Categories
Soccer Thorns

Takeaways: Thorns 0, Wave 2

The Thorns recorded their second straight loss against the San Diego Wave at home on Saturday evening. Coming into the home match, the Thorns were averaging over four goals a game in Providence, yet have scored only one goal over the last two matches while conceding five. After spending several weeks sitting alone at the top of the table, the Thorns have fallen to fourth place with just five games left to clinch a playoff position. Dropping more points could put them in danger of making a postseason run. 

 

While it is nearly impossible to identify just one thing that went wrong, let’s take a look at several factors that could have contributed to the Thorns’ downward trend.

Photo Credit: Kris Lattimore

Too few subs, too late

In a move unlike ones we have seen previously from head coach Rhian Wilkinson, she waited until the 80th minute to make any changes to the Thorns’ formation. In a must-win game to remain at the top of the table, the Thorns started the strongest eleven players they had in a 4-3-3. 

Both Sophia Smith and Morgan Weaver started, when usually Wilkinson starts one or the other, with the second player ready to come off the bench and make an impact with their fresh legs on a tired defense. With both Weaver and Smith on the field, Wilkinson was left with few options of a different style of attacking player when neither of her starters were able to produce. Smith regularly had two or three defenders surrounding her touch-tight, making it hard for her to complete her signature spin-and-dribble-out-of-pressure. Weaver is known for her infinite engine and power for the entire 90 minutes. Against the Wave she had the only two shots on target, and delivered four crosses. She was the most dangerous attacker, but wasn’t able to connect her crosses with the players making runs into the box, oftentimes seeing the ball frustratingly roll across the entire box only for a Wave player to clear it on the opposite touch line. 

Both forwards played all 90 minutes of Saturday’s game, and while in theory Wilkinson starting her two top producers gives the Thorns the best chance of netting goals, when it doesn’t work out, there are no backup options. Ideally, a player like Yazmeen Ryan would start in one of those wide forward spots in order to provide service, and if she isn’t connecting with either Smith or Weaver, then there is an opportunity for a change to be made and for a different perspective to attack the opposing defense. 

Photo Credit Kris Lattimore
Photo Credit Kris Lattimore

Janine Beckie and Yazmeen Ryan got eleven minutes each, both of whom were attacking-minded substitutions. When they made their appearance, the Thorns shifted to a three-back, pushing Beckie up along the right side in front of Kuikka. In her short cameo, she created one chance, which tied her with the second most for the Thorns. Ryan applied similar pressure from the moment she appeared on the pitch, making several dangerous dribbles into the box, but was unable to get her shot off. 

Olivia Moultrie, Portland’s third and final sub, only got three minutes. In an interesting and previously unseen formation move, Sam Coffey slid back to play the third defender as Wilkinson made another attacking substitution. Although Moultrie only got two touches, her change showed that the Thorns were capable of changing their formation and structure of attack mid-game. 

Time can’t turn back, and the Thorns will never get those three dropped points, the game against San Diego begs the question of what could have happened if these changes had been made sooner. For eighty minutes the Thorns tried to score using the same tactics, namely feeding balls to Smith and expecting individual brilliance. However, once it became clear that Naomi Girma and the rest of the Wave’s backline was too strong to penetrate this way, a different tactic needed to be implemented, and a change in personnel was the obvious way to do this. 

 

Defensive Lapses

Simply put, the Thorns’ defense was not organized enough to effectively stop San Diego’s attack. Post-game, Becky Sauerbrunn commented on where she thought the game was lost for the Thorns. 

“A lot of credit to San Diego. I think they’re very good at what they do, and even though we knew what they were going to do, they still got that second goal on us. It’s tough to win games when you’re letting goals in,” said Sauerbruun, finishing that she thought the Thorns’ heads remained high despite the loss. 

