The Portland Thorns, for the second year in a row, had a chance to clinch the NWSL Regular Season Shield with a win in the last match of the season. And for the second year in a row fell short, this time in spectacular fashion in a 5-1 loss to Angel City FC. Ali Riley, Mary Alice Vignola, Savannah McCaskill, Sydney Laroux, and Jun Endō all scored for the hosts, while Hina Sugita had the lone goal for the Thorns.
The Thorns would have some early momentum but would not make it pay off with a goal, and were lucky to not give up a penalty kick when Bella Bixby appeared to grab an Angel City striker in the box, but the hosts would still make the Thorns pay.
In the 36th minute, after having taken much of the momentum away from the Thorns, Angels City got on the board when Ali Riley made a run down the left side, and though it appears she was attempting to cross, the cross had enough pace on it and slipped inside the left post past Bixby from a tight angle, and the hosts had a 1-0 lead.
And just two minutes later, the hosts doubled their lead when Claire Emslie lofted a cross across the goal mouth, where Mary Alice Vignola was there to head home from just a yard out, and Angel City had a 2-0 lead. That would be the score at the break.
Just two minutes into the second half, the onslaught continued when Vignola made a nice low cross to Savannah McCaskill, who redirected easily past Bixby, and it was a 3-0 Angel City lead.
In the 51st minute, Angel City added yet another goal, this time an amazing bicycle kick finish by Sydney Laroux after Bixby had made an initial save, at the home side now led by a 4-0 score.
The Thorns did get a goal back in the 79th minute when Hita Sugita recovered a loose ball in the Angel City box after goalkeeper Angelina Anderson had stopped a cross, and it was 4-1 Angel City.
But just a minute later, it was another Japanese national player on the board, this time Angel City’s Jun Endō who had Bixby beaten to the right side (again), and the four goal lead was restored at 5-1. This would be the final score.
