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 Portland Thorns FC

Thorns FC Advance to NWSL Championship with 2-1 Win over Seattle Reign FC at Providence Park

September 15, 2018 - National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)
Portland Thorns FC News Release


PORTLAND, Ore. - Scoring a goal in each half, Portland Thorns FC recorded their third straight win at home, extending their unbeaten run to six games overall, and advanced to their third NWSL Championship with a 2-1 win against Seattle Reign FC before 14,179 fans at Providence Park on Saturday afternoon in their semifinal playoff presented by Tillamook Yogurt. Portland erased a first-half deficit by receiving goals from Tobin Heath and Lindsey Horan, becoming the first team in NWSL history to make three championship finals.

2018 NWSL Championship

Portland will host the 2018 NWSL Championship, which will take place on Saturday, Sept. 22, at Providence Park, at 1:30 p.m. (Pacific) on Lifetime. Tickets are on sale now and are available for purchase by calling (888) 736-6849 or online at www.thornsfc.com.

Thorns FC will square off against the winner of the second semifinal between the North Carolina Courage and Chicago Red Stars, which is set for Tuesday, Sept. 18, at 6 p.m. (Pacific) at Providence Park on ESPNews. Tickets for the NWSL Semifinal match in Portland are $10 general admission and are on sale by calling (888) 736-6849 or online at https://nwsl.us/2Ogbz3Z.

Championship appearances

With the win, Thorns FC are the first team in league history to qualify for three NWSL Championship games in the six seasons. Portland won the inaugural NWSL Championship in 2013, defeating the Western New York Flash, 2-0. Thorns FC earned their second championship in 2017 with a 1-0 win over the North Carolina Courage.

Team form

With the victory, Thorns FC extended their unbeaten run to six games overall (5-0-1) dating back to Aug. 11. Notably, Portland is unbeaten in its last seven home games (5-0-2) dating back to June 27.

Heath form

Including the regular season, Heath has recorded a goal in five straight matches, the longest streak for consecutive games with a goal in club history. She has also tallied a point in seven consecutive matches (5g, 3a). Additionally, Heath has a goal in each of her last four matches at Providence Park.

Playoff stats

Heath and Horan each tallied their third career NWSL playoff goals in the match. Horan has tallied a goal or an assist in three consecutive playoff matches. Heath and Horan are tied with Christine Sinclair for the most playoff goals in club history. Notably, Horan and Heath are among six players in league history to have scored three or more goals in the NWSL playoffs.

Key plays

Starting the match on the front foot, Horan found Sinclair in space on the edge of the 18-yard box, but her shot was saved by Seattle goalkeeper Lydia Williams in the eighth minute. Nine minutes later, a flick-on from Midge Purce found Heath in the box, but her shot from the center of goal was blocked a Seattle defender.

Thorns FC nearly scored in the 17th minute when Ellie Carpenter's long throw was flicked on by Horan into the six-yard box to Caitlin Foord, whose shot from point-blank-range was kicked aside by Williams. The ensuing rebound fell to the feet of Purce, but her follow-up shot was saved by Williams lunging to her left. After Heath chested down the rebound inside the penalty area, her blocked shot was tipped off the crossbar by Williams

Seattle took a 1-0 lead in the 29th minute when Meghan Rapinoe's free-kick attempt near the endline hit the crossbar, with the rebound falling to Jasmyne Spencer, whose follow-up shot from the edge of the six-yard box finding the back of the net.

Looking to answer back, Meghan Klingenberg's service from the left wing found Horan inside the box, but her glancing header missed past the post in the 34th minute.

Thorns FC tied the match just before halftime after Foord muscled off two Seattle defenders, before laying the ball into the path of Horan charging towards goal. Horan slid in Heath down the left edge of the penalty area, and her left-footed shot was slotted past the outstretched legs of Williams to make it a 1-1 score line in the 43rd minute.

To start the second half, Heath's free-kick service from the left wing found Emily Sonnett, but her header missed the frame in the 49th minute.

