The Portland Thorns played their first road match of the NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup on Saturday night in Utah against the Royals, and would end up on the short end of a 3-1 score. Former Thorns Hannah Betfort and Michele Vasconcelos along with Ally Sentnor would score for the hosts, while Olivia Moultrie had the lone Thorns goal.
In just the second minute, former Thorn Hannah Betfort had a good shot that was saved nicely by Lauren Kozal. In the 4th minute, Utah would be on the board when Paige Monaghan made a nice run down the right side then crossed to Betfort, who redirected the shot with her back heel, and it was off the left post and into the net on a shot Kozal never had a chance at, and the score was 1-0 Royals. Then in the 17th minute, Monaghan had an open chance herself on a nice cross from the left side, but couldn’t get her foot on the ball and then chance was lost.
And in the 21st minute, Utah would make their control of the match pay off again, when Ally Sentnor made a nice cut across the top of the Thorns box, then blasted a shot just inside the right post, and the Royals lead was now 2-0, which would be the score at the break.
The Thorns would make their first good scoring chance of the match pay off in the 66th minute when Olivia Moultrie, getting her first playing time since her injury, made a nice cut at the top of the Utah box, then blasted a shot into the upper left corner of the Utah net, and the score was now 2-1 Royals.
But in the 76th minute, Utah would restore their two-goal lead when Michele Vasconcelos (another former Thorn) made a nice cutback after a run down the right side, and her shot deflected off a Thorns defender and into the net, and the score was 3-1 Utah.
The Thorns had some really good chances to pull a goal back late, their best being in the 89th minute when a free kick by Moultrie looked destined to slip just inside the left post but a brilliant tip save by Utah goalkeeper Mandy Haught kept it out. After six minutes of stoppage the Royals had the 3-1 win.
