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NWSL Portland Thorns FC

Thorns FC Fall 2-1 on the Road to Chicago Red Stars

September 25, 2021 - National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)
Portland Thorns FC News Release


BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. - Portland Thorns FC were unable to overcome a one-goal deficit in the second half, falling 2-1 on the road to the Chicago Red Stars at SeatGeek Stadium on Saturday night. It marked Portland's first loss to Chicago in regular season play since 2013, snapping an 18-game unbeaten streak. Christine Sinclair scored the lone goal for Portland in the match - her fourth goal of the 2021 campaign.

Playoff Picture

With five games remaining on the schedule, Thorns FC (12-5-2, 38pts) remain atop the standings. Portland has a six-point lead and a game in hand over OL Reign (10-7-2, 32pts) in second place. Thorns FC are nine points clear of the North Carolina Courage (8-6-5, 29pts) in third place. Portland is seven points ahead of Chicago (8-7-5, 29pts) in fourth place.

Sinclair Against Chicago

Sinclair continued her scoring spree against Chicago, tallying her 16th goal in 20 career regular season matches. It marked the fifth straight game Sinclair has scored against the Red Stars. Sinclair has scored seven goals in her last five matches against Chicago. Notably, she has six goals in her last four road games at SeatGeek Stadium.

Goal-Scoring Plays

POR - Christine Sinclair (Crystal Dunn), 24th minute: Celeste Boureille sent a through ball toward Crystal Dunn making a run into the box. Dunn turned and laid the ball off for Christine Sinclair, who delivered a curling left-footed strike from the edge of the box that bounced off the inside of the left post and into the goal.

CHI - Kealia Watt (Arin Wright), 25th minute: After goalkeeper Bella Bixby parried a cross away from inside the box, Arin Wright pounced on the loose ball and sent a short pass to Kealia Watt inside the box. Watt converted with a shot inside the right post.

CHI - Rachel Hill (Mallory Pugh), 65th minute: Mallory Pugh dribbled down the left side and sent a cross to the far post for Rachel Hill, who deposited the ball into the back of the net with a header from close range.

Notes:

Crystal Dunn appeared in her 100th career NWSL game. She is the 48th player to reach this milestone.

Dunn recorded her second assist of the season in the match.

Dunn has registered at least two assists in all six of her NWSL seasons.

Christine Sinclair scored her fourth goal of the 2021 campaign.

Sinclair has tallied 16 goals in 20 career regular season matches against Chicago.

With the goal tonight, Sinclair has scored in five consecutive regular season games against the Red Stars.

Sinclair has scored seven goals in her last five matches against Chicago.

On the road against the Red Stars, Sinclair has tallied 10 career goals.

Celeste Boureille returned to the field for the first time since Aug. 7, starting and playing 45 minutes.

Rocky Rodríguez and Angela Salem are the only two players to appear in all 18 games for Portland this season.

Saturday's loss to Chicago was the club's first since 2013, snapping an 18-game unbeaten streak in regular-season play.

Next Game

Thorns FC return home to play host to Cascadia rival OL Reign on Saturday, Oct. 2, at Providence Park. The Oct. 2 match kicks off at 7 p.m. (Pacific) and features a local television broadcast on FOX 12 PLUS with streaming available on Paramount+.

Portland Thorns FC (12-5-2, 38pts) vs. Chicago Red Stars (8-7-5, 29pts)

Sept. 25, 2021 - SeatGeek Stadium (Bridgeview, Ill.)

Goals by Half 1 2 F

Portland Thorns FC 1 0 1

Chicago Red Stars 1 1 2

Scoring Summary:

POR: Sinclair (Dunn), 24

CHI: Watt (Wright), 25

CHI: Hill (Pugh), 65

Misconduct Summary:

POR: Sauerbunn (caution), 90+1

Lineups:

POR: GK Bixby, D Westphal (Kuikka, 45), D Menges, D Sauerbrunn, D Klingenberg, M Boureille (S. Smith, 45), M Salem, M Moultrie (Rodríguez, 45), M Dunn, F Sinclair ©, F Weaver (Lussi, 79)

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

TOTAL SHOTS: 14 (Three players tied, 3); SHOTS ON GOAL: 3 (Three players tied, 1); FOULS: 10 (Sauerbrunn, 2); OFFSIDES: 2; CORNER KICKS: 10; SAVES: 6

CHI: GK Miller, D Krueger, D Gorden, D Davidson, D Wright, M Gautrat, M Woldmoe, M DiBernardo © (Colaprico, 87), F Hill (Mautz, 80), F Watt, F Pugh (Johnson, 87)

Substitutes Not Used: GK Boyd, D Sharples, D St. Georges, D Milazzo, M Stanton, F Doniak

TOTAL SHOTS: 15 (Watt, 7); SHOTS ON GOAL: 8 (Three players tied, 2); FOULS: 7 (Hill, 2); OFFSIDES: 0; CORNER KICKS: 6; SAVES: 1

Referee: Katja Koroleva

Assistant Referees: Jennifer Garner, Rachel Smith

4th Official: Laura Rodriguez

Attendance: 3,527

Weather: Mostly cloudy, 64 degrees

All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial

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