NWSL Portland Thorns FC

Thorns FC Advance to Women's International Championship Final with Penalty-Kick Shootout Win against Houston Dash

Published on August 19, 2021 under National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)
Portland Thorns FC News Release


PORTLAND, Ore. - Tied 2-2-at the end of regulation, Portland Thorns FC advanced to the Women's International Champions Cup final with a 3-1 win on penalty kicks against the Houston Dash at Providence Park on Wednesday night. Entering the second half down 2-0, Natalia Kuikka catapulted the comeback with a header goal off a corner kick. Olivia Moultrie tallied the game-tying goal by sending in a direct free kick, and recording her first professional goal. In her professional debut, Shelby Hogan helped secure the win by saving three PKs in the shootout. Thorns FC will face Olympique Lyon in the championship match on Saturday at 7 p.m. (Pacific).

Thorns FC Firsts

Kuikka and Moultrie each scored their first career goals with Portland, with Moultrie's being the first of her professional career. Goalkeeper Shelby Hogan made her professional debut in the match, earning her first start with Thorns FC. Hogan was named player of the match. Meaghan Nally and Raisa Strom-Okimoto earned their first starts for Portland in the match.

2021 Women's ICC

Barcelona and Lyon squared off in the opening match of the Women's ICC with Lyon scoring a late goal in the 85th minute to secure a 3-2 win and advance to the final. Notably, former Thorns FC players Ana Crnogorcevic (Barcelona) and Amandine Henry (Lyon) started in the match for their respective teams. Henry scored in her return to Providence Park.

Goal-Scoring Plays

HOU - Shea Groom (Rachel Daly), 17th minute: Receiving a pass from Rachel Daly, Shea Groom dribbled down the left side of the field just inside the box and delivered a strike inside the right post.

HOU - Shea Groom (Rachel Daly), 41st minute: In transition, Veronica Latsko intercepted a pass and played it to Daly, who slotted a quick pass to Groom running into the box. Groom converted into the bottom left corner of the goal from inside the box.

POR - Natalia Kuikka (Olivia Moultrie), 51st minute: Olivia Moultrie sent in a corner kick and Natalia Kuikka met the ball in the air, sending a header just inside the far-post side netting.

POR - Olivia Moultrie, 58th minute: Thorns FC earned a free kick just outside of the 18-yard box in the middle of the field. Olivia Moultrie stepped up to take it, and sent a curling shot around the wall into left side-netting of the goal.

Notes:

Natalia Kuikka scored her first career goal with Thorns FC.

Olivia Moultrie recorded her first professional goal.

Moultrie tallied her second career assist for Portland.

Shelby Hogan made her professional debut in the match.

Hogan saved three penalty kick attempts, and was named player of the match.

Meaghan Nally and Raisa Strom-Okimoto earned their first starts for Thorns FC.

Defender Kelli Hubly started the match for Portland and wore the captain's armband for the first half.

Tonight's shootout was just the second in Thorns FC history. Their first occurred in the NWSL Challenge Cup final on May 8, 2021.

Next Game

Thorns FC face off against Olympique Lyon in the championship match of the Women's International Champions Cup on Saturday, Aug. 21, at Providence Park. Saturday's match kicks off at 7 p.m. (Pacific) and will be broadcast on ESPN2.

Portland Thorns FC vs. Houston Dash - 2021 Women's International Champions Cup

Aug. 18, 2021 - Providence Park (Portland, Ore.)

Goals by Half 1 2 F PKs

Houston Dash 2 0 2 (1)

Portland Thorns FC 0 2 2 (3)

Scoring Summary:

HOU: Groom (Daly), 17

HOU: Groom (Daly), 41

POR: Kuikka (Moultrie), 51

POR: Moultrie, 58

Shootout Summary:

1 HOU: Nairn - Save

1 POR: Klingenberg - Goal

2 HOU: Smith - Save

2 POR: Kuikka - Save

3 HOU: Daly - Goal

3 POR: Moultrie - Goal

4 HOU: Abam - Save

4 POR: Charley - Goal

Misconduct Summary:

HOU: Oyster (caution), 45+3

HOU: Latsko (caution), 64

POR: Westphal (caution), 70

POR: Pogarch (caution), 90+4

Lineups:

POR: GK Hogan, D Westphal, D Nally, D Hubly (Menges, 46), D Pogarch, M Rodríguez (Porter, 37), M Kuikka, M Moultrie, M Everett (Klingenberg, 83), F Strom-Okimoto (Betfort, 46), F Smith (Charley, 46)

Substitutes Not Used: GK Bixby, M Salem

TOTAL SHOTS: 14 (Moultrie, 4); SHOTS ON GOAL: 6 (six players tied, 1); FOULS: 14 (Pogarch, 6); OFFSIDES: 1; CORNER KICKS: 4; SAVES: 3

HOU: GK Dennis, D Spencer (Rosa, 90+2), D Oyster, D Naughton, D Fields, M Visalli (Gomera-Stevens, 57), M Schmidt, M Seiler (Nairn, 90+2), M Groom, F Latsko (Abam, 72), F Daly ©

Substitutes Not Used: GK Harris, M Diaz, M Ogle, M Schmidt, M Hauksdottir, F Alozie

TOTAL SHOTS: 13 (Daly, 4); SHOTS ON GOAL: 5 (Groom, 2); FOULS: 14 (Daly, 3); OFFSIDES: 2; CORNER KICKS: 4; SAVES: 3

Referee: Adorae Monroy

Assistant Referees: Deleana Quan, Melissa Beck

4th Official: Dion Coxe

Weather: Partly cloudy, 75 degrees

All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial

Check out the Portland Thorns FC Statistics

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