NWSL Portland Thorns FC

Thorns FC Rally to Earn 2-2 Road Draw against Chicago Red Stars

Published on May 29, 2022 under National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)
Portland Thorns FC News Release


BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. - Portland Thorns FC rallied twice from a deficit to earn a point on the road, playing to a 2-2 draw with the Chicago Red Stars at SeatGeek Stadium on Saturday night. Two minutes after conceding in the first half, Portland leveled the match through Hina Sugita's first NWSL regular season goal. Trailing 2-1 early in the second half, Sophia Smith scored her third of the campaign to level the match and help Thorns FC secure a draw.

Smith File

Playing in her fifth game of the regular season, Sophia Smith scored her team-leading third goal of the campaign. The goal was the 10th of Smith's NWSL career with Portland. With the goal, she becomes the eighth player in club history to register double-digit goals. Notably, Smith has scored three goals in three career games against the Red Stars.

NWSL Firsts

Hina Sugita scored her first career NWSL regular season goal in the match. Yazmeen Ryan recorded her first professional career assist. Saturday's game marked Portland's first road match of the 2022 season. Dating back to the 2021 season, Thorns FC are unbeaten in their last three road matches in regular season play, posting a record of 1-0-2.

Goal-Scoring Plays

CHI - Mallory Pugh (Ava Cook), 5th minute: Ava Cook delivered the ball to Mallory Pugh in the midfield. Pugh dribbled down the left side and into the box, firing a shot low and hard inside the left post.

POR - Hina Sugita (Yazmeen Ryan), 7th minute: Off a corner kick, Sam Coffey whipped a ball into the center of the box. Yazmeen Ryan flicked the ball on with her head, and Hina Sugita made a late run to the back post and delivered a powerful left-footed strike from a tight angle near the left edge of the six-yard box into the right corner of the goal.

CHI - Rachel Hill (Ava Cook), 20th minute: Ava Cook played the ball into space behind the Portland backline and Rachel Hill ran onto the ball, dribbled into the box and converted just outside the six-yard box.

POR - Sophia Smith, 47th minute: Sam Coffey served a corner kick into the center of the box and through traffic, Sophia Smith flicked the ball up in the air and sent a half-volleyed shot inside the left post from the edge of the six-yard box.

Notes:

Hina Sugita tallied her first NWSL regular season goal in the match.

Yazmeen Ryan recorded her first professional assist.

Sophia Smith scored her team-leading third goal of the season.

Smith is tied for second-most goals in the NWSL in 2022.

Smith has tallied six goals across 10 games in all competitions this year.

Smith has scored three goals in three career regular season matches against the Red Stars.

Smith recorded her 10th career NWSL regular season goal. She is the eighth player in club history to reach the double-digit goal mark.

Portland is unbeaten in its last three regular-season road matches, dating back to 2021. Thorns FC have posted a record of 1-0-2 in those matches.

Portland is 5-0-1 in matches across all competitions when Sophia Smith scores a goal.

Thorns FC and the Red Stars played to a draw for the 10th time in the all-time series with seven of those draws coming on the road.

Next Game

Thorns FC return home to play host to expansion side Angel City FC on Friday, June 3, at Providence Park. The June 3 match kicks off at 7:30 p.m. (Pacific) and features a local television broadcast on FOX 12 PLUS with streaming available via Paramount+.

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