The Wave’s first goal was allowed because they were able to have an unmarked player at the top of the box. A missed clearance by Kuikka allows the ball to be picked off by the Wave and passed back to McNabb making an open run at the top of the eighteen. Rocky Rodriguez makes a last-ditch effort to close her down, but was ultimately too far away and too late to prevent the shot from going off. 

Both Morgan Weaver and Sauerbruun mentioned post-game that the Wave’s plan was to flick the ball off of Taylor Korniek’s head onto Alex Morgan, and that is exactly how the second goal came about. While it is hard for any player to match Korniek’s aerial abilities and height, it is possible to shut down the second pass to Morgan and prevent her from running at goal with no defenders. 

Photo credit Kris Lattimore

While it is hard to be consistent for an entire ninety minutes, small changes and closer marking from Thorns players could have changed the outcome of the game, not allowing open players in their own box. 

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ICC Soccer Thorns

Women’s International Champion’s Cup 2022 Preview

Women’s soccer is producing some of the best athletes in the world alongside some of the highest quality games—and we are able to see them live and in person in Providence Park. On Wednesday, Lyon and Chelsea, the runner-up of France and champions of England face off against one another, immediately followed by the Thorns against Monterrey. The following Saturday will see the winners of each game play another to see who will be crowned winner of the fourth iteration of the Women’s International Champion’s Cup. The three other teams are all in preseason, with their regular season starting in September, but all four games will showcase the immense amount of talent that can be found in leagues internationally.

Here is a brief recap of each team’s previous season and players to watch, just in case you don’t follow leagues outside the United States. 

Monterrey

CF Monterrey Femenil is the two-time winner of Liga MX Femenil, and the first Mexican club to compete in the WICC. Monterrey are one of the most dominant teams in Liga MX Femenil, a league known for drawing huge crowds and intense rivalries. The Rayadas won the Grita México Apertura 2021 tournament, confirming that they are a top team in North America. 

Monterrey are currently leading the Liga MX Femenil table and will be in mid-season form, much like the Thorns. The 18-team Liga MX Femenil was created in 2016 to help foster an elite environment for the Mexican national team player pool, and Monterrey boats a large number of international players, represented countries like Mexico, Costa Rica, and Colombia. 

The Rayadas will be no strangers to the large crowds at Providence Park. Liga MX Femenil games regularly draw crowds of over 20,000, and over 51,000 people watched the final game between Monterrey and Tigres, which resulted in the Rayadas capturing the title for the second time. 

Desirée Monsiváis was the team’s top scorer in the 2021-2022 season, netting 14 goals.

Players to watch:

Rebeca Bernal

Captain Rebeca Bernal is back with the Rayadas after a head injury sustained in a Mexican international game against the USWNT, and is ready to lead her team. Bernal is a center back with 126 appearances and 30 goals for Monterrey, and 36 additional appearances for Mexico. She was awarded a spot in the Best XI for the past five years in the Liga MX Femenil, the only Rayada to earn that award. Bernal is known for her pinpoint passes and crosses to set up her teammates, deftly navigating through crowded midfields to connect the lines. 

Isabella Echeverri

Isa Echeverri is CF Monterrey’s other stalwart at defense alongside Bernal. The Colombian international is in her first season with the club, but has already begun to make a name for herself. Known for her mental attitude and “never quit” spirit, Echeverri has spoken about pushing her team forward. Echeverri has competed at the 2015 WWC and 2016 Olympics with Colombia, and has won the 2019 Pan American Games with the squad. She is also leading the fight for gender equality in Colombia, and is looking to continue that work in Mexico. 

Christina Burkenroad

American Christina Burkenroad has been on fire this season for CF Monterrey. Originally drafted by the Orlando Pride in 2016, Burkenroad has made 88 appearances and scored 37 goals for CF Monterrey since joining in 2020. She says that the Liga MX Femenil is the most professional league she has competed in, both on and off the field. She holds the record for the fastest goal scored in Mexican history at just seven seconds after the first whistle. She averages one goal every 86 minutes for the Rayadas, and will look to continue this form at the WICC. 

