The Portland Thorns’ Providence Park is inching closer to full capacity. They allowed more supporters on Sunday against Kansas City NWSL. Portland joined the league in celebrating Juneteenth, a long-celebrated, but recently officially named federal holiday, honoring the liberating of the final slaves after the American Civil War. On the field, the Portland Thorns fed off the crowd’s energy and survived the first match after the international break with a 1-0 victory.
Portland Thorns fed off the energy right away, in a first-half featuring massive Portland possession and chances and an almost complete performance by Kansas City goalkeeper Abby Smith. In the first minute, Thorns midfielder Lindsey Horan sent in a headed shot just wide of the net. It was the first of many that were close but not close enough.
Forward Simone Charley exposed the Kansas City backline often on Sunday. The 7th minute saw Charley with a strong break on goal, but the KC defense recovered to keep the ball from reaching Smith. Kansas City made a big mistake on defense in the 12th.
Thorns midfielder Crystal Dunn crossed a ball into the box, but Kansas City defender Elizabeth Ball hit the pass down with her hand. Up stepped forward Christine Sinclair to take the Portland penalty kick. Sinclair shoots to her left, but a diving Smith stopped Portland from getting the lead.
The first 30 minutes of the match saw few opportunities for Kansas City to score. Forward Amy Rodriguez was tasked with being the single point of attack, as KC was playing defensively to thwart the Portland attack. She had one of only two shots on goal for the team in teal. Joining her was defender Kristen Edmonds, but neither got Kansas City on the scoresheet.
Ball made up for the match’s earlier handball in the 30th minute. Dunn made her way into the penalty area, with only Smith to beat. The former Portland defender, Ball, made a diving tackle in the box to halt the Portland chance.
Smith had two moments before stoppage time that added to her already fantastic half. In the 36th minute, Sinclair made a run into the goalkeeper’s area, Smith reacted quickly and dove in front of the ball before the best international goal scorer of all time could get off a shot. The biggest came in 41st. The Kansas City midfield had a moment of confusion that Sinclair pounced. Her tackle, and pass to Dunn, gave the US international room to run in Portland’s offensive third. After losing KC defenders, she found an open Charley, who took aim and fired on net but was stopped by a right glove of a falling back Smith.
Kansas City was set to go into halftime at 0-0; a fantastic scoreline considering Portland’s dominance of offensive statistics. The Thorns had 14 shots, 12 crosses, and seven corners compared to just five shots, one cross, and zero corners for KC. Then one mistake by Smith, in the fifth minute of stoppage time, gave Portland the game-winning goal.
Dunn sent a booming pass to an open Charley, who made one of her many runs into a dangerous attacking position. This time, Smith was out of position, a yard out of the penalty area. Smith underestimated the position of Charley, and the Portland forward cut in front of Smith with the ball, leaving an open shot on goal.
The second half saw each team take up different roles. Just before the half, Portland’s Horan went down with an injury that didn’t require a substitution. Horan was subbed off at the half, alongside Charley. Each team had to adapt to international players returning home. Portland had the most to overcome and came into the second half with far less energy than when they started the match.
Huw Williams’ Kansas City side had a much improved second half. The first ten minutes of the final 45 minutes had Kansas City shoot as many shots as they did the entire first half. Once Becky Sauerbrunn and Dunn joined Horan on the bench, Kansas City became more dangerous.
In the 61st minute, fullback Katie Bowen forced an awkward save by Portland goalkeeper Adrianna Franch. Bowen sent in a cross that floated towards the top of the net. Franch had to make a leaping save to make sure it went over the end line.
A penalty shout from Kansas City in the 72nd minute had the chance to change the match. Fullback Kristen Edmonds stood in the corner of the penalty area when she went to the ground from an apparent trip by a Portland Thorns player. The referee didn’t give the second penalty kick of the match, but for Kansas City, sitting last in the NWSL standings, a match coming down to one or two moments is a step in the right direction.
As both teams made it into stoppage time, Kansas City earned their first corner kick of the match. Kansas City turned up the heat, and in the 94th minute, the final chance came to Michelle Maemone. Franch made the save to secure the 1-0 victory.
Kansas City Game Plan
Jéssica Silva and Chloe Logarzo came into the match as second-half substitutes, and each made an impact. What stuck out the most was improved possession, which led to more set pieces. Portland conceded 10 fouls in the second half, with some coming in dangerous areas for the away side. Halftime adjustments put Kansas City in a better attacking position, and for Williams, it was all part of the plan.
“Game plan going into this was to hold them for the first half, make life difficult for them,” said Williams. “And then open on the front foot in the second half. Almost worked for us, gave up a goal away late in the first half, and second half we fought and battled and just wasn’t to be again.”
Kansas City NWSL is healthier. Week-by-week, Williams has more opportunities to put his best XI on the field. It’s only a matter of time before their game plan is followed up with a victory.
International Break Adjustment
Portland Thorns had the toughest roster decisions on the night. Half of the starting XI played for their countries in the week coming into the match. It gave the Thorns a key advantage in the first half of the match, but it also allowed coach Mark Parsons to use more depth in the second half.
“Tough conditions coming back from international break,” said Parsons. “The togetherness and the performance in the first half was outstanding. I’m just proud that we represented our identity and played like the Thorns.”
The Thorns don’t have too many concerns going into the Olympic break. After all, they won every Challenge Cup match of 2021, and two of those came when over half their starting core were away on international duty. The next few matches should see more depth players getting increased minutes in preparation for the absences.
What’s Next
It doesn’t get any easier for Kansas City. They play two matches this week, starting with the unbeaten Orlando Pride on June 23. Then, on Saturday, they travel to Washington D.C. to take on the Washington Spirit.
Portland Thorns have a single match week ahead, but it’s an entertaining one. They play against the NC Courage Saturday, June 26 in Cary, NC.
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