Piscataway, N.J- The Portland Thorns scored a late goal in the second half that gave them the 1-0 win over Sky Blue FC.
Portland came out attacking right away and, overall, had more shots on goal than Sky Blue. In the 27’ minute the Thorns had their first at goal when defender Meghan Klingenberg started a key play off a corner kick that went to Katherine Reynolds, but her shot was just wide of the net.
The Thorns almost saw another goal as Elizabeth Ball crossed to the left side of the goal with forward Simone Charley ready to receive the pass. Charley went in for the header, but the ball was deflected against the crossbar.
The winning goal came for Portland in the 68’ minute when Charley accidentally passed to Sky Blue’s defenders. Luckily, Midge Purce got a hold of the ball and her right-footed shot left goalkeeper Didi Haracic on the ground trying to make a save with her foot. Purce’s goal gave the Thorns the advantage with a 1-0 lead.
Sky Blue remained under attack as Marissa Everett brought the ball in for a low-shot to the goal, but Haracic was on it and she prevented the shot from seeing the back of the net.
Along with several other new players, defender Gina Lewandowski started in her first match of the season for Sky Blue and played the full match.
“I think we had a good performance, certain phases of the game we got dangerous going forward a couple times but we just need to get more consistency going forward,” stated Lewandowski. “There were phases where we actually were the better team we just need to do that over a longer period of time.”
The Thorns have only lost once this season and have also been unbeaten while in New Jersey. Sky Blue has managed to record two points this season, landing them eighth in the standings.
This match marked Portland’s sixth consecutive game on the road, with them heading home for their home opener June 2nd. Sky Blue will return to the field on Saturday, June 15th as they will be on the road to face the Utah Royals.
SCORING SUMMARY:
POR-Margaret Purce, 69’
BOOKING SUMMARY:
POR-Dagny Brynjarsdottir, 87’ yellow card
SKY BLUE FC: #13-Didi Haracic, #4-Paige Monaghan, #17-Dominique Richardson (#14-Kenie Wright, 90 + 3’), #8-Erica Skroski, #12-Gina Lewandowski, #16-Sarah Killion, #28-Imani Dorsey, #11-Raquel Rodriguez, #9-Nahomi Kawasum (#20-Francisca Gabriela Morias Da Rocha, 78’), #29-Amandine Pierre-Louis (#7-Jennifer Hoy, 46’), #21-Savannah McCaskill
Subs not used: #18-Sabrina Flores, #15-Kaylan Marckese, #2-Mckenzie Meehan
PORTLAND THORNS: #33-Britt Eckerstrom, #25-Meghan Klingenberg, #4-Emily Menges, #2-Katherine Reynolds, #27-Elizabeth Ball, #36-Angela Salem (#41-Madison Pogarch, 74’), #35-Gabby Seiler, #7-Ana-Maria Crnogorcevic, #11-Dagny Brynjarsdottir, #34-Tyler Lussi (#23-Margaret Purce, 59’), #38-Simone Charley (#40-Marissa Everett, 79’)
Subs not used: #31-Bella Bixby, #30-Celeste Boureille, #20-Kelli Hubly, #37-Emily Ogle
TOTAL SHOTS: NJ 8-16 POR
SHOTS ON GOAL: NJ 1-7 POR
FOULS: NJ 12-9 POR
OFFSIDES: NJ 2-3 POR
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