Lyon

Olympique Lyonnais are fresh off of their eighth UEFA women’s championship league win, beating FC Barcelona 3-1. Head coach Sonia Bompastor became the first person to win the UWCL title as both a player and a coach. Lyon has won the Division 1 Arkema, the top flight in France, a record 14 times in a row. 

At the previous iteration of the Women’s ICC, Lyon fell to the Thorns in the final thanks to a last minute, physics defying goal from Morgan Weaver. Lyon won the 2019 iteration of the tournament, defeating the North Carolina Courage 1-0. 

Lyon’s return to Portland also marks the return of Lindsey Horan to her home club. She is currently spending the 2022-2023 season on loan in France. 

Unfortunately, like what feels like most of women’s soccer, Lyon has been hit with a plague of season-ending injuries. Catarina Macario, former Thorn Ellie Carpenter, and Dzsenifer Marozán have all torn their ACLs, while Amel Majiri recently gave birth to her son. 

Players to Watch:

Selma Bacha

Selma Bacha, 21, has featured for Lyon 61 times and cemented herself as a starting left-back for the club. While Bacha has been performing consistently for ages, her play against Barcelona in the Champion’s League final fast-tracked her name into the general media. The 2022 UWCL Young Player of the Year had nine assists, the most of any player, including one in the final. Her strong tackles pocketed Jenni Hermoso and Caroline Graham Hansen, two of the strongest players in the game, preventing them from scoring crucial goals and stifling Barcelona’s offense. Bacha has also been nominated for the 2022 Balon D’or. Look to see Bacha provide more assists and pinpoint passes at the WICC. 

Damaris Egurrola

After joining OL in January 2021, Dama Egurrola quickly established herself as a linchpin in the midfield and as a starter. The Dutch player already has three goals in her eight international appearances after making the one-time switch in nationality earlier in 2022. Egurrola is a traditionally defensive midfielder, but her time playing youth football for Spain has given her a flair for footwork. She is the axis of attack, and will be a crucial player to look out for switching the point of attack and giving the offense room to go for goal. 

Griedge Mbock-Bathy

Griedge Mbock-Bathy has made 101 appearances for Lyon as a center back since joining the side in 2015. The French international has won the UWCL six times and recently helped France achieve their first semi-final finish in a major international tournament, ever. Her ball control and ability to slice-and-dice defenders at either box has proved her to be a ruthless assistant. She posted a 100% passing completion rate at the 2022 Euros against Belgium, and even scored from her center-back position. Look for Mbock-Bathy to be a force all across Providence Park, scoring goals and blocking others. 

Chelsea

Chelsea is full of the top European talent. Head coach Emma Hayes has an eye for scouting talented youth, and the budget and facilities to draw them to London. Millie Bright, Jess Carter, Beth England, and Fran Kirby were a part of the Lionesses squad that captured the 2022 Euro trophy, and are in game form. Overall, 13 members of the current Chelsea squad represented seven different countries at the tournament. 

The Blues have won the three previous Barclays Women’s Super League titles, although the 2022 season went down to the last game in a race between Arsenal and Chelsea. As the competition in England grows greater, Chelsea have still managed to remain on top. 

Current Thorns player Crystal Dunn spent the 2017-2018 season at Chelsea, helping them capture FAWSL Spring Series title, as well as reach the UWCL quarter-finals—the furthest Chelsea had gone at the time. 

Players to watch:

Jessie Fleming

Jessie Fleming, 24, already has numerous accolades at both the domestic and international levels under her belt. These include an Olympic gold and bronze medal, three FAWSL titles, and two FA Women’s Cup titles. Fleming is a dynamic midfielder with a strong technical ability and vision to link up the defense and attack. After spending the majority of her first season at Chelsea on the bench as a late-game substitute, Fleming was determined to elevate her game and earn more playing time. Her effort has proved effective, as she earned Canadian Player of the Year honors in 2021. Despite her young age, Fleming has stepped up as a leader for her country, wearing the captain’s armband when Christine Sinclair is out, and being handed the game-winning PK to take in the Olympic semi-final game against the United States. 

