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NWSL Portland Thorns FC

Thorns FC Earn 5-0 Shutout Victory over Chicago Red Stars in 2021 NWSL Regular-Season Opener

May 16, 2021 - National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)
Portland Thorns FC News Release


PORTLAND, Ore. - In their 2021 NWSL regular-season home opener, Portland Thorns FC earned a 5-0 shutout victory over the Chicago Red Stars at Providence Park on Sunday afternoon. Sophia Smith tallied two goals, while Morgan Weaver registered two assists in their NWSL regular-season debuts for Portland. Christine Sinclair and Tyler Lussi both tallied goals for Portland. The goal for Sinclair was her 50th in NWSL regular-season play.

1-2 Punch

In their NWSL regular-season debuts for Portland, Smith tallied two goals, while Weaver registered two assists. Smith became just the third player in league history to score a brace in their regular-season debut, joining Kim Little (2014 - Seattle Reign FC) and Vicky Losada (2014 - Western New York Flash). Smith is the ninth different player in club history to record a multi-goal game. Weaver recorded her first two career assists in the match. She is the eighth player to record a multi-assist game for Portland in a regular-season match.

Milestone Watch

Sinclair scored her 50th career NWSL regular-season goal in the match. She is the third player in league history to reach this milestone along with Sam Kerr (77 goals) and Lynn Williams (50 goals). Meghan Klingenberg appeared in her 100th career NWSL regular-season match, logging 82 minutes. Klingenberg is the 38th player in NWSL history to hit this mark.

Thorns FC Against Chicago Red Stars

With the result, Thorns FC improved to 11-1-9 in 21 NWSL regular-season matches against the Red Stars, including a 7-1-3 record at Providence Park. In its last three home matches against Chicago, Portland has recorded three shutout wins, while tallying 11 goals. Notably, Sinclair has tallied 15 goals in 19 career regular-season matches against the Red Stars. Sinclair has scored in four consecutive regular-season matches against Chicago, dating back to Aug. 18, 2018, recording six goals during that span.

Goal-Scoring Plays

POR - Own Goal (Tierna Davidson), 4th minute: After dispossessing a Chicago player, Smith delivered a shot from the left edge of the penalty area that deflected off Tierna Davidson and bounced inside the right post.

POR - Christine Sinclair (penalty kick), 13th minute: Portland was awarded a penalty kick after Meghan Klingenberg was fouled inside the box. Sinclair stepped up to the penalty spot and laced her shot into the lower corner of the net past the outstretched arms of Chicago goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher.

POR - Sophia Smith (Morgan Weaver), 16th minute: Adrianna Franch caught a cross inside the penalty area, before playing a long pass down the right flank. Weaver played a one-timed pass to the top of the 18-yard box for Smith, who fired a low hard shot past Naeher.

POR - Sophia Smith (Morgan Weaver), 30th minute: Carrying the ball from midfield, Weaver slipped the ball in behind the Chicago defense to Smith, who calmy finished her shot from just inside the penalty box.

POR - Tyler Lussi, 72nd minute: After receiving a pass from Crystal Dunn on the left wing, Sinclair dribbled past her defender, striking a low shot on goal that forced Naeher into a save, but the rebound was slotted in by Lussi inside the six-yard box.

Notes:

Portland is unbeaten in its last 10 matches across all competitions (7-0-3), dating back to a 3-0 win over Utah Royals FC in the NWSL Fall Series on Sept. 20, 2020.

Across those 10 matches, Thorns FC have outscored their opponents 22-5.

Thorns FC are unbeaten in 2021 (4-0-2), including a 3-0-1 at Providence Park this year.

Dating back to 2019, Thorns FC are unbeaten in their last eight matches (6-0-2) at Providence Park, outscoring their opponents by a margin of 18-3 during that span.

Meghan Klingenberg made her 100th career NWSL regular-season appearance today. She is the 38th player in league history to reach this milestone.

The goal was Sinclair's 50th career NWSL regular-season goal, becoming the third player in the league's history to accomplish this feat - Sam Kerr (77), Lynn Williams (50).

In 19 regular-season appearances against Chicago, Sinclair has tallied 15 goals.

The penalty-kick finish against Chicago marked Sinclair's 61st goal across all competitions in NWSL play, which is the most amongst active players in the league.

Sophia Smith tallied her first career brace for Thorns FC. She is the ninth player in club history to record a multi-goal game.

Morgan Weaver registered her first career two-assist performance for Portland. She is the eighth player in club history to record a multi-assist game.

Smith and Weaver both made their NWSL regular-season debuts for Thorns FC.

Next Game

Thorns FC play host to Cascadia-rival OL Reign in NWSL regular-season action on Sunday, May 23, at Providence Park; kickoff is set for 3 p.m. (Pacific) and features a national broadcast on CBS Sports Network.

Portland Thorns FC (1-0-0, 3pts) vs. Chicago Red Stars (0-1-0, 0pts)

May 16, 2021 - Providence Park (Portland, Ore.)

Goals by Half 1 2 F

Portland Thorns FC 4 1 5

Chicago Red Stars 0 0 0

Scoring Summary:

POR: Own Goal (Davidson), 4

POR: Sinclair (penalty kick), 13

POR: Smith (Weaver), 16

POR Smith (Weaver), 30

POR: Lussi, 72

Misconduct Summary:

POR: Horan (caution), 64

Lineups:

POR: GK Franch, D Westphal, D Hubly, D Sauerbrunn , D Klingenberg (Pogarch, 82), M Dunn, M Rodríguez (Salem, 62), M Horan (Boureille, 83), F Smith (Charley, 62), F Weaver (Lussi, 62), F Sinclair ©

Substitutes Not Used: GK Bixby, D Menges, D Kuikka, F Everett

TOTAL SHOTS: 22 (Four players tied, 4); SHOTS ON GOAL: 10 (Three players tied, 2); FOULS: 7 (Horan, Lussi, 2); OFFSIDES: 2; CORNER KICKS: 10; SAVES: 1

CHI: GK Naeher, D Wright (Milazzo, 45), D Gorden, D Davidson, D Short, M Colaprico (Stanton, 83), M DiBernardo, M Ertz © (Hill, 29), F Pugh (Doniak, 73), F Johnson (Woldmoe, 45), F Watt

Substitutes Not Used: GK Miller, D Sharples, F Luebbert

TOTAL SHOTS: 4 (DiBernardo, 3); SHOTS ON GOAL: 1 (DiBernardo, 1); FOULS: 8 (Doniak, Pugh, 2); OFFSIDES: 1; CORNER KICKS: 2; SAVES: 6

Referee: Ekaterina Koroleva

Assistant Referees: Christian Clerc, CJ Koll

4th Official: Jacklyn Metz

Weather: Sunny, 83 degrees

All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial

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National Women's Soccer League Stories from May 16, 2021


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