NWSL Portland Thorns FC

Thorns FC Top San Diego Wave FC 3-2 at Providence Park

Published on April 17, 2022 under National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)
Portland Thorns FC News Release


PORTLAND, Ore. - Portland Thorns FC came out on top against San Diego Wave FC with a 3-2 victory at Providence Park on Saturday afternoon. Sophia Smith opened the scoring in the fourth minute, and was followed up by a first-half brace from Hina Sugita.

Challenge Cup Form

With the win, Portland is 3-1-1 (10 pts) and in second place in the West Division. Thorns FC wrap up group play with a road match against Angel City FC on April 24. The top team from each group, along with the second-place finisher with the most points out of the three groups, will advance to the semifinals on Wednesday, May 4, with the championship match set for Saturday, May 7. Portland is currently the highest-ranked second place team out of the three groups.

Goal Scorers and Playmakers

Sophia Smith scored her team-leading third goal of the 2022 Challenge Cup, and in a second consecutive match against San Diego. In her last six appearances for club and country, Smith has a combined six goals. Hina Sugita scored her first career Thorns FC goal today, followed shortly by her second to register a brace. Sugita became Portland's fifth player to score a goal in this year's Challenge Cup. Across all competitions, Sugita is the 10th player to register a multi-goal game for Portland in club history. Morgan Weaver tallied her first Challenge Cup assist, and fourth in all competitions for Portland.

Goal-Scoring Plays

POR - Sophia Smith (Morgan Weaver), 4th minute: Morgan Weaver dribbled across the middle of the field and dished the ball wide for Sophia Smith on the left side of the 18-yard box. Smith took a touch outside of her defender and curled a left-footed shot inside the far post.

POR - Hina Sugita, 21st minute: Christine Sinclair chipped a shot toward goal, hitting the crossbar. Hina Sugita followed it in with a diving header into the lower right-hand corner of the goal.

POR - Hina Sugita, 41st minute: Sinclair sent a diagonal cross from inside box, taking a deflection off the head of a San Diego defender and bouncing to the feet of Sugita. With one touch, Sugita struck the ball with her left foot into the far corner of the net.

SAN - Belle Briede (Alex Morgan), 46th minute: Alex Morgan fired a shot from the right corner of the six-yard box, forcing a save from goalkeeper Bella Bixby. Collecting the rebound, Morgan cut a pass back toward the penalty spot for Belle Briede to slot a low shot into the back of the net.

SAN - Taylor Kornieck (Kelsey Turnbow), 67th minute: Kelsey Turnbow sent in an in-swinging corner kick from the right side and Taylor Kornieck headed it down and into the corner of the goal.

Notes:

Thorns FC are 3-1-1 (10 pts) in Challenge Cup play and in second place in the West Division.

Portland has won both its matches against expansion side San Diego Wave FC.

Sophia Smith scored her third goal of the 2022 Challenge Cup.

Smith has scored in consecutive matches against San Diego.

Smith is one of seven players in NWSL to have scored three or more goals this tournament.

In her last six appearances for club and country, Smith has a combined six goals.

Hina Sugita scored her first and second career Thorns FC goals today.

Sugita became Portland's fifth player to score a goal in this year's Challenge Cup, and ninth across all Challenge Cup matches.

Sugita is the fifth player in the league to score a brace in the 2022 NWSL Challenge Cup.

Hina Sugita is the 10th different NWSL player to score a brace in Challenge Cup history.

Across all competitions, Sugita is the 10th player to register a multi-goal game for Portland in club history.

Morgan Weaver tallied her first Challenge Cup assist, and fourth in all competitions for Portland.

Weaver appeared in her 16th Challenge Cup game. She has played in every Challenge Cup match in the tournament's existence and is the only Thorns FC player to appear in every match.

Thorns FC conceded multiple goals for the first time in the 2022 tournament. Portland is tied for the fewest goals conceded (4) in the tournament this year with the Chicago Red Stars and OL Reign.

Next Game

Thorns FC will play their final group-stage match of the 2022 Challenge Cup against Angel City FC at Titan Stadium on Sunday, April 24; kickoff is set for 6 p.m. (Pacific) on Paramount+.

Portland Thorns FC (3-1-1, 10pts) vs. San Diego Wave FC (1-1-3, 4pts)

(NWSL Challenge Cup)

April 17, 2022 - Providence Park (Portland, Ore.)

Goals by Half 1 2 F

Portland Thorns FC 3 0 3

San Diego Wave FC 0 2 2

Scoring Summary:

POR: S. Smith (Weaver), 4

POR: Sugita, 21

POR: Sugita, 41

SD: Briede (Morgan), 67

SD: Kornieck (Turnbow), 67

Misconduct Summary

SD: M McGrady (caution), 42

SD: M McNabb (caution), 84

Lineups:

POR: GK A. Smith, D Hubly, D Menges, D Nally (Pogarch, 45), M Klingenberg, M Sugita, M Coffey, M Rodríguez (Moultrie, 63), F S. Smith (Ryan, 63), F Weaver (Beckman, 90+3), F Sinclair ©

Substitutes Not Used: GK A. Smith, GK Hogan, M Porter, M Ryan, F Betfort, F Everett

TOTAL SHOTS: 18 (S. Smith, 9); SHOTS ON GOAL: 9 (S. Smith, 4); FOULS: 6 (Sinclair, 2); OFFSIDES: 5; CORNER KICKS: 5; SAVES: 4

SD: GK Telford, D McGrady, D Girma, D Dahlkemper © (Riehl, 46), D Westphal, M McNabb, M Van Egmond, F Morgan, F Briede (Kornieck, 67), F Jakobsson (Ali, 73), F Taylor (Turnbow, 46)

Substitutes Not Used: GK Lowder, D Hansen, M Kornieck, M Pulver, F Ali, F Johnson, F Schimmer

TOTAL SHOTS: 17 (Morgan, 9); SHOTS ON GOAL: 6 (Morgan, 2); FOULS: 9 (Dahlkemper, Turnbow, 2); OFFSIDES: 1; CORNER KICKS: 6; SAVES: 6

Referee: Ricardo Fierro

Assistant Referees: Ricardo Ocampo, Salma Perez

4th Official: Luis Trujillo

Attendance: 12,440

Weather: Cloudy, 57 degrees

All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial.

Check out the Portland Thorns FC Statistics

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