The Portland Thorns are NWSL league champions again, for the third time and first time since 2017, with a 2-0 victory over the Kansas City Current in Washington, DC. Sophia Smith had the first Thorns goal, while the second goal was a Kansas City own goal.
In just the fourth minute, the Thorns would grab the early lead when Sophia Smith slipped behind the Kansas City defense and was alone in a one-on-one against former Thorns goalkeeper Adrianna Franch. Smith rounded Franch pretty easily and finished into the open net to give the Thorns a 1-0 lead.
In the 27th minute Smith would have another good chance when she would have a cutback inside the box and a good look at goal, but her attempted curling shot slipped just wide right. Both teams would have a few reasonable scoring chances but nothing that really threatened either goalkeeper, and the Thorns would have a 1-0 lead at the break.
Then in the 56th minute, Yazmeen Ryan made an attack down the right side, and her attempted cross rebounded off the Kansas City goalkeeper, then off defender Addisyn Merrick, and then into the net, and the Thorns lead was now 2-0.
In the 59th minute, Morgan Weaver would blast a shot from just outside the KC box that would deflect just high off the crossbar. The Thorns would have a few late chances but blasted their chances wide, but they would hold on for the 2-0 win and their third National Women’s Soccer League title in four league championship game attempts.
