); SHOTS ON GOAL: 3 (three players tied, 1); FOULS: 6 (Le Bihan, 4); OFFSIDES: 4; CORNER KICKS: 4; SAVES: 4

Referee: Matt Thompson
Assistant Referees: Tiffini Turpin, Sharon Gingrich
Fourth Official: Corbyn May
VAR: Kevin Broadley
Weather: Sunny, 83 degrees
Attendance: 16,252

All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial