Seattle Reign FC 3
Portland Thorns FC 1
NWSL Regular Season – August 27, 2016
Seattle, WA – Memorial Stadium
The final NWSL Cascadia Derby match Saturday night in Seattle was full of plots and sub-plots. Reign FC needed points to stay alive for a shot at the playoffs. Thorns FC had a chance to move closer to clinching the NWSL Shield. Reign FC had the emotional roller coaster of a week where their star keeper was suspended by US Soccer and ultimately given a leave of absence. Thorns FC had the return of their Olympians to bolster their line up. Reign FC had the potential of the emotional lift from an appearance by Megan Rapinoe. Thorns FC had almost a full section in Memorial Stadium in Rose City Red.
The match started at a brisk pace. Seattle was forced to alter their defensive line with the continued absence of Rachel Corsie. As a result, Merritt Mathias stepped in at right back and attacked up the right side from the start. Portland did not sit on its heels, but Seattle had the better of possession early.
Seattle has struggled this season translating often superior possession into goals. The lack of an early goal, despite possession, had the potential to come back to haunt them as it has so often. The Seattle defense was up to the task, despite some good opportunities in the Seattle penalty area as the first half progressed.
Reign FC broke through when Manon Melis got the game’s first on a through pass from Naho Kawasumi. The final five minutes of the half saw Portland push for the equalizer, with Nadia Nadim and Tobin Heath making life difficult for Seattle. Heath played a heel flick over her head against two Seattle defenders that generated a corner for Portland late in the half and will be a GIF forever.
Melis grabbed a loose ball from the Thorns defense and got her brace in the 2nd half. Having missed games early in the season due to a broken leg, she appeared to be back to full fitness.
As the match moved into the final 20 minutes Portland and Seattle both made moves, but it was the 79th minute entrance of Megan Rapinoe that ignited the crowd of 5,888 and provided Seattle with a late emotional boost.
Allie Long and the Thorns did not go down without a fight, pulling the game game back to 2-1 in stoppage time. From there, Portland continued pressing, bring up Michelle Betos on a corner. Seattle was forced to bring everyone back for the ensuing play, with the memory of Betos scoring on just such a play last season on everyone’s mind.
Seattle managed to clear. Betos got back. Seattle’s Jess Fishlock received a long through pass down the right flank and laid the ball off across the 18 for the left foot of Megan Rapinoe. Rapinoe hit the ball to the far post, just inside, and it was 3-1. The Reign bench cleared as Pinoe held up the Reign crest on her jersey, clearly relishing the moment of scoring on her return in such an important way.
Seattle still has ground to make up to get to the post-season. Portland appears to be a lock, still with a shot at the NWSL Shield with 4 matches remaining. A Reign two match road trip with Washington and Chicago has their season on the brink, but the three points over Portland makes the playoffs still possible
Could another Cascadia Derby match happen in the 2016 NWSL Playoffs?
Photos by Vanya Tucherov
Seattle Reign FC