 

Kadeisha Buchanan

Olympic gold medalist Kadeisha Buchanan could feature for Chelsea for the first time after she transferred from fellow WICC competitor Lyon over the summer. Buchanan is a center-back who is known for her build-up play and one-on-one skills. Her ability to read the game is unmatched, and she excels at putting herself and the rest of her backline in the proper positions. She most recently won Canada’s Player of the Year in 2020, her third time winning the award, and was nominated for the 2015 Balon D’or after her performance in the 2015 Women’s World Cup. Buchanan currently has 124 international appearances, with 119 of those being starts. 

 

Beth England

Beth England, a Blue since 2016, is a scoring fiend. Her goal scoring ability ranks second only to Sam Kerr (of course), and won WSL player of the 2019-2020 season due to her accuracy in front of goal. Despite making many of her Chelsea appearances from the bench, England had 14 goals in her 34 apparances in the previous season. England was a member of the 2022 Euro’s winning squad, and has made 19 international appearances, scoring nine goals. Chelsea will be looking to use her pace and finesse on the ball to drive at defenders and confidently find the back of the net. 

 

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Soccer Thorns

Takeaways: Thorns 5, Gotham 0

The Thorns had yet another resounding win against Gotham FC on Saturday, beating New Jersey/New York 5-0 with five different goal scorers. At the halfway point through the season, Portland has five wins, six ties, and one loss and sits second on the table. All five of the Thorns’ wins have been shutouts, and they have scored at least three goals in each. While the Thorns have had trouble holding onto a lead if the other team scores, they have proven time and time again to be lucrative in front of goal when their defense is solid. 

Credit: Matt Wolfe

Portland came out of the gates firing against Gotham. From the moment the whistle blew, the Thorns were hungry for a goal. The first came courtesy of Taylor Porter—filling in for Sam Coffey after Coffey’s sudden call-up to the full national team—in the fifth minute. Olivia Moultrie hit an absolute worldie from the top of the 18-yard box in the seventh minute, and Marissa “Dangerous” Everett tapped in a third goal in the 11th. These first three goals were the fastest an NWSL team has scored three in the regular season, beating the record previously set by the Thorns (15 minutes). The second half saw two more unique scorers, with Hannah Betfort scoring her first career NWSL goal in her first touch of the match off her head, and Morgan Weaver ruthlessly pressing and intercepting a pass from Gotham keeper Ashlyn Harris and slotting the ball home on an open net. 

Exactly half of the Thorns’ 20 shots were on target—a very strong ratio. The game against Gotham marked the third game without the Thorns’ seven international players. Head coach Rhian Wilkinson said that she was “proud of the two previous performances [both ties], but they wanted to put a stamp on this game and on this three-game series. And my goodness, they did that.”

Now, the Thorns feel as though they have multiple players in each position that can come in and deliver, according to Wilkinson, which is crucial to work towards a deep playoff run. 

Credit: Matt Wolfe

With a goal differential of +19, over two times the next highest team’s goal differential, the Thorns are on track to set a new record for goals scored in the NWSL. Portland has scored twice as many goals as eight of eleven other teams, and four times as many as Gotham this season so far. The Thorns have more individual goal scorers (12) than some teams have scored goals. 

These stats highlight the depth of the team and the creation of a strong team mentality. Each and every player, regardless of where they play or whether they start in the XI or on the bench, knows the job they need to do and how to execute it. Last season, the players reiterated the strong culture they were building under Mark Parsons. Now, with a new head coach, the players are still maintaining the strength and intensity of their connections with one another, showing that they believe in one another and hold each other to high standards. 

Credit: Matt Wolfe

“The team’s biggest strength is that they like one another,” Wilkinson said. 

