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NWSL Portland Thorns FC

Thorns FC Defeat Utah Royals FC 2-0 at Providence Park

May 26, 2018 - National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)
Portland Thorns FC News Release


PORTLAND, Ore. - Behind a pair of first-half goals from midfielder Lindsey Horan and forward Christine Sinclair, Portland Thorns FC recorded their second consecutive shutout victory, defeating Utah Royals FC 2-0 in front of 15,113 fans at Providence Park on Friday night. Sinclair tallied her NWSL-leading sixth goal of the season, while Horan added her fourth goal of the campaign.

Milestone win

With the result, head coach Mark Parsons recorded his 50th career NWSL win in the match. Parsons is the third coach in league history to reach this milestone. In addition, the win was his 30th as head coach of Thorns FC.

Against Utah

Portland improved to 1-0-1 all-time against Utah with the win, improving to 6-1-1 in matches against NWSL teams in their first season. Thorns FC have outscored Royals FC 3-1 in their two meetings this season. Midfielder Tobin Heath and Sinclair each have a goal and an assist in two matches against Utah.

Midfield duo

Sinclair and Horan have combined for 10 of Thorns FC's 14 goals this season. Horan has tallied three of her four goals at Providence Park, while Sinclair has added four goals in five home matches this season for Portland.

Key plays

Thorns FC opened the scoring with a quick counter in the 18th minute as Sinclair recorded her NWSL-leading sixth goal of the season. Defender Ellie Carpenter delivered a quick pass to Sinclair running down the center of the field. Sinclair turned and hit a one-touch pass to Heath surging down the left flank. Heath waited and cut back towards the middle of the field, slotting a perfect pass to Sinclair making a late run into the box and Sinclair fired her shot off the left post and into the goal.

Portland nearly doubled its lead in the 36th minute when Sinclair settled a bouncing ball in the box after Carpenter delivered a cross from the right side. Sinclair hit a powerful shot through traffic off the bounce, but Utah goalkeeper Abby Smith made a last-ditch kick save to deny Sinclair. The ball landed for Heath at the left post and defender Becky Sauerbrunn made a goal-line stop, blocking Heath's attempt with her face.

Remaining on the attack, Thorns FC took a 2-0 lead in the 39th minute as Horan tallied her fourth goal of the season. Defender Meghan Klingenberg delivered a pinpoint cross from the left wing for Horan making a run into the box towards the right post. Horan then hit a one-time shot from close range into the back of the net.

Thorns FC kept Utah off the board late in the first half. Klingenberg stepped in and made a critical play, clearing a looping shot by Royals FC forward Amy Rodriguez off the goal line from close range in the 45th minute.

Looking for a third goal early in the second half, Sinclair started the break for Portland. Dribbling down field, Sinclair hit a well-weighted pass into the box for forward Ana Crnogorcevic making a run in behind the Utah backline. Crnogorcevic fired a shot towards the left side of the goal, but a Utah player slid in and deflected the shot out for a corner kick in the 48th minute.

Crnogorcevic came close again in the 72nd minute of the match. Klingenberg played Heath out wide and she served a cross from the left into the box for Crnogorcevic, who timed her run perfectly at the near post with a diving header on frame that was saved at point-blank range by Smith.

Sinclair nearly added another goal in the 87th minute after receiving a pass from Heath at the edge of the box, unleashing a powerful strike that Smith tipped just over the crossbar.

Goalkeeper Britt Eckerstrom earned her second clean sheet of the season, making a late save as she dove to her left to deny Rodriguez from inside the box in second-half stoppage time.

Notes:

Forward Christine Sinclair tallied her sixth goal of the season, and her fourth goal at Providence Park in 2018.

Sinclair has now tallied six or more goals in five of her six NWSL seasons.

Midfielder Tobin Heath tallied her second assist of the season.

With the win, Thorns FC recorded their 20th home win in the past three seasons.

Heath has recorded 13 assists since the beginning of the 2016 season, which is tied for the second most during that span.

Sinclair has recorded a goal or an assist in seven of Portland's first 10 matches.

Defender Meghan Klingenberg registered her second assist of the season.

Heath and Sinclair have recorded a goal and an assist each in two matches against Utah this season.

Head coach Mark Parsons recorded his 50th career NWSL win in the match, becoming the third coach in league history to reach the milestone.

Parsons also registered his 30th career win with Thorns FC.

With her goal, midfielder Lindsey Horan moved into the top five all-time in career points (29) for the club.

Next Game

Facing a quick turnaround, Thorns FC play host to the North Carolina Courage in a midweek match on Wednesday, May 30, at Providence Park. The May 30 match kicks off at 7:30 p.m. (Pacific) and features a live web stream available at www.go90.com and on the go90 app.

Portland Thorns FC (4-3-3, 15pts) vs. Utah Royals FC (2-2-5, 11pts)

May 25, 2018 - Providence Park (Portland, Ore.)

Goals by Half 1 2 F

Portland Thorns FC 2 0 2

Utah Royals FC 0 0 0

Scoring Summary:

POR: Sinclair (Heath), 18

POR: Horan (Klingenberg), 39

Misconduct Summary:

POR: Horan (caution), 67

UTAH: Corsie (caution), 69

UTAH: Jonsdottir (caution), 83

Lineups:

POR: GK Eckerstrom, D Purce, D Reynolds, D Menges, D Klingenberg, M Andressinha (Salem, 58), M Horan, M Carpenter (Hubly, 63), M Sinclair ©, M Heath, F Crnogorcevic (Onumonu, 83)

Substitutes Not Used: GK Gay, M Boureille, F Weber, F Lussi

TOTAL SHOTS: 8 (Sinclair, 3); SHOTS ON GOAL: 3 (Sinclair, 3); FOULS: 12 (Four players tied, 2), OFFSIDES: 1; CORNER KICKS: 7; SAVES: 2

UTAH: GK Smith, D Elby (Bowen, 78), D Corsie, D Sauerbrunn ©, D Moros, M Scott, M Jonsdottir, M Gorry, F Matheson (Stengel, 78), F Rodriguez, F Tymrak (Thorsnes, 63)

Substitutes Not Used: GK Barnhart, D Miramontez, M LaBonta, M Lytle

TOTAL SHOTS: 8 (Rodriguez, 3); SHOTS ON GOAL: 3 (Rodriguez, 2); FOULS: 13 (Jonsdottir, 4); OFFSIDES: 4; CORNER KICKS: 1; SAVES: 3

Referee: Lukasz Szpala

Assistant Referees: Chris Elliott, Kelsey Hrams

4th Official: JJ Blodgett

Attendance: 15,113

Weather: Partly cloudy, 66 degrees

All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial

Check out the Portland Thorns FC Statistics



National Women's Soccer League Stories from May 26, 2018


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