NWSL Portland Thorns FC

Thorns FC Register 2-0 Road Win against Racing Louisville FC

Published on July 3, 2021 under National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)
Portland Thorns FC News Release


LOUISVILLE, Ky. - With a goal in each half, Portland Thorns FC registered a 2-0 road win against Racing Louisville FC at Lynn Family Stadium on Saturday night. Rocky Rodríguez converted from the penalty spot in the first half, while Simone Charley helped secure the win with her team-leading third goal of the campaign early in the second half. It marked Portland's fourth win in its last five matches and its fifth clean sheet in 2021.

Clean Sheets

Portland recorded its league-leading fifth shutout of the season in their victory over Louisville. Notably, Thorns FC have recorded four shutout wins in their last five matches. Goalkeeper Bella Bixby earned her first clean sheet of 2021 in the match. For Bixby, it was her third shutout in five appearances across all competitions with Thorns FC.

NWSL Firsts

Emily Menges recorded her first career NWSL assist in her 123rd career regular-season appearance, assisting on Charley's game-winning goal. Olivia Moultrie made her NWSL debut in the match. She is the youngest player to feature in the NWSL at 15 years, 9 months and 16 days. Bixby made her first appearance in 2021. It marked her first NWSL regular-season appearance. Celeste Boureille and Marissa Everett made their first starts of the 2021 campaign.

Goal Scorers

Rodríguez scored her second goal of the season, converting from the penalty spot for the first time in her NWSL career. The goal was the 10th of her NWSL career. Charley tallied her third goal of the campaign. Two of Charley's goals have been headed goals.

Goal-Scoring Plays

POR - Rocky Rodríguez (penalty kick), 30th minute: Rodríguez pounced on a loose ball inside the box after a Thorns FC corner kick. She attempted to dribble toward the goal and was fouled earning a penalty kick. Rodríguez stepped to the spot and converted.

POR - Simone Charley (Emily Menges), 52nd minute: Off a short corner kick, Menges served a ball from the left wing into the box for Charley, who deposited a header into the back of the net.

Notes:

Portland recorded its fifth clean sheet of the 2021 campaign, which is the most in the league.

Thorns FC have tallied a league-best 14 goals this season.

Portland improved to 2-0-0 against Louisville, outscoring the expansion side 5-0 across two matches.

Olivia Moultrie made her NWSL debut in the match. She is the youngest player to feature in the NWSL at 15 years, 9 months and 16 days.

Bella Bixby made her 2021 debut and first NWSL regular-season appearance in the match.

It was Bixby's first appearance since the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup against OL Reign on July 13, 2020.

Bixby has three clean sheets in five career appearances across all competitions for the club.

Celeste Boureille and Marissa Everett earned their first NWSL regular-season starts in 2021.

Rocky Rodríguez scored her second regular-season goal for Portland. She is one of four Thorns FC players with two goals this season.

The goal was the 10th goal of Rodríguez's NWSL career.

Rodríguez's goal was her first from the penalty spot in her NWSL career.

Rodríguez is the eighth different player to score a penalty-kick goal in club history.

Emily Menges recorded her first career NWSL assist in the match in her 123rd regular-season match.

Simone Charley scored her team-leading third goal of the season. Two of those goals have been headed goals.

Next Game

Thorns FC return home to play host to NJ/NY Gotham FC on Sunday, July 11, at Providence Park; kickoff is set for noon (Pacific) and the match will be streamed on Paramount+.

Portland Thorns FC (5-3-0, 15pts) vs. Racing Louisville FC (3-4-1, 10pts)

July 3, 2021 - Lynn Family Stadium (Louisville, Ky.)

Goals by Half 1 2 F

Portland Thorns FC 1 1 2

Racing Louisville FC 0 0 0

Scoring Summary:

POR: Rodríguez (penalty kick), 30

POR: Charley (Menges), 52

Misconduct Summary:

LOU: McCaskill (caution), 29

LOU: Riehl (caution), 34

LOU: Holly (caution), 76

Lineups:

POR: GK Bixby, D Kuikka (Westphal, 71), D Menges ©, D Hubly, D Klingenberg (Pogarch, 84), M Salem (Moultrie, 83), M Rodríguez, M Boureille, M Everett (Ryan, 55), F Weaver, F Charley (Smith, 71)

Substitutes Not Used: GK Hogan, D Nally, F Okimoto-Strom

TOTAL SHOTS: 17 (Weaver, 7); SHOTS ON GOAL: 7 (Weaver, 3); FOULS: 5 (Hubly, 2); OFFSIDES: 1; CORNER KICKS: 8; SAVES: 4

LOU: GK Betos, D Simon (Merrick, 59), D Riehl (Ashley, 59), D Martin, D Fox, M Olofsson (Matthews, 74), M McCaskill, M Kizer, M Milliet (Ekic, 74), M Nagasato, F Salmon

Substitutes Not Used: GK Lund, D Hendrix, M Miramontez, F Baucom, F McClure

TOTAL SHOTS: 9 (Milliet, Salmon, 2); SHOTS ON GOAL: 4 (Four players tied, 1); FOULS: 6 (Olofsson, 3); OFFSIDES: 0; CORNER KICKS: 4; SAVES: 5

Referee: Karen Callado

Assistant Referees: Brooke Mayo, Chris Schurfranz

4th Official: Emma Richards

Weather: Sunny, 82 degrees

All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial

Check out the Portland Thorns FC Statistics

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