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Thorns FC Earn 1-0 Road Win against Houston Dash

July 24, 2021 - National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) - Portland Thorns FC News Release


HOUSTON - Portland Thorns FC scored just 32 seconds into the match - the quickest goal in club history - and kept their seventh clean sheet of the campaign, earning a 1-0 win on the road against the Houston Dash at BBVA Stadium on Saturday night. Sophia Smith tallied the game-winner, recording her fourth goal of the season.

Solid Defense

Thorns FC recorded their seventh shutout of the season. Notably, Portland has conceded just three goals in its last eight games, while recording six shutouts. Bella Bixby has three clean sheets in her first four games with Thorns FC in 2021.

Fast Goals

Smith's goal came just 32 seconds into the match, making it the fastest goal scored in Thorns FC history and the third-fastest goal in NWSL history. It marked Smith's second consecutive game with a goal as she increased her season total to four goals, which is tied for fourth-most in the league in 2021.

Against Houston

Portland is unbeaten in its last 11 regular-season matches (9-0-2) against the Dash, which is the second-longest unbeaten streak the club has against a single opponent. With the win, Thorns FC have eight wins in their last nine league games against Houston, which marks the first time Portland has defeated a team eight times in a nine-game span. Thorns FC are 5-1-3 all-time against the Dash in Houston with a five-game road unbeaten streak (4-0-1).

Goal-Scoring Plays

POR - Sophia Smith, 1st minute: Pressing just outside Houston's box, Simone Charley won the ball and it bounced into the path of Marissa Everett, who quickly turned and delivered a pass to Sophia Smith at the edge of the box. Smith dribbled around multiple Dash defenders inside the box and finished into the left corner.

Notes:

Sophia Smith scored her team-leading fourth goal of the season, tallying a goal for a second straight match.

The goal from Smith was the fastest goal in Thorns FC history at 32 seconds, besting the previous record off 33 seconds set by Jessica McDonald in 2014 on the road against the Chicago Red Stars.

Smith's goal is the third-fastest goal scored in NWSL history.

Portland has scored five of its 17 goals in the first five minutes of matches this season and eight in the first 30 minutes.

Thorns FC have scored six left-footed goals this season, which ranks as the second-most in the NWSL. Smith is tied for the league lead with three left-footed goals.

Portland recorded its seventh clean sheet of 2021, which leads the NWSL.

Thorns FC have allowed just three goals in their last eight games, while posting six shutouts.

Portland is unbeaten in its last 11 regular-season matches against Houston with a record of 9-0-2. This is the second-longest unbeaten streak against a single opponent by Thorns FC in club history.

Thorns FC are unbeaten in their last five road matches against the Dash, posting a record of 4-0-1.

Portland is 5-1-3 all-time against Houston on the road. The team's five road wins against the Dash are tied for the most against a single opponent.

Thorns FC recorded their ninth shutout against Houston, which is the most shutouts against a single NWSL team in club history.

Portland is the first team to earn a win at Houston this season.

Next Game

Thorns FC return home to play host to KC NWSL on Sunday, Aug. 1, at Providence Park. The Aug. 1 match kicks off at 12 noon (Pacific) and will be broadcast locally on FOX 12 PLUS with a stream available on Paramount+.

Portland Thorns FC (7-3-1, 22pts) vs. Houston Dash (5-5-1, 16pts)

July 24, 2021 - BVVA Stadium (Houston, Texas)

Goals by Half 1 2 F

Portland Thorns FC 1 0 1

Houston Dash 0 0 0

Scoring Summary:

POR: Smith, 1

Misconduct Summary:

POR: Salem (caution), 54

POR: Hubly (caution), 62

HOU: Ogle (caution), 64

Lineups:

POR: GK Bixby, D Kuikka, D Menges ©, D Hubly, D Klingenberg (Pogarch, 61), M Rodríguez, M Salem, M Boureille, M Everett (Westphal, 81), F Charley (Ryan, 71, Nally, 81), F Smith

Substitutes Not Used: GK Hogan, D Betfort, M Porter, M Moultrie, F Strom-Okimoto

TOTAL SHOTS: 14 (Smith, 3); SHOTS ON GOAL: 3 (Three players tied, 1); FOULS: 8 (Boureille, 2); OFFSIDES: 2; CORNER KICKS: 4; SAVES: 2

HOU: GK Harris, D Hanson, D Oyster, D Naughton ©, D Fields (Blackwood, 84), M Seiler, M Ogle, M Groom, F Gomera-Stevens (Visalli, 51), F Latsko, F Spencer

Substitutes Not Used: GK Dennis, M Nairn, D A. Schmidt, F Rosa, M Hauksdóttir, M Privett

TOTAL SHOTS: 13 (Groom, 3); SHOTS ON GOAL: 2 (Groom, Ogle, 1); FOULS: 9 (Three players tied, 2); OFFSIDES: 0; CORNER KICKS: 9; SAVES: 2

Referee: Luis Guardia

Assistant Referees: Kali Smith, Maggie Short

4th Official: Ricardo Ocampo

Weather: Sunny, 95 degrees

All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial

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