NWSL Portland Thorns FC

Thorns FC Fall 1-0 to Angel City FC in Final Match of 2022 NWSL Challenge Cup

Published on April 25, 2022 under National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)
Portland Thorns FC News Release


FULLERTON, Calif. - Portland Thorns FC were unable to rally from a first-half deficit, falling 1-0 to Angel City FC in their final match of West Division play in the 2022 NWSL Challenge Cup at Titan Stadium on Sunday night. With the loss, Portland was eliminated from the Challenge Cup, needing a draw or win to secure a spot in the semifinals. Thorns FC return to action with their NWSL regular-season opener, playing host to the KC Current on April 30 at Providence Park.

Challenge Cup Review

Portland (3-2-1, 10pts) finished second in the West Division, recording two wins against San Diego Wave FC on March 26 and April 17, and one win against Angel City FC on March 30. Sophia Smith led the team with three goals in five Challenge Cup games. Hina Sugita tallied two goals, while Morgan Weaver, Christine Sinclair and Yazmeen Ryan all recorded goals in the tournament. A total of 22 players featured in the Challenge Cup with 19 players earning at least one start.

Firsts and Debuts

Janine Beckie made her Thorns FC debut in the match, starting and playing 90 minutes. Olivia Moultrie earned her first start of the Challenge Cup. She is the youngest player to start a match in Challenge Cup history at 16 years, 7 months and 7 days.

Goal-Scoring Plays

ACFC - Christen Press (penalty kick), 29th minute: Off a free kick, several players were fighting for the ball inside the box when Rocky Rodríguez was whistled for a foul on Vanessa Gilles. Christen Press stepped to the spot and converted the penalty kick.

Notes:

Janine Beckie made her Thorns FC debut in the match, starting and playing 90 minutes.

Olivia Moultrie started her first game of the Challenge Cup. She is the youngest player to start in the Challenge Cup at 16 years, 7 months and 7 days.

Beckie and Moultrie became the 18th and 19th players to start in a Challenge Cup match for Thorns FC in 2022.

A total of 22 players featured for Thorns FC in the 2022 Challenge Cup.

Kelli Hubly and Emily Menges started in all six games. The only two players to start every match of the tournament.

Morgan Weaver along with Hubly and Menges was the only other player to appear in every match of the Challenge Cup.

Weaver made her 17th Challenge Cup appearance. She is the only Thorns FC player to appear in every Challenge Cup match across all three years of the tournament.

Mike Norris served as the acting head coach for the match. Head coach Rhian Wilkinson was unavailable for the match after testing positive for Covid.

Next Game

Thorns FC open the 2022 NWSL regular season at Providence Park with a match against the KC Current on Saturday, April 30; kickoff is set for 3 p.m. (Pacific) on Twitch.

Portland Thorns FC (3-2-1, 10pts) vs. Angel City FC (1-4-1, 4pts)

(NWSL Challenge Cup)

April 24, 2022 - Titan Stadium (Fullerton, Calif.)

Goals by Half 1 2 F

Portland Thorns FC 0 0 0

Angel City FC 1 0 1

Scoring Summary:

ACFC: Press (penalty kick), 29

Misconduct Summary

POR: Rodríguez (caution), 28

ACFC: Roccaro (caution), 37

ACFC: Charley (caution), 81

POR: Kuikka (caution), 90+7

Lineups:

POR: GK Bixby, D Klingenberg, D Hubly, D Menges, D Pogarch (Kuikka, 71), M Rodríguez (Beckman, 80), M Ryan, M Moultrie (Everett, 65), F Beckie, F Sinclair ©, F Weaver

Substitutes Not Used: GK A. Smith, GK Hogan, D Provenzano, F Betfort

TOTAL SHOTS: 8 (Beckie, 4); SHOTS ON GOAL: 3 (Beckie, 2); FOULS: 7 (Rodríguez, 4); OFFSIDES: 0; CORNER KICKS: 5; SAVES: 4

ACFC: GK Haracic, D Spencer (Hammond, 79), D Gilles, D Reid, D Riley ©, M McCaskill, M Roccaro, M Weatherholt, M Endo, F Charley (Breslin, 87), F Press (Lussi, 71)

Substitutes Not Used: GK Perez, GK Isenhour, D Swaby, M Taylor, M Ferrer Van Ginkel, M Nabet

TOTAL SHOTS: 14 (Press, 5); SHOTS ON GOAL: 6 (Press, 3); FOULS: 7 (Endo, Spencer, 2); OFFSIDES: 2; CORNER KICKS: 4; SAVES: 3

Referee: JC Griggs

Assistant Referees: Justin Fillmore, Cameron Siler

4th Official: Patricia McCracken

Weather: Sunny, 83 degrees

All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial.

Check out the Portland Thorns FC Statistics

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