Portland Thorns got their first win in their second match of the western group of the NWSL Challenge Cup on May 31st, in front of their home crowd at Providence Park in Portland, OR. Portland presented a heavily rotated squad with goalkeeper Shelby Hogan, defenders Reyna Reyes, Meaghan Nally, midfielder Taylor Porter, attackers Michelle Vasconcelos, Adrianna León, and forward Izzy D’Aquila in the starting 11. Some of these players are in their first season at the team, and they were playing alongside experienced veterans of the franchise like Meghan Kingenberg, Emily Mendes, the legendary Christine Sinclair, and the young Olivia Moultrie, whose role in the team keeps growing in minutes and importance.
Against them, Angel City FC also presented modifications in their squad to allow players some rest from their NWSL regular season efforts. The modifications did not affect the spectacle, with both teams showing good football and giving the fans quite an evening.
The Portland Thorns showed up dominating the game, and creating opportunities, with Michelle Vasconcelos constantly creating trouble for the Angel City defense from the left wing, and Izzy D’Aquila hungry to get on the team’s score sheet. The Los Angeles team wasn’t happy just withstanding the waves of the Thorns offense and tried to create some trouble of their own, putting goal keeper Hogan to the test several times.
It was Portland who took the lead in minute 24, when Michelle Vasconcelos responded with a great header from the center of the box to a cross sent by Izzy D’Aquila. Then, in the first minute of the second half, it would be D’Aquila’s turn, tapping in with the tip of her foot in mid air on a ball sent by Olivia Moultrie from a free kick.
Portland kept the pressure up and gave fans the hope of another rout at Providence Park, but it was Angel City who responded. First, in minute 61 with a classy finish by Clarisse Le Bihan who received a square pass in the box by Scarlett Camberos. Second, in minute 66, when Claire Emslie scored from the penalty spot. It was game on again.
Portland introduced two of their heavy hitters to the pitch, Morgan Weaver came in for Michelle Vasconcelos who had worked very hard all game, and their star forward Sophia Smith came in for Izzy D’Aquila. Both got busy very fast becoming immediately a head ache for Angel City’s defense. Portland went for the win incessantly, but Angel City wasn’t giving them any spaces.
The 2-2 tie kept into stoppage time and everything seemed like would end in a tie, tipping the score to either side would need something really special.
And then Morgan Weaver appeared, Christine Sinclair feed her a pass, as she was moving diagonally away to the the right side of Angel City’s outside box. With her back against the goal, she produced a first touch back heel chip that took everybody by surprise. The ball flew slowly high above Morgan’s mark and the Angel City’s goalie, Brittany Isenhour, blinded by her own defense, and slowly setting down, and bouncing in the opposite side netting. A world class finish, worth three points and a piece of your DVR’s memory. Providence Park was roaring in another dramatic match finish, this time for the Portland Thorns.
