SAN DIEGO, California (Saturday, September 28, 2024) – Portland Thorns (8-10-5, 28 points, 7th place) suffered a 2-0 loss at San Diego Wave, but remain above the playoff line with four games left in the regular season.
Throughout much of the first half, San Diego pinned the Thorns inside their own half, pestering the goal with several opportunities, including a scrappy moment in the 25th minute which saw a scuffle inside the six-yard-box, thwarted by a clearance from defender Becky Sauerbrunn.
The Thorns had a difficult time creating any real threats in the first half, settling for chances outside the 18-yard-box. Unable to sting together a goal-scoring opportunity, Portland entered the halftime break tied 0-0 with the San Diego Wave.
The second half saw Portland begin to gain some momentum, with multiple opportunities in the first few minutes, but the Wave stalwart held strong, preserving the nil-nil scoreline. In the 69th minute, a free kick from San Diego broke through the stalemate, with Mya Jones heading in a poor clearance to give her side the 1-0 lead.
San Diego doubled the lead in the 74th minute thanks to a goal from Melanie Barcenas. The Thorns would be unable to pull anything back, suffering the 2-0 loss.
UP NEXT: The Portland Thorns return home for a two-game week, first hosting Santa Fe for game three of the Concacaf W Champions Cup on Tuesday, October 1, before welcoming Utah Royals to Providence Park on Saturday, October 5.
GOAL-SCORING BREAKDOWN:
SD: Mya Jones 69th minute: A poor clearance left the ball floating in the air, where Jones was able to head the ball down into the back of the net.
SD: Melanie Barcenas (Maria Sanchez) 74th minute: Sanchez crossed the ball in towards Barcenas who flicked her shot past the goalkeeper.
LINEUPS:
Portland Thorns (3-5-2): Mackenzie Arnold, Isabella Obaze, Becky Sauerbrunn, Kelli Hubly (Nicole Payne 82’), Reyna Reyes, Sam Coffey, Jessie Fleming (, Olivia Moultire, Marie Müller, Christine Sinclair (Izzy D’Aquila 82’), Morgan Weaver (Payton Linnehan 74’)
Subs not used: Shelby Hogan, Meghan Klingenberg, Sophie Hirst, Olivia Wade-Katoa, Marissa Sheva
San Diego Wave (4-3-3): Kailen Sheridan, María Sánchez, Perle Morroni (Jaedyn Shaw 75’), Naomi Girma, Kennedy Wesley (Kaitlyn Torpey 59’), Kristen McNabb, Emily van Egmond, Danielle Colaprico, Makenzy Doniak (Melanie Barcenas 59’), Delphine Cascarino, Amirah Ali (Mya Jones 59’)
Subs not used: Hillary Beal, Kimmi Ascanio, Christen Westphal, Elyse Bennett
SAN DIEGO, California (Saturday, September 28, 2024) – Portland Thorns (8-10-5, 28 points, 7th place) suffered a 2-0 loss at San Diego Wave, but remain above the playoff line with four games left in the regular season.
Throughout much of the first half, San Diego pinned the Thorns inside their own half, pestering the goal with several opportunities, including a scrappy moment in the 25th minute which saw a scuffle inside the six-yard-box, thwarted by a clearance from defender Becky Sauerbrunn.
The Thorns had a difficult time creating any real threats in the first half, settling for chances outside the 18-yard-box. Unable to sting together a goal-scoring opportunity, Portland entered the halftime break tied 0-0 with the San Diego Wave.
The second half saw Portland begin to gain some momentum, with multiple opportunities in the first few minutes, but the Wave stalwart held strong, preserving the nil-nil scoreline. In the 69th minute, a free kick from San Diego broke through the stalemate, with Mya Jones heading in a poor clearance to give her side the 1-0 lead.
San Diego doubled the lead in the 74th minute thanks to a goal from Melanie Barcenas. The Thorns would be unable to pull anything back, suffering the 2-0 loss.
UP NEXT: The Portland Thorns return home for a two-game week, first hosting Santa Fe for game three of the Concacaf W Champions Cup on Tuesday, October 1, before welcoming Utah Royals to Providence Park on Saturday, October 5.
GOAL-SCORING BREAKDOWN:
SD: Mya Jones 69th minute: A poor clearance left the ball floating in the air, where Jones was able to head the ball down into the back of the net.
SD: Melanie Barcenas (Maria Sanchez) 74th minute: Sanchez crossed the ball in towards Barcenas who flicked her shot past the goalkeeper.
LINEUPS:
Portland Thorns (3-5-2): Mackenzie Arnold, Isabella Obaze, Becky Sauerbrunn, Kelli Hubly (Nicole Payne 82’), Reyna Reyes, Sam Coffey, Jessie Fleming (, Olivia Moultire, Marie Müller, Christine Sinclair (Izzy D’Aquila 82’), Morgan Weaver (Payton Linnehan 74’)
Subs not used: Shelby Hogan, Meghan Klingenberg, Sophie Hirst, Olivia Wade-Katoa, Marissa Sheva
San Diego Wave (4-3-3): Kailen Sheridan, María Sánchez, Perle Morroni (Jaedyn Shaw 75’), Naomi Girma, Kennedy Wesley (Kaitlyn Torpey 59’), Kristen McNabb, Emily van Egmond, Danielle Colaprico, Makenzy Doniak (Melanie Barcenas 59’), Delphine Cascarino, Amirah Ali (Mya Jones 59’)
Subs not used: Hillary Beal, Kimmi Ascanio, Christen Westphal, Elyse Bennett
