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NWSL Portland Thorns FC

Thorns FC Defeat Utah Royals FC 3-0 in First NWSL Fall Series Match

September 20, 2020 - National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)
Portland Thorns FC News Release


PORTLAND, Ore. - In their first match at Providence Park in 2020, Portland Thorns FC earned a 3-0 shutout victory over Utah Royals FC in NWSL Fall Series action on Sunday afternoon. In her professional debut, Sophia Smith tallied a goal, while Lindsey Horan finished with a goal and an assist. Notably, Simone Charley scored the game-winning goal.

Sophia Smith Scores In Professional Debut

Smith, the first overall pick in the 2020 NWSL College Draft, made her Thorns FC debut, scoring her first career goal three minutes after entering the match as a second-half substitute. Smith played 21 minutes, tallying one goal and four shots.

Debuts At Providence Park

Rocky Rodríguez, Christen Westphal, Becky Sauerbrunn and Smith made their Providence Park debuts as Thorns FC players. Sauerbrunn logged 28 minutes as a second-half substitute, while Westphal started and played 45 minutes. Rodríguez started and played 90 minutes.

Shutouts

The shutout victory marked the fourth shutout across all competitions for Thorns FC in 2020. Britt Eckerstrom made her third appearance across all competitions this year, logging three saves and her second shutout of 2020.

Goal-Scoring Plays

POR - Simone Charley (Lindsey Horan), 35th minute: Horan played a long ball up the field to Charley running into space. Charley cut inside, leaving one Utah defender behind her, before dribbling past another Royals FC player inside the penalty area and striking a left-footed effort into the bottom corner of the net.

POR - Sophia Smith (Meghan Klingenberg), 72nd minute: Working down the right flank, Klingenberg's lofted cross into the box found Smith, who headed the ball into the far corner of the goal.

POR - Lindsey Horan, 81st minute: Pressing inside Utah's box, Horan deflected Utah goalkeeper Abby Smith's pass from inside her own penalty box into the back of the net.

Notes:

Portland registered its fourth shutout across all competitions in 2020.

The three goals scored marked a team-high for the 2020 campaign.

Sophia Smith made her professional debut, tallying a goal three minutes after entering the game as a second-half substitute.

Lindsey Horan and Simone Charley each logged their second goals across all competitions in 2020.

Horan tallied her first assist of the 2020 campaign.

Meghan Klingenberg tallied her second assist in seven appearances across all competition in 2020.

Britt Eckerstrom logged her second shutout in her third appearance across all competitions for Thorns FC in 2020.

Next Game

With a 10-day break in between matches, Thorns FC continue NWSL Fall Series play by playing host to OL Reign on Wednesday, Sept. 30, at Providence Park; kickoff is set for 7 p.m. (Pacific) and features a live stream available on Twitch.

Portland Thorns FC vs. Utah Royals FC

2020 NWSL Fall Series

Sept. 20, 2020 - Providence Park (Portland, Ore.)

Goals by Half 1 2 F

Portland Thorns FC 1 2 3

Utah Royals FC 0 0 0

Scoring Summary:

POR: Charley (Horan), 35

POR: Smith (Klingenberg), 72

POR: Horan, 81

Misconduct Summary:

POR: Pogarch (caution), 88

POR: Klingenberg (caution), 90+4

Lineups:

POR: GK Eckerstrom, D Westphal (Pogarch, 45), D Menges, D Hubly (Sauerbrunn, 62), D Klingenberg, M Rodríguez, M Salem (Seiler, 70), M Horan, M Sinclair ©, F Lussi (Everett, 86), F Charley (Smith, 69)

Substitutes Not Used: GK Angerer, M Ogle

TOTAL SHOTS: 21 (Horan, 7); SHOTS ON GOAL: 7 (Horan, Smith, 2); FOULS: 7 (Seven players tied, 1); OFFSIDES: 2; CORNER KICKS: 9; SAVES: 3

UTAH: GK Smith, D Ball, D Del Fava, D Bowen, D Maemone (Weber, 45), M Labonta, M Diallo, M Lytle (Boquete, 45), F King (Strom-Okimoto, 63), F Rodriguez (Ship, 63), F Ratcliffe

Substitutes Not Used: GK Lowder, D Vincent, M Leach

TOTAL SHOTS: 15 (Rodriguez, 4); SHOTS ON GOAL: 3 (Three players tied, 1); FOULS: 8 (Del Fava, Diallo, 2); OFFSIDES: 0; CORNER KICKS: 3; SAVES: 4

Referee: Adorae Monroy

Assistant Referees: Corbyn May, Sya Magee

4th Official: Baboucarr Jallow

Weather: Partly cloudy, 68 degrees

All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial

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