It was hot in Portland, hot enough that the stadium relaxed rules against fans bringing in outside beverages and hot enough that cooling breaks were instituted for players in the middle of each half.
“We’re just happy to get the win. It’s been two months since we got a win. I’m just glad May and June are over and we’re in July,” Thorns coach Paul Riley said after the match. “I thought the grounds staff did a great job cooling it off. It was 159 at 4’oclock this afternoon on the field. If it had stayed up at those temperatures, it would have been a tough, tough second half.”
The Thorns lacked intensity in the first half, going down 1-0 after Sky Blue’s Katy Freels chipped Thorns keeper Michelle Betos in the 27th minute, but came into the second half knowing they had something to prove.
“They’ve worked so hard over the last few weeks. All they’ve been hearing is ‘the cavalry’s coming back, everybody’s coming back’, I think they wanted to prove they could win without the other (World Cup) players…it’s a great result for us.”
Friday night’s game also marked the return of the first of Portland’s eight World Cup players, Canadian international Kaylyn Kyle. “It was good to have her. She’s the only one from the World Cup contingent that’s back playing and it was really on her own shoulders. You’ve got to give her a lot of credit. I thought she was really good for us tonight.”
Canadian international Kaylyn Kyle is the first of Portland’s eight World Cup players to return to the field at Providence Park. She played a key part in the second half, shutting down Sky Blue’s Katy Freels.
“We all came together after the game and said this is just the start. It feels really good to get that win,” goal-scorer Sinead Farrelly said post-match. Farrelly scored the go-ahead goal in the 79th minute, heading home a pass from midfielder Alyssa Kleiner.
The Thorns celebrate the go-ahead goal from Sinead Farrelly. They would go on to win 2-1 over Sky Blue, their first win since April 18.
Scoring Summary
SKY: Freels (Lytle), 27
POR: Long (penalty kick), 70
POR: Farrelly (Kleiner), 79
Misconduct Summary
POR: Kyle (Caution), 54
SKY: Stanton (Caution), 56
SKY: Levin (Ejection), 69
SKY: Foord (Caution), 80
Lineups & Stats
POR: GK Michelle Betos, D Rachel Van Hollebeke, D Kat Williamson ©, D Emily Menges, M Alyssa Kleiner, M Allie Long, M Kaylyn Kyle, M Kendall Johnson (Comeau, 90+4), M Sinead Farrelly, F Mana Shim (Terry, 60), F Ayo
Substitutes Not Used: GK Emily Kruger, M Kate Bennett, F Sarah Jackson, F Kelsey Haycook
TOTAL SHOTS: 13 (Ayo, 5); SHOTS ON GOAL: 4 (Long, 3); FOULS: 13 (Johnson, 4); OFFSIDES: 8; CORNER KICKS: 4; SAVES: 3
SKY: GK Brittany Cameron, D Kristin Grubka (Goodson, 90), D Lindsi Cutshall, D Cami Levin, D Caitlin Foord, M Nikki Stanton (Diederich, 88), M Hayley Haagsma, M Shawna Gordon (Killion, 75), M Taylor Lytle, M Katy Freels, F Nadia Nadim
Substitutes Not Used: GK Aubrey Bledsoe, D Rachel Breton
TOTAL SHOTS: 8 (Haagsma, 3); SHOTS ON GOAL: 4 (Freels, 2); FOULS: 14 (Foord, Cutshall, 3); OFFSIDES: 6; CORNER KICKS: 5; SAVES: 2
Referee: Levi Rippy
Assistant Referees: Cameron Blanchard, Jason Perlewitz
4th Official: J.J. Blodgett
Attendance: 12,223
Weather: Sunny, 90 degrees