Portland took a 2-1 advantage in the 77th minute when Sinclair's clipped service from outside the box picked out Horan charging towards goal. Rising first, Horan's leaping header deflected off the left post before bouncing off the right post and crossing the goal line.

In the 83rd minute, a headed clearance fell to Heath on the edge of the 18-yard box, but her left-footed volley was fired over the crossbar.

Goalkeeper Adrianna Franch finished the match with game-high four saves, making several key stops. Franch made a leaping, one-armed save to deny Jodie Taylor's strike from distance in the 33rd minute, before stretching out to parry Taylor's swiveling shot at the far post in the 37th minute. One minute later, Franch ranged to her left to make a diving, kick save on Rapinoe's shot from point-blank-range.

Notes:

Celeste Boureille, Midge Purce, Caitlin Foord, Ana Crnogorcevic and Ellie Carpenter made their first NWSL playoff appearances in the match.

Foord, Purce and Boureille all started their first career NWSL playoff matches.

Tobin Heath and Lindsey Horan scored their third career playoff goals for Portland in the match, which is tied for the most in team history with Christine Sinclair.

Heath and Horan are two of six players who have scored at least three career playoff goals in the NWSL.

Horan recorded her second career playoff assist. She has record a goal or an assist in four consecutive playoff games.

Horan ranks tied for second all-time in NWSL playoff assists. She is one of five players in league history with multiple assists in the postseason.

Sinclair and Heath appeared in their seventh consecutive NWSL playoff match for Portland and are the only two players to feature in every playoff game for Thorns FC since 2013.

Heath has scored in five consecutive matches, recording a point in seven consecutive matches (5g, 3a).

Saturday marked Portland's fifth appearance in the NWSL playoffs in six seasons - the most appearances in the playoffs of any team in history of the NWSL.

Thorns FC and Reign FC squared off for the first time in NWSL playoffs. Portland has now faced off against four different teams in the semifinals (FC Kansas City, Western New York Flash, Orlando Pride) in five appearances.

Portland has tallied 15 goals in the NWSL playoffs, which is the most of any team.

Sinclair tallied her first career playoff assist in the match. She is the 12th different player to record an assist for Thorns FC in the playoffs.

Portland Thorns FC vs. Seattle Reign FC - NWSL Semifinal

Sept. 15, 2018 - Providence Park (Portland, Ore.)

Goals by Half 1 2 F

Thorns FC 1 1 2

Seattle Reign FC 1 0 1

Scoring Summary:

SEA: Spencer, 39

POR: Heath (Horan), 43

POR: Horan (Sinclair), 77

Misconduct Summary:

POR: Sonnett (Caution), 27

SEA: Fishlock (Caution), 40

POR: Menges (Caution), 50

SEA: Rapinoe (Caution), 54

SEA: Long (Caution), 60

Lineups:

POR: GK Franch, D Carpenter, D Sonnett (Ball, 90+1), D Menges, D Klingenberg, M Boureille, M Horan, M Sinclair ©, F Purce (Crnogorcevic, 46), F Foord, F Heath

Substitutes Not Used: GK Eckerstrom , M Andressinha, F Weber, F Onumonu, F Lussi

TOTAL SHOTS: 12 (Heath, 4); SHOTS ON GOAL: 5 (Five players tied, 1); FOULS: 16 (Horan, 4), OFFSIDES: 2; CORNER KICKS: 6; SAVES: 4

SEA: GK Williams, D Nielsen, D Oyster, D Barnes, D Catley, M Utsugi (Andrews, 82), M Fishlock (Addo, 84), M Long, F Rapinoe ©, F Taylor, F Spencer (Yanez, 78)

Substitutes Not Used: GK Betos, D Westphal, M Yanez, F Kawasumi, F Leon

TOTAL SHOTS: 17 (Rapinoe, 8); SHOTS ON GOAL: 5 (Taylor, 2); FOULS: 19 (Long, 4); OFFSIDES: 2; CORNER KICKS: 10; SAVES: 3

Referee: Ramy Touchan

Assistant Referees: Chris Elliott, Deleana Quan

4th Official: Danielle Chesky

Attendance: 14,179

Weather: Partly cloudy, 65 degrees

All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial


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