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NWSL Angel City FC

Portland Thorns Shutout Angel City FC, 3-0

March 31, 2022 - National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)
Angel City FC News Release


PORTLAND, OR. - In their second match in five days, Angel City fell 0-3 to the Portland Thorns tonight following goals by Sophia Smith, Yazmeen Ryan, and Morgan Weaver.

Angel City got an early chance in the fifth minute when midfielder Jun Endo beat her defender to find forward Christen Press in a pocket of space in the penalty area. Press quickly fired off a curving shot, which went just over the crossbar. Press soon got another chance, taking a crack from distance in the sixth minute that sailed high. The next 15 minutes saw a back-and-forth midfield battle, with both teams defending well and neither one getting any real looks on goal. Angel City's next chance came in the 18th minute, when left back Ali Riley sent in an angled shot from the left edge of the penalty box, but Thorns keeper Bella Bixby easily claimed it.

Portland started knocking in the 30th minute, when midfielder Rocky Rodríguez shot at Angel City keeper DiDi Haračić from close range; Haračić parried the initial shot, the rebound fell back to Rodríguez, and she sent another shot over the bar. Just a minute later, forward Sophia Smith notched the opening goal when she beat center back Allyson Swaby, cut to the right, and sent the ball into the back of the net.

The Thorns came out swinging in the second half and notched their second goal in the 53rd minute. Right back Natalia Kuikka took a hard-driven shot from the top of the box, which Haračić blocked. The ball fell to Portland midfielder Yazmeen Ryan a few feet away, and Ryan one-timed a shot past Haračić to bring the score to 0-2.

Midway through the second half, Angel City started getting into the attacking third more often and put together a few near-chances; forward Tyler Lussi had a chance from inside the 18 in the 64th minute but was flagged offside, and in the 68th minute, Press drove all the way up the left wing and took a shot from close range, but Bixby saved it.

The home side closed out the scoring in the 78th minute. Forward Hannah Betfort sent a lateral pass to forward Morgan Weaver at the top of the box and Weaver took a crack from distance that landed just inside the right post.

The visitors out-possessed and out-passed the Thorns, with 56.1% possession and 521 total passes, including 128 passes in the final third. Press led the team in total shots, with five, while Endo led in chances created, with three.

Angel City heads back to California to take on San Diego Wave FC at 1 PST on Saturday, April 2 at Torero Stadium. The match will be broadcast nationally on CBS and streamed on Paramount+.

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National Women's Soccer League Stories from March 31, 2022


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