NWSL Portland Thorns FC

Thorns FC Rally Back for 3-3 Draw against Washington Spirit in Regular-Season Home Finale

Published on August 31, 2015 under National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)
Portland Thorns FC News Release


PORTLAND, Ore. - Rallying from a two-goal deficit, Portland Thorns FC scored three second-half goals in a 3-3 draw against the Washington Spirit before a sellout crowd of 21,144 fans at Providence Park on Sunday night.

Forward Alex Morgan and midfielder Tobin Heath each tallied goals, helping lead the comeback for Portland in the second half. Morgan opened the scoring in the 53rd minute, chipping the ball over goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris after midfielder Lianne Sanderson lofted a pass over the Washington backline into space for Morgan.

Thorns FC (6-8-5, 23pts) registered a 17-6 advantage in the second half in shots, including a 7-2 edge in shots on goal. Controlling the majority of the possession in the second half, midfielder Allie Long played Heath into space with a quick pass and defender Estelle Johnson pulled Heath down in the box, resulting in a penalty kick. Heath stepped to the spot and calmly slotted the ball inside the left post as Harris dove the opposite direction to level the score at 2-2 in the 71st minute.

Portland remained on the front foot in search of the game-winning goal and took a 3-2 lead in the 80th minute. Defender Rachel Van Hollebeke served a ball from the right side to the back post and Morgan directed the ball back across the front of the goal with a header for forward Jodie Taylor who finished from close range, tallying her second goal of the season.

Less than a minute later, forward Crystal Dunn tallied her second goal of the match, tying the game at 3-3 as she collected a loose ball and slotted a shot inside the right post. Dunn also registered a goal in first-half stoppage time to give the Spirit a two-goal halftime lead.

Portland saw several close chances just miss in the final minutes of second-half stoppage time. Taylor received a pass from Long and sent a curling shot just inches wide of the left post, while midfielder Kaylyn Kyle put a header on frame, connecting with a well-placed cross by midfielder Sinead Farrelly.

Thorns FC finished their 2015 home schedule with a record of 5-2-3 at Providence Park as they played in front of their second sellout crowd of the season. In 10 home matches this season, Portland set a new record for attendance with an average of 15,639 in the team's third NWSL season.

Portland closes out the 2015 NWSL season on the road against the Western New York Flash on Friday, Sept. 4, at Sahlen's Stadium in Rochester, N.Y. Friday's match kicks off at 4 p.m. (Pacific) with a web stream at www.portlandthornsfc.com.

Notes:

- Thorns FC played in front of their second sellout crowd of the 2015 season (21,144), bringing their average attendance to 15,639 for the season.

- Midfielder Lianne Sanderson made her first career start for Thorns FC.

- Sanderson tallied her first career point and assist for Thorns FC.

- Defender Rachel Van Hollebeke started and played in her final game for Portland after announcing her retirement earlier this week, making her 45th career appearance.

- Midfielder McCall Zerboni started her 60th career NWSL match.

- Goalkeeper Nadine Angerer started and played in her final match at Providence Park after announcing her retirement earlier this season.

- Forward Alex Morgan tallied her first goal of the season and the 15th of her Thorns FC career.

- Midfielder Tobin Heath scored her first goal in a regular-season match for Portland. The goal was her first of the 2015 season and her first penalty-kick goal for Thorns FC.

- Morgan moved into a tie for first-place all-time in career assists (10), tied with midfielder Allie Long.

- Morgan is one of two Thorns FC players to have registered double-digit goals (15) and assists (10) for her career, joining Long as the only other player to accomplish this feat.

- Portland improved to 4-1-3 all-time against Washington and remains unbeaten (2-0-2) in four home meetings against the Spirit.

- Thorns FC recorded a season-high 23 shots in the match also the second most all-time in a single game for the club.

- Portland improved to 5-2-3 on the season at home and is 9-2-4 in its last 15 home matches, dating back to 2014.

- Morgan tallied her sixth goal in five career games against Washington.

- With a goal and an assist, Morgan moved into second place all-time in career points for the club (40).

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National Women's Soccer League Stories from August 31, 2015


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