The Portland Thorns would host a very gritty match on Saturday night at a humid Providence Park. It would be a second half penalty kick by Sophia Smith that would be the lone goal in a 1-0 win for the Thorns.
In the first half both teams would have a few reasonably good chances, with the best probably being a chance for the visitors in the 42nd minute when the Thorns gave up the ball in their own end, but Kaleigh Kurtz‘s shot was stopped nicely by Shelby Hogan. Sophia Smith also had a good chance in first half stoppage time from just outside the box, but Casey Murphy made a nice save. The match would be scoreless as the break.
The second half was more chippy, but neither team really threatened to score until late when a VAR review resulted in a penalty kick for the Timbers. Smith would take the kick and finished nicely inside the left post, and the Thorns had a 1-0 lead in the 79th minute.
At the end of regulation time, the visitors nearly tied the score when a header by Victoria Serena Pickett off a corner was off the right post, and defender Marie Müller nearly accidentally headed the ball into her own net, but the rebound trickled just wide.
The Thorns would hang on for the 1-0 win.