Against Gotham, the Thorns looked like they were having an absolute blast. Each player was playing with swagger and joy and complete confidence in themselves. It was infectious to watch. Seeing the over 16,000 people at Providence Park cheer and wave flags felt incredible. The players deserve the support of the fans, and are showing how well they can play when they are hyped up. 

One player who has stepped up to the plate in a big way during the international tournament window is Moultrie. She had gotten limited minutes in the beginning of the season, starting the vast majority of games on the bench. With Coffey, Christine Sinclair, and Rocky Rodríguez all out with their respective countries, midfield spots are open for the taking, and Moultrie is trying to set her name in stone in that starting XI. 

Moultrie completed nine passes in the final third, and half of her shots were on target. With 10 recoveries as well, Moultrie showed her box-to-box skills and that she is able to take shots as well as prevent them. 

Credit: Matt Wolfe

When asked about her goal, Moultrie said: “as soon as I got the ball, I was like, ‘I’m gonna rip this. I’m gonna touch it out and I’m gonna hit it.’ And it went exactly where I wanted it to, and I got very excited, I’m sure as the video shows for itself. I’ve never scored in a regular-season match at Providence Park, so to get a rose and go through that was a really awesome moment for me.”

Being aggressive in front of goal was a goal for the Thorns, and their dominating 5-0 scoreline was a testament to the competition of their goal. 

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Soccer Thorns

Takeaways: Thorns 6, Pride 0

The Thorns dominated the Pride in a landslide 6-0 victory on Sunday, their largest in club history. The win firmly cemented that the Thorns are the best scoring NWSL team this season, placing them with a +14 goal differential and second in the standings (with a game in hand) heading into the international break. 

After a lackluster start to the season, the Thorns have finally hit their stride, picking up all six points,  scoring 10 goals, and earning two clean sheets in their last two games. They are entering the international break with forward momentum—and hopefully that force continues despite player absences for the Euros and CONCACAF W tournaments throughout the month of July. 

Sunday’s game celebrated Juneteenth, a federal holiday recognizing the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States. To honor Juneteenth and Black Portlanders, the Thorns partnered with the Black Women’s Player Collective and the Portland-based Maurice Lucas Foundation to donate $100 for every corner kick earned. 

Before kickoff, Kyra Smith and her father Trevor Smith sang the Black National Anthem, “Lift Every Voice and Sing”. 

Post game, head coach Rhian Wilkinson spoke on the importance of celebrating and honoring Juneteenth, Father’s Day, and the Portland Pride parade during the game. 

“I think our women have never shied away from having very clear positions on their social media accounts and continue to highlight the social injustice out there and how we can be better allies and advocates for those that are less seen,” she said.

Sophia Smith, a Black woman, moved into second place in the golden boot race, with eight goals after her performance against the Pride. 

There were five different goalscorers for the Thorns’ six goals, with Smith registering her third regular season brace and Hina Sugita, Becky Sauerbrunn, Taylor Porter, and Natalia Kuikka each recording a goal apiece. 

Photo by Kris Lattimore

Sauerbrunn’s goal was her first for the Thorns, coming three years after her last goal, which happened to be against Portland. That 2019 Thorns vs Royals game is a piece of NWSL history. Perhaps Sauerbrunn scoring again in Providence Park undid the rift in the universe she created in 2019. Further, because Sauerbrunn finally scored, she will be donating $500 to Athlete Ally’s “Playing for Pride” initiative to fight for transgender children’s right to play sports as the gender they identify with. 

And on her celebration?

“That celebration was completely spontaneous,” Sauerbrunn said. “I’m sure I was briefly possessed by something. I was just super excited. I just saw people looking at me. They were as bewildered as I was. And I finally got a rose for scoring a goal. It’s actually really fun. I can see why people like scoring goals.”

Sugita has quietly become a stalwart in the Thorns’ midfield in place of Angela Salem and Lindsey Horan, two prior pillars. Her aggressiveness has increased with each game, something that she credits to “learning the importance of winning the ball,” in the NWSL. 

