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NWSL Portland Thorns FC

Thorns FC Earn 1-0 Shutout Road Win against North Carolina Courage

September 12, 2021 - National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)
Portland Thorns FC News Release


CARY, N.C. - Portland Thorns FC recorded their 10th clean sheet of the 2021 campaign, defeating the North Carolina Courage 1-0 at Sahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park on Sunday afternoon. Sophia Smith tallied her team-leading sixth goal of the season as Portland earned its fifth road win in 2021.

Table Outlook

Thorns FC are 11-4-2 with 35 points through 17 matches, sitting in first place. Portland leads second-place OL Reign (32 pts, 10-7-2) by three points with two games in hand. Thorns FC have a six-point edge over North Carolina (29 pts, 8-5-5) in third place with a game in hand.

Road Warriors

Portland earned its fifth road win of the 2021 season. Thorns FC have earned at least one point in six of their nine road matches this season, improving to 5-3-1 in those matches. Portland's five road wins are the second-most in a single season in club history and the most by any team in the NWSL in 2021.

Clean Sheets

Thorns FC recorded their 10th clean sheet of the 2021 campaign. It marks the second time Portland has registered 10 or more shutouts in a season. Thorns FC finished the 2017 campaign with 11 clean sheets. Portland recorded its fifth clean sheet on the road, which is tied for the most in a single season (2013) in club history.

Goal-Scoring Plays

POR - Sophia Smith (Christine Sinclair), 57th minute: Christine Sinclair played a perfectly-weighted ball from near midfield in behind North Carolina's backline. Sophia Smith let the ball run into the box and delivered a side-footed strike past the Courage's Casey Murphy inside the right post.

Notes:

Sophia Smith scored her team-leading sixth goal of the season.

Christine Sinclair tallied her first assist of the 2021 campaign.

Sinclair is the 11th player to register an assist for Portland this season.

Angela Salem surpassed 10,000 career NWSL minutes played in the match. She is the 25th player to reach this milestone in league history.

Portland recorded its 10th clean sheet of the season.

Goalkeeper Bella Bixby registered her sixth clean sheet of the campaign.

Thorns FC recorded their fifth clean sheet on the road, which is tied for the most in a single season in club history (2013).

Mark Parsons registered his 80th career NWSL win. He has earned at least 11 wins in each of five regular seasons with the club.

Portland's five road wins this season rank as the second-most in a single season in club history.

Thorns FC won their first road match against North Carolina, while ending the Courage's scoreless streak of 546 minutes.

Next Game

Following the FIFA international break, Thorns FC return to the road for a match against the Chicago Red Stars at SeatGeek Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 25. The match kicks off at 5 p.m. (Pacific) and will be streamed on Paramount+.

Portland Thorns FC (11-4-2, 35pts) vs. North Carolina Courage (8-5-5, 29pts)

Sept. 12, 2021 - Sahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park (Cary, N.C.)

Goals by Half 1 2 F

Portland Thorns FC 0 1 1

North Carolina Courage 0 0 0

Scoring Summary:

POR: Smith (Sinclair), 57

Misconduct Summary:

NCC: Mathias (caution), 25

NCC: Roccaro (caution), 30

POR: Moultrie (caution), 88

Lineups:

POR: GK Bixby, D Westphal (Klingenberg, 63), D Menges (Sauerbrunn, 85), D Hubly, D Kuikka, M Rodríguez, M Salem, M Horan (Moultrie, 76), M Dunn, F Sinclair © (Weaver, 63), F S. Smith (Lussi, 84)

Substitutes Not Used: GK A. Smith, D Pogarch, M Ryan, M Everett

TOTAL SHOTS: 24 (S. Smith, 8); SHOTS ON GOAL: 8 (S. Smith, 5); FOULS: 8 (Dunn, 3); OFFSIDES: 3; CORNER KICKS: 7; SAVES: 6

NCC: GK Murphy, D Mathias (R. Williams, 81), D Kurtz, D Erceg ©, D Pickett, M Solaun (Speck, 61), M O'Sullivan (James, 88), M Roccaro (Smith, 81), M Debinha, F McDonald (Rodriguez, 61), F L. Williams

Substitutes Not Used: GK Leshnak, D Caldwell, M Agnew, F Ratcliffe

TOTAL SHOTS: 11 (L. Williams, 3); SHOTS ON GOAL: 6 (L. Williams, 2); FOULS: 7 (Debinha, Mathias, 2); OFFSIDES: 1; CORNER KICKS: 3; SAVES: 7

Referee: Matt Franz

Assistant Referees: Deleana Quan, Jeremy Smith

4th Official: Alexandra Billeter

Attendance: 5,161

Weather: Sunny, 85 degrees

All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial

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