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NWSL Portland Thorns FC

Thorns FC Drop 2-1 Result against Orlando Pride at Exploria Stadium

May 26, 2021 - National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)
Portland Thorns FC News Release


ORLANDO, Fla. - Facing a quick turnaround, Portland Thorns FC fell 2-1 to the Orlando Pride at Exploria Stadium on Wednesday night. Trailing 1-0 in the first half, Simone Charley leveled the match just before halftime, but after surrendering an early second-half goal Thorns FC were unable to find the equalizer. Portland continues its stretch of three games in eight days with a road match against NJ/NY Gotham FC on Sunday, May 30.

Thorns FC Firsts

Five players earned their first regular-season start of 2021 in the match: Charley, Natalia Kuikka, Tyler Lussi, Madison Pogarch and Angela Salem. Charley and Kuikka combined for Portland's lone goal in the match. The goal was Charley's first in NWSL regular-season play. For Kuikka, it was her first career assist with Thorns FC. Notably, Emily Menges made her 2021 regular-season debut, logging 29 minutes.

Goal-Scoring Plays

ORL - Alex Morgan (Taylor Kornieck), 22nd minute: Kornieck collected the ball in the center of Portland's defensive half, and chipped the ball to Morgan inside the box. Morgan let the ball drop and volleyed a shot into the right side of the net.

POR - Simone Charley (Natalia Kuikka), 42nd minute: Kuikka received the ball just wide of the 18-yard box on the right flank, and took one touch before looping a long cross to the far post. Charley beat her defender in the air to the ball, redirecting it back downwards and into the back of the net.

ORL - Sydney Leroux, 46th minute: Leroux intercepted a pass just inside Portland's goal box and slotted the ball into the back of the net from close range.

Notes:

Portland is 9-2-1 all-time against Orlando, outscoring the Pride 24-12 across 12 matches.

Simone Charley logged her first career regular-season goal for the Thorns FC.

Natalia Kuikka logged her first career assist for Portland in the match.

Five Thorns FC players earned their first starts of the 2021 regular season: Charley, Kuikka, Madison Pogarch, Tyler Lussi and Angela Salem.

Kuikka made her first start in a regular-season match for Portland.

Emily Menges made her 2021 regular-season debut, logging 29 minutes.

Thorns FC lost just their second game in its last 12 matches, dating back to the 2020 campaign.

Next Game

Thorns FC will close out their two-game road swing against NJ/NY Gotham FC on Sunday, May 30, at Red Bull Arena; kickoff is set for 12 noon (Pacific) and will feature a local broadcast on FOX 12 PLUS, and will be available to stream live on Paramount+.

Portland Thorns FC (1-2-0, 3pts) vs. Orlando Pride (2-0-1, 7pts)

May 26, 2021 - Exploria Stadium (Orlando, Fla.)

Goals by Half 1 2 F

Portland Thorns FC 1 0 1

Orlando Pride 1 1 2

Scoring Summary:

ORL: Morgan (Kornieck), 22

POR: Charley (Kuikka), 42

ORL: Leroux, 46

Misconduct Summary:

POR: Charley (caution), 28

POR: Salem (caution), 45+3

OLR: Harris (caution), 90+7

Lineups:

POR: GK Franch, D Kuikka, D Hubly (Menges, 61), D Sauerbrunn, D Pogarch (Klingenberg, 61), M Salem (Rodríguez, 70), M Dunn, M Horan, M Sinclair ©, F Lussi (Smith, 45), F Charley (Weaver, 71)

Substitutes Not Used: GK Bixby, D Westphal, M Boureille, F Everett

TOTAL SHOTS: 21 (Dunn, Charley, 4); SHOTS ON GOAL: 8 (Charley, 3); FOULS: 9 (Horan, 3); OFFSIDES: 3; CORNER KICKS: 3; SAVES: 1

OLR: GK Harris ©, D Riley, D Krieger, D McClernon, D Petersen, M Jónsdóttir, M Marta (Haran, 85), M Dougherty Howard (Viggiano, 64), F Leroux (Washington, 90+1), F Morgan, F Kornieck

Substitutes Not Used: GK McLeod, D Plummer, D Pressley, M Tymrak, F Kim, F Thomas

TOTAL SHOTS: 12 (Leroux, 4); SHOTS ON GOAL: 3 (three players tied, 1); FOULS: 5 (Morgan, 2); OFFSIDES: 1; CORNER KICKS: 4; SAVES: 7

Referee: Lauren Rodriguez

Assistant Referees: Ashlee Varnson, Laura Waliski

4th Official: Alejo Calume

Weather: Partly cloudy, 91 degrees

All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial

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National Women's Soccer League Stories from May 26, 2021


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