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NWSL Portland Thorns FC

Strong Second-Half Performance Propels Thorns FC to 5-2 Win against Boston Breakers

August 6, 2015 - National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)
Portland Thorns FC News Release


PORTLAND, Ore. - Receiving goals from four different players, including a brace from midfielder McCall Zerboni, Portland Thorns FC utilized a strong second-half performance, including four goals in a 17-minute span in a 5-2 win against the Boston Breakers before 15,624 fans on Wednesday night at Providence Park.

With the win, Thorns FC (5-6-4, 19pts) move into fifth place in the NWSL standings and are just one point out of the final playoff spot currently held by the Houston Dash (20pts) with five games remaining on the regular-season schedule.

Tied at 1-1 at halftime, Portland scored four goals in a 17-minute span, including three in five minutes soon after the start of the second half. Six players tallied a goal or an assist in the match for Thorns FC. Zerboni and Jodie Taylor each registered their first career goals for Thorns FC and midfielder Tobin Heath recorded her first assist, and point, of the 2015 season.

Zerboni completed her brace in four minutes, receiving a well-placed chip near the penalty spot from Long before finishing into the bottom right corner in the 49th minute for her first goal. In the 53rd minute, Zerboni got on the end of a rebound cause by Boston goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher and delivered a hard shot from inside the goal box to extend Portland's lead to 3-1.

Less than a minute later, forward Christine Sinclair played a ball into the box for midfielder Mana Shim, who bent a left-footed shot around Naeher for her fourth goal of the season. Long added the fifth, and final, goal for Portland, which marked her seventh tally of the 2015 campaign in the 66th minute with a one-time shot from close range.

Taylor opened the scoring in the 16th minute with a curling effort inside the right post, but Boston (3-10-3, 12pts) leveled the score in the 36th minute as a result of an own goal by Portland defender Kat Williamson. The Breakers added a second goal late as midfielder Kristie Mewis converted from the penalty spot after defender Emily Menges was whistled for an apparent handball in the box in the 87th minute.

Portland improved to 4-2-2 at home this season with the win and 8-2-3 in its last 13 matches at Providence Park. In the all-time series with Boston, Portland improved its record to 3-1-0 overall at home, outscoring the Breakers 15-5 in the last three meetings at Providence Park.

Thorns FC close out their two-game home stand on Sunday, Aug. 9 against the Chicago Red Stars at Providence Park; kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. (Pacific) with a national television broadcast on FOX Sports 1.

Notes:

- Forward Jodie Taylor earned her second career start for Thorns FC, making her first appearance in the lineup since returning from the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup.

- Taylor's goal was her first of the season and the first goal of her Thorns FC career.

- Long surpassed forward Alex Morgan for first place all-time on the team's scoring chart, tallying her 10th career assist in the match.

- Midfielder Allie Long registered her 10th career assist in the match. With the assist, Long becomes the first player to record at least 10 career goals and 10 assists for the club.

- Long is now Thorns FC's all-time career leader in goals (18), assists (10) and points (47).

- Midfielder McCall Zerboni scored her first career goal for Thorns FC.

- Zerboni became the sixth different player to tally a brace in Thorns FC history.

- Portland has scored four or more goals in each of its last three matches at home against Boston, dating back to 2014.

- Thorns FC improved to 3-1-0 all-time at home against the Breakers, outscoring Boston 15-5 in the last three matches at Providence Park.

- Long has registered a goal or an assist in nine of Thorns FC's 15 matches this season.

- Portland is 14-0-3 all-time when Long scores, including a record of 5-0-1 this season.

- Thorns FC are 21-2-5 all-time when scoring first in a match and 20-1-4 when scoring two or more goals in a game.

- A Thorns FC player has recorded a multiple-goal game in each of the last three meetings at home against Boston: Christine Sinclair (3g, July 20, 2014), Allie Long (2g, April 11, 2015), McCall Zerboni (2g, Aug. 5, 2015).

- Portland has outscored its opponents 32-15 in its last 13 matches at Providence Park, scoring multiple goals in seven of those matches.

- Midfielder Tobin Heath registered her first point and assist of the 2015 season.

- Forward Christine Sinclair has tallied an assist in consecutive matches.

- Long has a goal or an assist in six of Portland's eight home matches in 2015.

- Defenders Kat Williamson and Emily Menges, along with Long, are the only three players to start every match for Portland this season.

- Defender Emily Menges made her 23rd consecutive start, dating back to the 2014 season.

- Six different players tallied a goal or an assist in the match for Portland.

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National Women's Soccer League Stories from August 6, 2015


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