The Portland Thorns got a very early goal, then one in first half stoppage time, and that was enough for a 2-0 win over Racing Louisville on a beautiful Saturday evening at Providence Park. Christine Sinclair and Morgan Weaver had the Thorns goals, while Bella Bixby earned the shutout in goal.
The match wasn’t even two minutes in when Sophia Smith made a run down the left side, and her cross was first dummied by Crystal Dunn, and then Christine Sinclair hit a perfect shot from the top of the box that hit off the left post, but just barely made it over the goal line and into the opposite side netting past goalkeeper Katie Lund, and the Thorns had surged quickly into a 1-0 lead.
In the 12th minute the Thorns had a great chance to widen their lead when Morgan Weaver cut nicely into the box from the left side, but her hard low shot was tipped wide by Lund.
The Thorns had largely controlled play through much of the first half, but Louisville came very close to scoring in the 35th minute when Ary Borges hit a hard shot from 25 yards out that deflected off a Thorns defender on it’s way towards the net, but goalkeeper Bella Bixby did very well to adjust and tip the shot wide.
One minute later, the Louisville goalkeeper did very well to keep her team in the match as she made dual saves, then Sinclair’s attempt at a 3rd chance slipped just wide.
Deep into first half stoppage time, the Thorns would double their lead when Hina Sugita would make a nice steal deep in the Racing Louisville half of the field, and Smith would make another nice low cross, with Sugita providing the dummy this time, and Weaver finished easily to make the lead 2-0, which would be the score at the break.
Dunn would have a great look in the 47th minute but her shot would slip just wide right. Louisville would start to get more chances, and had a great look in the 53rd minute when a defected cross fell right onto the foot of Borges, but her blast was tipped over the bar by Bixby. Jaelin Howell would have a nice header off the ensuing corner, but Bixby did well to smother the shot.
The Thorns thought they had a third goal in the 68th minute on a finish by Weaver, but after a video review by the official, they determined Adriana Leon had played the ball with her hand during the build-up, and the goal was nullified.
Both more teams would have a few decent chances but no serious threats to score, and the game would end up being a 2-0 win for the Thorns.
Thorns return to winning ways with 2-0 defeat of Racing Louisville FC | Thorns website
