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NWSL Washington Spirit

Spirit Travel to Portland for Rematch against Top-Ranked Thorns

September 4, 2021 - National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)
Washington Spirit News Release


Portland, OR - The Washington Spirit face the Portland Thorns on Saturday, September 4 at 10:30 p.m. ET at Providence Park. The match will be broadcast on Paramount+ for fans in the United States and international viewers. 

The Portland Thorns were victorious in the previous matchup against the Spirit, winning 1-0 at Segra Field.

The Opposition

Portland will host the Washington Spirit on Saturday, marking only its third game back in NWSL action after a brief hiatus while competing in the Women's International Champions Cup in Portland, OR. The red-hot Thorns went on to win that tournament after defeating Olympique Lyonnais, 1-0, in the championship match.

As it stands, the Thorns are in first place in the NWSL with 32 points - four points ahead of the next closest team. In fact, the Thorns have essentially controlled their own destiny this season by owning the top spot for nearly two months.

That said, the Thorns enter the matchup against the Spirit having lost, 2-1, to OL Reign last weekend. This defeat was quite significant not only due to the Thorns prolonged dominance this season, but because it snapped a 10-game undefeated streak for the Thorns that dated back to June 26.

The reason for Portland's success this season is their off-the-chart offensive production. The Thorns lead the league in both shots (232) and shots on goal (106). More importantly, the Thorns lead the league in total output, with 24 goals scored. Many of these scoring opportunities come from corner kicks, of which the Portland Thorns are also the league-leader with 111 taken. However suffocating the Thorns offense can be, they are responsible defensively, leading the league in goal differential (+13) and second in goals surrendered (11).

A player to look out for is Sophia Smith, who effectively pilots the Thorns' attack. The 21-year-old attacker, and former #1 pick in the 2020 NWSL Draft, leads the league in shots (45) and shots on goal (24) and has supplemented the offense with five goals as well.

The Spirit

The Washington Spirit enter Saturday's match stuck in the thick of the NWSL standings. With a 6-5-5 record and 23 points, the Spirit find themselves in sole possession of the sixth spot in the table. This spot is a crucial benchmark, as it denotes the final spot for a team in order to make the playoffs. Only a single point separates the fourth-and sixth-ranked teams - after winning last week's match, both Chicago and Orlando made the leap over Washington.

Nearing the final two months of the season, every game becomes increasingly important. Where there was room for error in previous weeks, with only eight games remaining on the Spirit's schedule, every point now matters more than they ever have. And as we have seen with the volatile NWSL table, winning - and earning three points - is the best way to separate yourself from other teams.

Despite this, there is certainly room for optimism among Spirit fans. Last week's matchup against the North Carolina Courage, marked the reintroduction of both Kelley O'Hara and Emily Sonnett to the starting XI. Their presence secured an already formidable backline and silenced one of the more powerful offenses in the NWSL. Also, with key players Anna Heilferty, Julia Roddar, and Saori Takarada all on the bench, Coach Kris Ward certainly has options to play with. While there is not much time to completely reinvent the Spirit formation to accommodate his many options, the ample security on the bench is certainly a positive point moving forward.

Finally, in the last meeting with the Portland Thorns, the Spirit hung tight for a majority of the match. Save one minor mishap in the 29', the Spirit were solid defensively, limiting many Thorns' scoring chances. Aubrey Bledsoe even got her glove on a couple of dangerous balls to keep the score close. The Spirit actually outshot the Thorns, both on goal (4) and overall (11). However, the Spirit surrendered far more fouls than the Thorns and lagged considerably in possession. Look for the Spirit to find its footing this week after an additional week of practice and the return of some of the team's best players back to form. 

Check out the Washington Spirit Statistics



National Women's Soccer League Stories from September 4, 2021


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