NWSL Portland Thorns FC

Thorns Fc Register 2-0 Win Over Racing Louisville Fc

Published on April 23, 2023 under National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)
Portland Thorns FC News Release


PORTLAND, Ore. - Portland Thorns FC scored a pair of first-half goals to secure a 2-0 win over Racing Louisville FC at Providence Park on Saturday night. Christine Sinclair opened the scoring with her 60th career NWSL goal, while Bella Bixby recorded her 20th career shutout as Portland remained unbeaten through its first four games of the 2023 regular season. Sophia Smith added two assists in the match, while Morgan Weaver scored her second goal of the campaign.

Unbeaten Runs + Milestones

Thorns FC are unbeaten in their first four regular season games to start the 2023 campaign, outscoring their opponents by a margin of 11-2. Dating back to last season, Portland is unbeaten in its last nine regular season games with a record of 6-0-3. Notably, Thorns FC have lost just three times in their last 30 regular season matches (14-3-13), dating back to 2021. The only other NWSL team to ever have three or fewer losses in a 30-game span is the Courage who did so multiple times spanning 2017 through 2019. With her shutout, Bixby became the fastest goalkeeper to reach 20 regular season shutouts. She reached this mark in 40 games, which surpassed the previous mark of 20 shutouts in 46 games by Nicole Barnhart during the 2015 season. Morgan Weaver tallied her 10th career regular season goal. She is the 11th player to reach double-digit goals in club history.

NWSL Royalty

Christine Sinclair scored her first goal of the 2023 season one minute and 49 seconds into the match - the fastest goal in the league this season. With the goal, she became the second player to score in every NWSL regular season, joining OL Reign's Jess Fishlock. Sinclair is the only player to score in every year of the NWSL, including the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup. Notably, Sinclair has scored against 14 of the 15 NWSL opponents she has faced in her career. With the goal, Sinclair has 60 career NWSL regular season goals, which is tied for second-most in league history, trailing only Sam Kerr. Sinclair joined Lynn Williams tonight as one of three players in NWSL history to reach 60 goals and the only player to accomplish this feat all with the same team.

Smith Surging

Smith recorded her first career multi-assist game for Thorns FC. Smith is the first player in the NWSL this season to record a multi-assist game. With her two assists, Smith has four goals and four assists this season through the team's first four matches. Her eight goal contributions this regular season are the most by any player in their first four games of a season in NWSL history. Smith has recorded a goal contribution (7g, 5a) in seven consecutive regular season matches, dating back to the 2022 season. Notably, Smith is the fourth player in club history (Alex Morgan, Vero Boquete, Morgan Weaver) with both a multi-goal and multi-assist game for the club.

Goal-Scoring Plays

POR - Christine Sinclair (Sophia Smith), 2nd minute: On the counterattack, Sophia Smith dribbled down the left side of the field and played a cross into the center of the box. Crystal Dunn allowed the ball to run across the box for Christine Sinclair, who fired a shot off the left post and into the back of the net.

POR - Morgan Weaver (Sophia Smith), 45+4: Attacking down the left side of the box, Smith dribbled to the endline and played the ball across the face of the goal. This time Hina Sugita allowed the ball to run past her for Morgan Weaver, who fired the cross into the bottom right corner of the goal.

Notes:

Sophia Smith has registered four assists in her first four matches this season.

Smith recorded her first career multi-assist game. She is the 11th different player to record a multi-assist game for Thorns FC.

In Thorns FC history, Smith is one of four players that has both a multi-goal and multi-assist game in her career along with Morgan Weaver, Vero Boquete and Alex Morgan.

Smith has four assists this season, which leads the NWSL.

Smith has recorded a goal contribution (7g, 5a) in seven consecutive regular season matches, dating back to the 2022 season.

Smith has two goals and five assists in her last five home matches for Thorns FC.

Christine Sinclair scored her 60th career NWSL goal. She ranks tied for second-most all-time in league history, trailing only Sam Kerr (77).

