NWSL Portland Thorns FC

Thorns FC Goalkeeper Bella Bixby Scores Dramatic Stoppage-Time Equalizer in 3-3 Draw with Angel City FC

Published on April 30, 2023 under National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)
Portland Thorns FC News Release


PORTLAND, Ore. - In the 97th minute, Portland Thorns FC goalkeeper Bella Bixby scored a dramatic equalizer becoming the second goalkeeper in league history to tally a goal, helping Portland earn a 3-3 draw, and remain unbeaten through its first five games, earning a point against Angel City FC at Providence Park on Saturday night.

Goalkeeper Goals + Late-Game Drama

Bixby joins former Thorns FC goalkeeper Michelle Betos as one of two goalkeepers to score a goal in NWSL history. Betos tallied her goal in a 1-1 draw against FC Kansas City on June 19, 2015, in the 95th minute at Providence Park. Notably, it marks the second straight match Portland has scored a late-game equalizer in stoppage time to earn a draw against Angel City. In 2022, Yazmeen Ryan tallied the game-tying goal in the 96th minute to help Thorns FC earn a 1-1 draw on July 1, 2022.

Unbeaten Run Continues

Portland is now unbeaten in each of its last 12 regular season and playoff games (8-0-4). Of the seven unbeaten streaks of more than 10 games in league history (regular season and playoffs), three have been by Thorns FC, the most by any single team. Portland is unbeaten in its first five regular season games to start the 2023 campaign, outscoring its opponents by a margin of 14-5. Dating back to last season, Portland is unbeaten in its last 10 regular season games with a record of 6-0-4. Thorns FC's longest unbeaten streak is 12 games, which spanned across the first 12 games of the 2016 season from April 17-July 9. In 2022, Portland put together an 11-game unbeaten run, spanning May 28-Aug. 10.

Goal Scorers and Playmakers

Morgan Weaver scored her third goal of the season and one in a second straight match. Dating back to the end of the 2022 regular season, Weaver has six goals in her last seven regular season appearances with five of those goals coming in games at Providence Park. Hina Sugita tallied her second goal of the year. Sugita is the fourth player to score multiple goals for Portland this season, which is two more than any other team in the league. Olivia Moultrie recorded her first assist of the 2023 campaign. It marked the sixth of her NWSL career, which makes her the only player with multiple assists before turning 19 in league history at the age of 17 years and 224 days old.

Goal-Scoring Plays

ACFC- Alyssa Thompson (Jun Endo), 10th minute: Angel City sprung a quick attack down the left side of the field with Alyssa Thompson receiving the ball near midfield. Thompson dribbled into the box and fired a shot from a tight angle just inside the left post.

POR - Hina Sugita (penalty kick), 32nd minute: On the attack, Morgan Weaver played a cross from the left side in the center of the box. Crystal Dunn attempted to shoot the ball, but Julie Ertz ran through Dunn on her attempt and Portland was awarded a penalty. Hina Sugita stepped to the spot and converted the kick.

POR - Morgan Weaver (Olivia Moultrie), 65th minute - Olivia Moultrie received the ball in space out near the right wing. Moultrie dribbled toward the top of the box and played a pinpoint through ball to Morgan Weaver, who was making a late run into the box. Weaver rounded the goalkeeper and converted from a tight angle near the right post.

ACFC - Own goal (Natalia Kuikka), 74th minute: Claire Emslie delivered a free kick from the right wing to the back post and the ball deflected off Natalia Kuikka into the back of the net.

ACFC - Julie Ertz (Le Bihan), 79th minute: Again, off a free kick, the ball was driven into the near post by Clarisse Le Bihan from the left corner and Julie Ertz made a near post run, flicking the ball just inside the post.

POR - Bella Bixby, 97th minute: Sam Coffey delivered a corner kick to the back post and Angel City FC goalkeeper Didi Haracic came off her line to claim the ball. The ball slipped through Haracic's hands after she bumped into another player and landed near the goal line for Bixby, who smartly backheeled the ball into the net.