Against the Pride, Sugita had the second highest passes into the final third with 15, showing her ability to distribute the ball effectively, and helped set up many of the goal-scoring opportunities. Her 80% passing accuracy also helped bolster the Thorns’ midfield, with her primary target being brace-scoring Sophia Smith.

Photo by Kris Lattimore
Photo by Kris Lattimore

After spending the international break with Japan, Sugita will be back with the Thorns for the month of July, looking to help the team in the absence of CONCACAF and Euro players.

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Not Soccer Soccer Thorns

Takeaways: Thorns 2, Red Stars 2

It’s been a few games since we have provided a recap, but honestly, soccer has felt insignificant against the horrors of the world. Since we last wrote, the Thorns drew 1-1 against the Washington Spirit, and fell 0-2 in their first loss of the regular season against the Dash.

The Thorns tied for the third time in the 2022 season against the Red Stars on Saturday night, 2-2. 

Hina Sugita’s and Sophia Smith’s goals leveled the score after a Thorns deficit, and both were scored off of set pieces. The Thorns have been unable to create a goal in the run of play in three games—and that pattern held true in Chicago where they were unable to generate the game-winner. 

Maybe it’s so many lackluster or frustrating games in a row, but I’m finding it hard to feel happy when watching the Thorns play. It’s not for a lack of effort on the players’ part—there are many brilliant things happening on the pitch. Sugita scored her first NWSL regular season goal. Meaghan Nally dominated her passing game, with a 94% accuracy on her 59 passes. Sophia Smith is still an absolute force on the field and in front of goal. Sam Coffey is having one of the most complete rookie seasons the NWSL has ever seen, assisting both of the goals on Saturday. 

Coffey and Smith spoke post-game about the dissatisfaction the team felt toward their recent results, despite seeing growth on the field. 

It’s from that dissatisfaction that growth is born, as players push themselves to be better than they were the day before. But, how come that same mentality doesn’t seem to exist off the pitch? 

The state of the world has become so untenable that not even my favorite team playing my favorite sport seems to bring joy. If that’s my personal perspective, I cannot imagine the mentality of the players who have to work and preform for the public each week. 

Three mass shootings in the past two weeks, targeting people of marginalized identities—Vietnamese, Black, Latinx children. Yet, nothing is being done. There is no change or growth coming from these tragedies; we are just forced to be scared and numb to these horrors. 

Soccer is a game. It is not a microcosm of life. It isn’t meant to solve world peace or cure cancer. But it is meant to be fun. 

Seeing players—people—visibly frustrated and disappointed on and off the pitch is understandable. You can’t expect them to play or be their best selves when they aren’t protected and safe, just as you can’t expect people to enjoy the product in the same way. 

The Thorns’ game against the Red Stars was probably as perfect as a metaphor as I could be searching for here. They went down early, and immediately rallied back, leveling the score. Near the end of the first half, they let another transitional goal in, and went into the locker room down. 

Yet, they persevered. They didn’t give up, didn’t stop fighting. They got that equalizing goal off of Smith assisting herself via volley. They kept driving at the goal, even when they weren’t being successful. They wanted at least a point on the road, and the Thorns got just that. 

It may not have been what they wanted, especially off the back of three games in which they earned just two points. But sometimes in the circumstances you are placed in, you don’t need to thrive, just survive. And that’s what the Thorns are doing. They are surviving, picking up points when they can. That’s what we all should be doing right now. 

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Soccer Thorns Timbers

Photos: PTFC For Peace

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Soccer Thorns

Photos: Reflecting on the Thorns’ First Game Against LA

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Soccer Thorns

Takeaways: Thorns 0, Angel City 1

Sunday’s game against Angel City was world’s apart from the Thorns’ first game against them. After beating Los Angeles last time around, the Thorns bowed out of the Challenge Cup in the group stage with a 1-0 loss. 

