Preview: FC Kansas City Visits Portland Thorns After Three-Week Break

Published on June 18, 2015 under National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)
FC Kansas City News Release


KANSAS CITY, Missouri (June 18, 2015) - Following a twenty-day break due to a league pause during the 2015 Canada FIFA Women's World Cup's group stage along with a bye week, FC Kansas City will be back in action tomorrow night when they visit the Portland Thorns FC at Providence Park. The match will kick off at 9:00 p.m. CT and will be streamed live on YouTube. In-game updates can be followed via Twitter on @BluesGameday.

This will be the first meeting of the year between both teams. However, the Blues and the Thorns have met a total of nine times (including playoffs) in league history. Each team has one three games and tied once in regular season clashes. In addition, Kansas City hosted Portland in the 2013 and 2014 semifinals; each side took one to eventually win the National Women's Soccer League title.

Kansas City is coming from a hard fought 1-0 loss on the road against the Boston Breakers. On the other hand, head coach Paul Riley's team visited BBVA Compass Stadium where they earned one point as a result of a scoreless draw.

The last time both teams met, FC Kansas City defeated the Thorns 2-0 in the semifinals at Durwood Stadium with second-half goals from Amy Rodriguez and Lauren Holiday. However, the last time the Blues visited Providence Park, the Thorns found the back of the net seven times to defeat Kansas City 7-1.

Both sides will be without multiple key players. All eight Portland players competing in the FIFA Women's World Cup advanced to the knockout round with their respective countries. USA's Alex Morgan and Tobin Heath, Germany's Nadine Angerer, Australia's Steph Catley, Canada's Kaylin Kyle, Christine Sinclair and Rhian Wilkinson and England's Jodie Taylor. FC Kansas City's Amy Rodriguez, Heather O'Reilly, Lauren Holiday and Becky Sauerbrunn complete the twelve-player list that will not be available tomorrow.

FC Kansas City (3-4-1, 10 points) and the Portland Thorns (2-3-3, 9 points) have each played eight games so far and stand seventh and eighth in the league standings respectively.

Next up, Kansas City will play the last of a three-game road trip when they visit the Seattle Reign at Moda Pitch on Saturday, June 27.

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