As the 2021 NWSL regular season draws to a close, the Portland Thorns continue to pick up points, but have struggled to find a win in recent weeks.
The last time the Thorns took all three points from a game came against the North Carolina Courage on Sept. 12. Since then, they’ve taken just two points from four matches.
Portland appeared back on track against the OL Reign on Wednesday, taking a 1-0 lead well past the 80th minute before referee Tori Penso awarded the visitors a penalty kick due to a controversial handball call. The match ended 1-1, but it felt like one of those results that didn’t reflect how the game played out for nearly 90 minutes.
“I thought our team was excellent — dominant with our pressing and really aggressive with our attacking play going forward,” Thorns coach Mark Parsons said. “We created a lot of chances, to get in at 15-3 (shots) at halftime showed the dominance. (The) team deserved to win.”
Still, the Thorns already have clinched a playoff berth and hold a one-point lead on the Reign at the top of the table. With a spot in the playoffs guaranteed and six possible points left to win, the Thorns’ focus shifts to entering the playoffs with momentum.
3 THORNS CALLED UP FOR USWNT FRIENDLIES
Forward Sophia Smith, midfielder Lindsey Horan and defender Becky Sauerbrunn will receive their next caps with the U.S. women’s national team in the upcoming international window.
Following the Thorns’ match against the Houston Dash on Sunday afternoon, all three will travel to Kansas City, Kansas, to meet up with the national team ahead of a two-game series against the Korea Republic on Oct. 21 and Oct. 26.
Sauerbrunn leads a Thorns back line that has conceded just 16 goals in 2021, the fewest in the NWSL. Her 195 caps with the U.S. is second among active players, just behind Carli Lloyd.
Horan will make her 105th and 106th USWNT appearances in the two-game series. She will be honored before the game in Kansas City for passing 100 caps, which she accomplished against New Zealand back in a July friendly.
And, after scoring her first goal for the United States against Paraguay in September, Smith is about to make her ninth and 10th appearances in red, white and blue. The forward has scored a team-leading seven goals with the Thorns in 2021 and will attempt to build on her red-hot league form with the national team.
The two games will take place at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City and Allianz Field in St. Paul, Minnesota. Following the two friendlies, Portland’s three call-ups will return to the Thorns for the club’s final match of the regular season.
A REMATCH AGAINST THE DASH
Portland’s 3-2 loss against Houston on Oct. 6 was just its second defeat at Providence Park in 2021 and first since May. However the team has an opportunity to put that loss behind it quickly when it travels to Houston for a Sunday afternoon match.
The Thorns are 1-0-1 against the Dash in the regular season, winning 1-0 in Houston in late July before their recent loss. Earlier this season, Parsons’ team stormed back from a 2-0 deficit to defeat Houston in penalties and advance to the final of the Women’s International Champions Cup.
In the most recent matchup, Dash forward Rachel Daly netted a brace while midfielder Kristie Mewis scored added another goal, which was enough to help Houston take down a Thorns team that outshot the Dash 26-12. Houston has several other threats throughout its lineup, including forward Nichelle Prince, midfielder Shea Groom and defender Abby Dahlkemper.
Sunday’s game is Portland’s final road challenge of the 2021 regular season and an opportunity for the team to rekindle some momentum ahead of the playoffs.
“We’re fine — we’ve actually played really well aside from maybe the game in Chicago,” forward Christine Sinclair said. “We’re just not getting results. We’re still top of the table with two games to go, so our destiny is in our own hands. We’re obviously upset about the results of these past couple games, but at the same time, we win our last two games, and we win the shield.”
MAINTAINING FORM IN LA
The last time the Timbers played at Dignity Health Sports Park, back in late July, they lost 4-1 to an energized LA Galaxy team. But that game and result occurred over two months ago; Portland is simply playing much better now than they were back then.
Coach Giovanni Savarese’s team has lost just twice since that lopsided result in Southern California, surging up the Western Conference table in recent weeks. Portland will attempt to pick up its ninth-consecutive result –– and a fifth straight road victory –– Saturday night.
Though his team sits at just sixth place in the Western Conference, Galaxy coach Greg Vanney continues to run out a dangerous, playoff-caliber lineup each week. Forward Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez has 12 goals in 16 matches this season and leads the line. The Mexican striker’s off-ball movement, especially in the penalty box, is something the Timbers’ back line will be plenty aware of. Midfielder Jonathan dos Santos and forwards Efrain Alvarez and Samuel Grandsir are two other names that will undoubtedly be circled for their individual talent both on and off the ball.
The other challenge comes with players returning from the recent international break. With Portland’s recent momentum, it’s hard to know for sure how the past two weeks off affected the team, if at all. Fans will find out the answer to that question Saturday night when the Timbers kick off their final stretch of play before the MLS Cup Playoffs.
INJURIES AND ABSENCES
Timbers: Portland listed midfielder Sebastián Blanco as questionable with left knee pain and the Argentine started the Timbers’ game against Inter Miami on the bench. He subbed into the game in the 67th minute and provided the assist on Jaroslaw Niezgoda’s game-winning goal.
UPCOMING GAMES
Timbers: at LA Galaxy, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 16 (Fox 12 Plus)
Thorns: at Houston Dash, 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 17 (Paramount+)
-- Portland Timbers and Thorns FC
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