PORTLAND, Oregon (Saturday, October 5, 2024) – Portland Thorns (8-11-5, 28 points, 7th place) dropped a 2-1 result to Utah Royals, as midfielder Olivia Moultrie’s lone goal was not enough to overcome the two-goal deficit.
The two sides traded possession through much of the first 15 minutes, battling it out in the trenches of the midfield. In the 18th minute forward Christine Sinclair gave the Thorns its first real look at goal, but her short-range shot was blocked by the leg of a Royals defender. Utah’s prowess from outside the 18-yard-box forced goalkeeper Shelby Hogan to make several saves, including one by her finger tips in the 19th minute.
Forward Morgan Weaver nearly had the first goal of the night in the 30th minute, her shot forcing goalkeeper Mandy Haught to make the fully extended save. Utah’s Ally Sentnor was inches away from breaking the deadlock, launching a deep shot, smacking the ball off the right post. The first half would end shortly after, remaining scoreless heading into the halftime break.
Utah opened the scoring in the 47th minute with Hannah Betfort chipping one over the goalkeeper to give the Royals the 1-0 lead. They doubled the lead just three minutes later with a header from Mina Tanaka.
In the 52nd minute the Thorns were awarded a penalty kick for a foul on Jessie Fleming inside the 18-yard-box, which Olivia Moultrie was able to slip into the lower-left corner to pull one back for Portland. A massive save from goalkeeper Shelby Hogan in the 57th minute kept the Thorns within striking distance.
Moultrie seemed to have found the equalizer in the dying moments of the match, but her shot bounced just over the crossbar, resulting in the 2-1 loss.
UP NEXT: The Portland Thorns will remain at home, facing the league-leading Orlando Pride on Friday, October 11 at 7:00 p.m. PT, in the second-to-last game at Providence Park.
GOAL-SCORING BREAKDOWN:
UTA: Hannah Betfort 47th minute: Ally Sentnor pounced on a loose ball, making a short pass to Betfort who drove up field before chipping the goalkeeper.
UTA: Mina Tanaka 50th minute: After Hogan made the initial save off the free kick, the ball fell into the path of a diving Tanaka for her to head into the back of the net.
POR: Olivia Moultrie (PK) 54th minute: Following a foul inside the 18-yard-box on Jessie Fleming, Moultrie put her penalty kick attempt into the lower-left corner of goal.
LINEUPS:
Portland Thorns (3-5-2): Shelby Hogan, Isabella Obaze, Becky Sauerbrunn, Kelli Hubly (Nicole Payne 77’), Marie Müller (Payton Linnehan 73’), Sam Coffey, Olivia Moultrie, Jessie Fleming, Reyna Reyes, Christine Sinclair, Morgan Weaver (Alexa Spaanstra 90+1’)
Subs not used: Kat Asman, Mallie McKenzie, Sophie Hirst, Marissa Sheva
Utah Royals (4-3-3): Mandy Haught, Madison Pogarch, Kaleigh Riehl, Kate Del Fava, Zoe Burns, Ana Tejada, Claudia Zornoza, Cloé Lacasse, Ally Sentnor (Dana Foederer 90+9’), Mina Tanaka (Cameron Tucker 58’), Hannah Betfort
Subs not used: Cristine Roque, Agnes Nyberg, Michele Vasconcelos, Brecken Mozingo, Mikayla Cluff, Shaelan Murison
PORTLAND, Oregon (Saturday, October 5, 2024) – Portland Thorns (8-11-5, 28 points, 7th place) dropped a 2-1 result to Utah Royals, as midfielder Olivia Moultrie’s lone goal was not enough to overcome the two-goal deficit.
The two sides traded possession through much of the first 15 minutes, battling it out in the trenches of the midfield. In the 18th minute forward Christine Sinclair gave the Thorns its first real look at goal, but her short-range shot was blocked by the leg of a Royals defender. Utah’s prowess from outside the 18-yard-box forced goalkeeper Shelby Hogan to make several saves, including one by her finger tips in the 19th minute.
Forward Morgan Weaver nearly had the first goal of the night in the 30th minute, her shot forcing goalkeeper Mandy Haught to make the fully extended save. Utah’s Ally Sentnor was inches away from breaking the deadlock, launching a deep shot, smacking the ball off the right post. The first half would end shortly after, remaining scoreless heading into the halftime break.
Utah opened the scoring in the 47th minute with Hannah Betfort chipping one over the goalkeeper to give the Royals the 1-0 lead. They doubled the lead just three minutes later with a header from Mina Tanaka.
In the 52nd minute the Thorns were awarded a penalty kick for a foul on Jessie Fleming inside the 18-yard-box, which Olivia Moultrie was able to slip into the lower-left corner to pull one back for Portland. A massive save from goalkeeper Shelby Hogan in the 57th minute kept the Thorns within striking distance.
Moultrie seemed to have found the equalizer in the dying moments of the match, but her shot bounced just over the crossbar, resulting in the 2-1 loss.
UP NEXT: The Portland Thorns will remain at home, facing the league-leading Orlando Pride on Friday, October 11 at 7:00 p.m. PT, in the second-to-last game at Providence Park.
GOAL-SCORING BREAKDOWN:
UTA: Hannah Betfort 47th minute: Ally Sentnor pounced on a loose ball, making a short pass to Betfort who drove up field before chipping the goalkeeper.
UTA: Mina Tanaka 50th minute: After Hogan made the initial save off the free kick, the ball fell into the path of a diving Tanaka for her to head into the back of the net.
POR: Olivia Moultrie (PK) 54th minute: Following a foul inside the 18-yard-box on Jessie Fleming, Moultrie put her penalty kick attempt into the lower-left corner of goal.
LINEUPS:
Portland Thorns (3-5-2): Shelby Hogan, Isabella Obaze, Becky Sauerbrunn, Kelli Hubly (Nicole Payne 77’), Marie Müller (Payton Linnehan 73’), Sam Coffey, Olivia Moultrie, Jessie Fleming, Reyna Reyes, Christine Sinclair, Morgan Weaver (Alexa Spaanstra 90+1’)
Subs not used: Kat Asman, Mallie McKenzie, Sophie Hirst, Marissa Sheva
Utah Royals (4-3-3): Mandy Haught, Madison Pogarch, Kaleigh Riehl, Kate Del Fava, Zoe Burns, Ana Tejada, Claudia Zornoza, Cloé Lacasse, Ally Sentnor (Dana Foederer 90+9’), Mina Tanaka (Cameron Tucker 58’), Hannah Betfort
Subs not used: Cristine Roque, Agnes Nyberg, Michele Vasconcelos, Brecken Mozingo, Mikayla Cluff, Shaelan Murison
