April 27, 2024 – National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL)
Portland Thorns FC News Release
BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. – Portland Thorns FC (2-3-1, 7 points) secured its first road result of the season with a 2-0 win over Chicago Red Stars courtesy of a brace from Sophia Smith and a clean sheet from Shelby Hogan.
Postgame sound from Interim Head Coach Rob Gale, goalkeeper Shelby Hogan and defender Reyna Reyes can be found here.
Chicago nearly found themselves on the board in the fourth minute when Mallory Swanson HAD an open shot on goal, but her opportunity smacked off the crossbar and was parried away, out of danger. Portland looked to do the same in the seventh minute when defender Reyna Reyes headed a crossed ball from Christine Sinclair, but Chicago defender Natalia Kuikka was able to save the ball off the line. Just moments later a shot from Jessie Fleming kissed off the underside of the crossbar, denying the Canadian her first Portland Thorns goal.
The Thorns finally broke through in the 10th minute when forward Sophia Smith, with a moment of brilliance, sent a curling ball around a line of Red Stars defenders and past the diving arms of Alyssa Naeher. The goal marked Smith’s fourth of the season. In the 26th minute Smith scored her second of the night, running onto a forward pass from Sinclair before pinging her shot off the far post, the ball directed into the back of the net, her fifth of the year, giving her sole possession of first in the National Women’s Soccer League Golden Boot race.
Chicago just about found the back of the net during stoppage time of the first half, but Julia Bianchi’s shot collied with the far post, leaving Portland with the 2-0 lead at the halftime break.
Coming out of the halftime break, the Thorns saw themselves with a flurry of chances in front of goal, but the Red Stars’ defense was able to thwart all of Portland’s opportunities. Throughout the remainder of the second half Chicago continued to seek out a way back into the match, but the Thorns’ stalwarts were able to weather the storm and dispel any real opportunities.
Forward Janine Beckie looked to have found the team’s third of the match in the 79th minute when she picked off a pass from Naeher for an open look in front of goal, but the goal was later waived off after Video Assisted Review. Neither side would go on to find the back of the net again, giving Portland the 2-0 road victory.
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