It’s impossible to analyze this game without talking about the five players and head coach Rhian Wilkinson’s absences due to COVID-19 protocols. Sophia Smith, Meaghan Nally, Hina Sugita, and Sam Coffey had all solidified their spots on the Thorns’ starting eleven. A preseason tournament is the ideal time to test out and formulate a consistent starting roster, especially after the turnover the Thorns experienced in the offseason. In the postgame presser, Meghan Klingenberg said that “COVID has been disrupting the world for two years, and now it’s closer to home than it has been. It’s been great to see players on the field who don’t normally start.”

As COVID-19 policies begin to relax nationwide—despite us still being in the midst of a deadly viral pandemic—NWSL teams are going to be caught in the crossfire. This is especially prevalent in the lifting of the federal mask mandate on transportation, as NWSL players do not fly chartered planes. With the country deciding that COVID-19 has ended, long lists of COVID-protocol related absences for teams could become more commonplace, no matter how tight the teams bubble is or how diligent they are in their masking. 

Despite the absences, the Thorns were able to put out a great starting eleven, showcasing the depth and quality of their team. Young Olivia Moultrie got her first start of the calendar year, and Janine Beckie played a full 90 minutes on her debut game for the Thorns.  Acting coach Mike Norris said after the defeat that the “challenging week” was “no excuse for the team’s poor performance.”

Last year, the theme of the Thorns was about building a strong culture. With a new head coach, it’s inevitable that the culture will shift, and a new one needs to be created. In the final game of the Challenge Cup, the Thorns were forced to test the strength of that new mentality. 

During the tournament, the Thorns debuted two primary formations, a 3-5-2 and a 4-3-3. With the change of formation and change of head coach comes a change of principles. Unfortunately, it seems as though the Thorns have lost their way in recent games. The second half of the game against San Diego and all 90 minutes of play against Angel City felt uninspired and lacked urgency. The Thorns were unable to score in those 135 minutes and allowed three goals.

With eight shots total against Lost Angeles, three of which were on target, the Thorns didn’t look nearly as threatening as they normally do. 

At no point after Angel City scored their penalty kick did I believe that the Thorns were going to score an equalizer. The midfield was nonexistent, and the forwards were not making the necessary runs in the box when the ball was crossed. The game was a must-win if the team wanted to move onto the semi-finals of the Challenge Cup and defend their title, yet it felt as though there were no stakes. Going down in the first half of a must-win game needed to turn on a fire for the Thorns, but it didn’t. Like Kling said postgame, “the team got away from their principles.” 

While the league itself is making the Challenge Cup seem more like a joke with each announcement (Reign having to host their semi-final game at Segra Field, anyone?), the Thorns needed to use the tournament to try and gain chemistry, especially between pairings. Unfortunately, they ended the tournament poorly.

Still, it’s important to remember the extenuating circumstances. The stress of playing sports in the middle of a (still ongoing) global pandemic is hard enough when there aren’t national or league-wide safety procedures in place to help protect players and staff. Emotions are high, and it’s important to remember that the athletes on the field are people. The Thorns didn’t play with intensity or drive like they normally do, but they are still the Portland Thorns, and there is always another game for them to play. 

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Soccer Thorns

Thorns Scape By San Diego With 3-2 Win: Takeaways

The Thorns earned a 3-2 win against the San Diego Wave on Sunday, knocking the Wave out of the running for the Challenge Cup semifinals with a strong first half. Still, Portland’s second half left room for improvement.

Formation changes

For the first time this year, the Thorns played a 4-3-3 formation, with Meghan Klingenberg, Kelli Hubly, Emily Menges, and Meaghan Nally spread across the defense and Sophia Smith, Christine Sinclair, and Morgan Weaver sitting as the front three.

Head coach Rhian Wilkinson said after the game that the Thorns are using the Challenge Cup to gradually add in different tactics that she wants the team to use throughout the regular season. “To have two weeks without a game when the internationals went, I felt like it was the right time to to deliver a new structure,” Wilkinson said.

