In a 4-0 victory that saw Emily Menges and Tobin Heath return to action for the Thorns, it also saw Midge Purce carted off on a stretcher after a hard foul from Royals’ Diana Matheson. The win puts Portland into third place, while the Royals stand in sixth.
For the full recap click here.
Photos by Jeff Wong and Dante’y Buitureida
Becky Sauerbrunn of the Utah Royals (photo by Dante’y Buitureida).
Utah Royals vs Portland Thorns (photo by Dante’y Buitureida).
Utah Royals vs Portland Thorns (photo by Dante’y Buitureida).
Thorns coach Mark Parsons (photo by Dante’y Buitureida).
Portland’s Hayley Raso and Utah’s Christen Press (photo by Dante’y Buitureida).
Thorns’ Tobin Heath scores within minutes of the opening whistle against the Utah Royals (photo by Dante’y Buitureida).
Only a few minutes later the Thorns found themselves celebrating again when Ana Crnogorčević scored her first for the club (photo by Dante’y Buitureida).
Portland’s Celeste Boureille chases down Christen Press of the Utah Royals (photo by Dante’y Buitureida).
Portland’s Celeste Boureille chases down Christen Press of the Utah Royals (photo by Dante’y Buitureida).
Portland’s Celeste Boureille chases down Christen Press of the Utah Royals (photo by Dante’y Buitureida).
Royals’ Becca Moros and Thorns’ Hayley Raso (photo by Jeff Wong).
Back from injury, Thorns defender Emily Menges goes up against Royals midfielder Gunnhildur Jonsdottir (photo by Jeff Wong).
Portland’s Midge Purce was the recipient of many fouls, this one coming from Utah defender Samantha Johnson (photo by Jeff Wong).
Thorns midfielder Lindsey Horan sails over Desiree Scott of the Royals (photo by Dante’y Buitureida).
Thorns midfielder Lindsey Horan sails over Desiree Scott of the Royals (photo by Jeff Wong).
Thorns midfielder Lindsey Horan sails over Desiree Scott of the Royals (photo by Jeff Wong).
Defender Samantha Johnson of Utah attempts to block a kick from Portland’s Tobin Heath (photo by Dante’y Buitureida).
Thorns’ Mallory Weber vs Becky Sauerbrunn (photo by Dante’y Buitureida).
Portland’s Hayley Raso and Utah’s Sydney Miramontez (photo by Dante’y Buitureida).
Recently back from another injury, Portland’s Tobin Heath takes the corner kick against Utah (photo by Dante’y Buitureida).
Weber v Sauerbrunn (photo by Dante’y Buitureida).
Utah keeper Abby Smith and defender Becca Moros watch the ball hit the back of the net (photo by Dante’y Buitureida).
Thorns celebrate one of four goals (photo by Dante’y Buitureida).
Riveter Capo leading the cheers (photo by Jeff Wong).
Two of 17,930 fans in Providence Park rooting for the Portland Thorns (photo by Dante’y Buitureida).
Thorns defender Emily Sonnett tangles with Royals forward Christen Press (photo by Dante’y Buitureida).
Utah Royal Amy Rodriguez tries to slip past Portland’s Emily Menges (photo by Dante’y Buitureida).
File Photo by Dante’y Buitureida
Royals’ Christen Press and Emily Sonnett watch the build up (photo by Dante’y Buitureida).
Portland’s Lindsey Horan wins the header over Utah’s Gunnhildur Jonsdottir (photo by Dante’y Buitureida).
Utah’s Christen Press waits for the throw-in (photo by Dante’y Buitureida).
Portland’s Emily Sonnett out jumps Utah’s Gunnhildur Jonsdottir (photo by Dante’y Buitureida).
Utah’s Becca Moros attemps to take possession (photo by Dante’y Buitureida).
Utah’s Christen Press tracks Portland’s Lindsey Horan (photo by Dante’y Buitureida).
Portland keeper Adrianna Franch snatches the ball mid-air to kill the run (photo by Dante’y Buitureida).
After a hard tackle by Utah’s Diana Matheson, Midge Purce had to be stretchered off the field at the end of the first half (photo by Dante’y Buitureida).
Diana Matheson on a promising run for the Royals (photo by Dante’y Buitureida).
Matheson’s run was eventually stopped by Portland’s Mallory Weber (photo by Dante’y Buitureida).
Diana Matheson trying to maintain possession with a lurking Tobin Heath (photo by Jeff Wong).
Portland Thorns vs Utah Royals (photo by Jeff Wong).
Christen Press breaks past a pair of Thorns (photo by Jeff Wong).
Hayley Raso attempts to outrun the Royals’ defense (photo by Jeff Wong).
Christen Press first to the ball (photo by Jeff Wong).
Tobin Heath subs out, Tyler Lussi subs in (photo by Dante’y Buitureida).
Utah keeper Abby Smith watches the fourth and final ball slip past her (photo by Dante’y Buitureida).
Portland’s Tyler Lussi celebrates her goal (photo by Dante’y Buitureida).
Tyler Lussi and Thorns celebrate (photo by Dante’y Buitureida).
Tyler Lussi and Thorns celebrate her goal, coming less than a minute after she subbed in (photo by Jeff Wong).
Portland’s Christine Sinclair fights for the ball in the air (photo by Dante’y Buitureida.
Parsons takes a minute to talk strategy with Tyler Lussi (photo by Dante’y Buitureida).
Royals’ captain Becky Sauerbrunn maintains control with an oncoming Tyler Lussi (photo by Dante’y Buitureida).
Thorns’ Hayley Raso (photo by Jeff Wong).
Press and Carpenter go head to head (photo by Jeff Wong).
Press and Carpenter go head to head (photo by Jeff Wong).
Franch keeps a dangerous ball from reaching the back of the net (photo by Jeff Wong).
Portland Thorns vs Utah Royals (photo by Jeff Wong).
Portland defender Ellie Carpenter and Utah forward Christen Press struggle for possession (photo by Jeff Wong).
Portland defender Ellie Carpenter and Utah forward Christen Press struggle for possession (photo by Jeff Wong).
Rodriguez and Sinclair tangle in the air (photo by Jeff Wong).
Lindsey Horan tries to tick seconds off the clock (photo by Dante’y Buitureida).
By the final whistle the match ended 4-0 Thorns (photo by Dante’y Buitureida).
Midge Purce appeared on crutches after the game due to a right ankle injury at the end of the first half (photo by Dante’y Buitureida).
Horan and Franch accept their roses. Horan for a goal, Franch for the shutout (photo by Dante’y Buitureida).
Portland’s keeper Adrianna Franch (photo by Dante’y Buitureida).
Utah midfielder Katrina Gorry post-match (photo by Dante’y Buitureida).
Portland forward Ana-Maria Crnogorčević post-match (photo by Dante’y Buitureida).
Portland’s Lindsey Horan post-match (photo by Dante’y Buitureida).
Thorns’ head coach Mark Parsons at post-match press conference (photo by Dante’y Buitureida).
