The Portland Thorns would have a their chance to redeem themselves from their season opening loss to Kansas City when they had to overcome a huge halftime deficit, but things would turn out even worse and they’d end up at the short end of a 4-1 result. Sophia Smith had the lone goal for the Thorns, while Lo’eau LaBonta scored twice for the Current, along with goals by Stine Ballisager Pedersen and Temwa Chawinga.
The Thorns would have a good chance just a few minutes on a low shot by Sophia Smith, but it was tipped wide by a nice save by former Thorn Adrianna Franch. A few minutes later the visitors would have a great chance with an open header by Bia Zaneratto, but it was right at Thorns keeper Shelby Hogan and easily saved.
In the 22nd minute, a nicely touched heel pass from Hina Sugita gave Smith a great chance in the Current box, but her shot was nicely saved by Franch.
But eight minutes later, the Current were finally on the scoreboard when after a cross from the right side, Temwa Chawinga headed towards net, and though it appeared that chance would be saved, Lo’eau LaBonta was able to redirect the shot with her own headed, and the ball ended up in the Thorns net, and Kansas City had a 1-0 lead.
Then eight minutes after their first goal, Kansas City added a second when the Thorns failed to clear a corner kick that rebounded around inside the box, before Stine Ballisager Pedersen knocked in the rebound from just a few yards out, and the score was now 2-0 in favor of the Current.
But just two minutes later, the margin was three goals when LaBonta had an open look from 20 yards out, and blasted a shot into the upper right corner to make it 3-0 Kansas City. Just before the half, Portland’s Izzy D’Aquila had a great shot from inside the box tipped wide by Franch, but the visitors held a 3-0 lead at the break.
Less than two minutes into the second half, the Current added another to their total when Chawinga had a breakaway chance and fought off her Thorns defender, then finished easily past Hogan, and the score was now 4-0 Current.
In the 73rd minute, the Thorns were finally on the board when Smith made a nice run down the left side and fought off several Current defenders to the top of the box, then finished with a nice shot just inside the right post to make it 4-1 Kansas City.
But the Thorns would never threaten again and ended up on the short end of the 4-1 result.