Notes:

Hina Sugita scored her second goal of the season. Both have Sugita's goals this season have come at Providence Park.

Sugita converted her first career NWSL penalty kick. She is the 10th different player in club history to score a penalty kick.

With her goal, Sugita now joins Sophia Smith, Morgan Weaver and Crystal Dunn as the fourth player to tally multiple goals this season for Thorns FC.

Weaver scored her third goal of the season. Weaver has scored in consecutive matches.

All three of Weaver's goals have come at Providence Park this season.

Dating back to 2022, Weaver has six goals in her last seven regular season games with five of those goals coming in home matches.

Olivia Moultrie tallied her first assist of the campaign.

Rocky Rodríguez earned her first regular season start in the match.

Emily Menges started her first game of 2023. It was Menges first start in a match since May 21, 2022, at home against the Houston Dash.

Portland has scored a goal in 12 straight matches (including playoffs), tallying 30 goals during that span.

Thorns FC have scored four goals in the final 15 minutes of matches this season - more than any team in the NWSL.

Portland has three or more goals in three of its five matches this season.

Thorns FC have scored multiple goals in seven of their last eight regular season games, including three or more goals in six of those games.

Portland has tallied eight first-half goals, which is the most of any NWSL team this season.

With the draw, Thorns FC remain unbeaten against Angel City in league play with a record of 1-0-2.

Next Game

Portland hits the road for a two-game swing, traveling to square off against the North Carolina Courage on Saturday, May 6; kickoff is set for 4 p.m. (Pacific) on Paramount+.

Portland Thorns FC (3-0-2, 11pts) vs. Angel City FC (1-2-2, 5pts)

April 29, 2023 - Providence Park (Portland, Ore.)

Goals by Half 1 2 F

Portland Thorns FC 1 2 3

Angel City FC 1 2 3

Scoring Summary:

ACFC: Thompson (Endo), 10

POR: Sugita (penalty kick), 32

POR: Weaver (Moultrie), 65

ACFC: Own goal (Kuikka), 74

ACFC: Ertz (Le Bihan), 79

POR: Bixby, 90+7

Misconduct Summary:

ACFC: Ertz (caution), 30

POR: Kuikka (caution), 77

Lineups:

POR: GK Bixby, D Kuikka, D Hubly, D Menges (Nally, 56), D Klingenberg, M Coffey, M Rodríguez (Leon, 86), M Dunn (Moultrie, 56), F Sugita (Smith, 56), F Sinclair © (D'Aquila, 76), F Weaver

Substitutes Not Used: GK Hogan, D Reyes, M Porter, F Betfort

TOTAL SHOTS: 15 (Weaver, 4); SHOTS ON GOAL: 6 (six players tied, 1); FOULS: 6 (Kuikka, Rodríguez, 2); OFFSIDES: 1; CORNER KICKS: 5; SAVES: 0

ACFC: GK Haracic, D Spencer (Johnson, 58), D Gorden, D Nielsen, D Riley, M Weatherholt, M Ertz (Hammond, 84), M McCaskill (Le Bihan, 76), F Emslie (Camberos, 76), F Thompson, F Endo

Substitutes Not Used: GK Isenhour, GK Anderson, D Reid, M Nabet

TOTAL SHOTS: 14 (McCaskill, Weatherholt, 3); SHOTS ON GOAL: 2 (Ertz, Thompson, 1); FOULS: 11 (Weatherholt, 3); OFFSIDES: 0; CORNER KICKS: 3; SAVES: 3

Referee: Elton Garcia

Assistant Referees: Salma Perez, Art Arustamyan

Fourth Official: Corbyn May

VAR: Kelsey Harms

Weather: Sunny, 76 degrees

Attendance: 16,938

Check out the Portland Thorns FC Statistics

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National Women's Soccer League Stories from April 30, 2023


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