Sinclair one of three players in league history to reach the 60-goal mark. She is the only player to accomplish this all with the same team.

Sinclair has scored against 14 of the 15 NWSL opponents she has faced in her career.

Morgan Weaver has scored four goals in her last four home matches for Portland.

Weaver scored her 10th career goal in the match. She is the 10th player in club history to reach double-digit goals.

Bixby recorded her 20th career shutout. She is the fastest goalkeeper to 20 shutouts in league history accomplishing this in 40 games, surpassing the previous record held by Nicole Barnhart, who earned her 20th shutout in her 46th game (2015).

Adriana Leon made her Providence Park debut in the match.

Emily Menges made her 2023 NWSL regular-season debut as a second-half substitute.

Thorns FC have won all five of their NWSL meetings with Louisville, scoring multiple goals in each game while allowing just one goal in total.

With the win it marked the first time Portland has won five straight regular season games while scoring multiple goals in each match against a single opponent.

Thorns FC have scored multiple goals in all three home wins against Louisville with three shutouts.

Portland has scored seven first-half goals this season - the most of any team in the NWSL.

Thorns FC are unbeaten in their first four regular season games to start the 2023 campaign, outscoring their opponents by a margin of 11-2.

Dating back to last season, Portland is unbeaten in its last nine regular season games with a record of 6-0-3.

Thorns FC have lost just three times in their last 30 regular season matches (14-3-13), dating back to 2021. The only other NWSL team to ever have three or fewer losses in a 30-game span is the Courage who did so multiple times spanning 2017 through 2019.

Next Game

Portland will play host to Angel City FC on Saturday, April 29, at Providence Park; kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. (Pacific). The April 29 match will be broadcast locally on FOX 12 PLUS with a streaming option available on Paramount+.

Video Highlights

Highlights of the match can be viewed.

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

April 22, 2023 - Providence Park (Portland, Ore.)

Goals by Half 1 2 F

Portland Thorns FC 2 0 2

Racing Louisville FC 0 0 0

Scoring Summary:

POR: Sinclair (Smith), 2

POR: Weaver (Smith), 45+4

Misconduct Summary:

POR: Weaver (caution), 28

POR: Coffey (caution), 32

LOU: Borges (caution), 67

LOU: Borges (caution), 74

LOU: Pickett (caution), 90+4

Lineups:

POR: GK Bixby, D Reyes (Nally, 46), D Hubly, D Sauerbrunn (Menges, 58), D Klingenberg, M Coffey, M Dunn (Rodríguez, 73), M Sinclair ©, F Sugita (Leon, 58), F Smith (D'Aquila, 73), F Weaver

Substitutes Not Used: GK Hogan, M Porter, M, M Moultrie, F Betfort

TOTAL SHOTS: 20 (Smith, Weaver, 6); SHOTS ON GOAL: 6 (Three players tied, 2); FOULS: 9 (Coffey, Dunn, 2); OFFSIDES: 0; CORNER KICKS: 5; SAVES: 4

LOU: GK Lund, D Milliet, D Erceg, D Pikkujämsä (Holloway, 5), D Pickett, M Howell ©, M DeMelo (Chidiac, 84), M Borges, M Shuang (Fischer, 56), F Davis (Goins, 84), F McDonald (Monaghan, 56)

Substitutes Not Used: GK Sekany, D Wyne, D Lester, D Murray

TOTAL SHOTS: 12 (Borges, DeMelo, 3); SHOTS ON GOAL: 4 (Borges, 2); FOULS: 7 (Howell, 2); OFFSIDES: 0; CORNER KICKS: 4; SAVES: 4

Referee: Thomas Snyder

Assistant Referees: Zach McWhorter, Seth Martin

Fourth Official: Jaclyn Metz

VAR: Lorant Varga

Weather: Cloudy, 62 degrees

Attendance: 14,972

Check out the Portland Thorns FC Statistics

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National Women's Soccer League Stories from April 23, 2023


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