June 4, 2022 – National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) – Angel City FC News Release
LOS ANGELES – Angel City FC lost 0-3 to the Portland Thorns tonight at Providence Park, following a goal by defender Kelli Hubly and a brace by forward Christine Sinclair.
The match got off to a quick start, with the Thorns nearly getting on the board in the sixth minute. Forward Sophia Smith drove up the right wing, beat defender Vanessa Gilles on the dribble, and found forward Christine Sinclair, who tapped a low shot to the near post. Goalkeeper DiDi Haračić dove and just blocked the shot out over the end line. On the resulting corner kick by Smith, Sinclair again put a shot on frame, this time with her head- but Haračić swatted it safely away.
Portland continued to push, opening the scoring in the 15th minute. A corner kick by Smith fell to defender Kelli Hubly, who took a step backward to beat her mark and put a well-aimed header into the back of the net.
Just three minutes later, the Thorns doubled their lead when midfielder Hina Sugita intercepted a pass intended for midfielder Clarisse Le Bihan, drove up the center of the pitch, and played a through ball to Sinclair in the box. The Canadian international beat Haračić around the outside and tapped the ball over the line.
In the 28th minute, Angel City came close to getting one back. Midfielder Clarisse Le Bihan- who got her first NWSL start tonight- sent a corner kick to the middle of the six-yard box for forward Christen Press. Press flicked her header back toward the far post, but it went just over the bar. Los Angeles continued to push through the end of the half, but couldn’t find the back of the net.
The first 15 minutes of the second half played out largely in Angel City’s attacking third, as they played balls over the top and earned a flurry of corner kicks- but Portland’s tight defensive formation proved difficult to break down, and the visitors couldn’t put one away.
In the 65th minute, ACFC again came close,…