The formation meant the Thorns didn’t have as many numbers wide, and, unsurprisingly, they played more through the middle as a result. We can see that through the average player positions between the Thorns’ last game against OL Reign—where they played a 5-3-2—and Sunday’s game against the Wave, where players are more clustered in the center of the park:

Average player positions for the Thorns vs OL Reign
Average player positions for the Thorns vs San Diego

“What I’ve loved is I think you can see this team buys in,” Wilkinson said of the new formation. “They trust one another.”

A first half frolic

That trust was evident in the first half. The Thorns dominated those 45 minutes, winning balls, controlling the midfield, and getting chance after chance off. They ended the half with 16 shots to San Diego’s four and a 3-0 lead to show for it.

Smith opened the scoring in the fourth minute when she got on the end of an on-the-ground cross from Weaver, touched the ball just around her defender, and sent a shot into the far corner that San Diego’s Carly Telford wasn’t able to react to in time.

Portland struck again in the 21st and 41st minutes, as Hina Sugita tallied her first two goals for the team. In both cases, she exposed San Diego’s defensive marking, getting on the ends of rebounds to hit the ball into the back of the net. And it doesn’t hurt that they were both fun to watch:

“If you’ve watched her the last few games, this is what she’s been doing,” Wilkinson said of Sugita. “I think she’s just gaining in confidence every game and did very well today.”

A second half struggle

But if the first half was a breeze for the Thorns, the second half was anything but. San Diego brought in rookie Kelsey Turnbow after the break, and she immediately went to work terrorizing Portland’s defense. In just the first minute, she played a perfect ball into Alex Morgan, whose shot left Bella Bixby scrambling to her feet as Bella Briede picked up the ball at the top of the six and buried her shot.

The game’s momentum shifted in favor of the Wave after that, with San Diego growing into the midfield and forcing the Thorns into a lot of last-ditch defending. San Diego got of 13 shots in those final 45 minutes, while Portland managed only two. “Our talk halftime was keep the standard up,” Sam Coffey said after the match, “and we didn’t do that.”

Taylor Kornieck further cut into the Thorns’s lead coming off the bench in the 67th minute, scoring a header off a Wave corner kick by virtue of her positioning and being tall.

Although the Thorns were able to hold onto the win, it was a gritty end to a dominant start. “Something Rhian really emphasizes for our group is winning the right way,” Coffey said. “I don’t think we we did that to the best of our ability.

“That doesn’t mean that we hang our heads low or we’re all disappointed, but it’s fuel for the fire,” she said. “I think that’s a good thing for this group, especially with another game just around the corner.”

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Soccer Thorns

Thorns Breeze Past Angel City with 3-0 Win: Takeaways

Wednesday night’s inaugural game against Angel City FC saw several Thorns professional debuts in a decisive 3-0 victory. The Thorns dominated on every stat except possession and played a high-press game, particularly in the second half. Portland ended the night with 14 shots—seven of which were on target—and 13 crosses, all of which were double what Los Angeles was able to produce. Despite being early into preseason with several key players out on injury or limited minutes, the Thorns are looking strong and cohesive, and the numbers reflect that. 

I’ve attended all of the Thorns games thus far, this was by far the most fun. Nearly 10,000 people attended a mid-week game, which brought a lively atmosphere into the Park. The purple smoke for domestic violence was sent off and the “YOU KNEW” banner flew, reminding everyone about the horrific actions of the front office. On the field, however, the team seemed as though they were having fun and enjoying themselves and the freedom they are given on the field, which is amplified by the crowd. 

Three different players scored on Wednesday—including Yazmeen Ryan, who tallied her first professional goal. And, because I think scoring goals is really fun, I am going to attempt to break down what went well to allow the Thorns their first multiple-goal game of the 2022 Challenge Cup. 

In the screen cap above, Sophia Smith is the red circle, and the green arrow is the trajectory of the ball played in by Natalie Beckman. Smith gets on the inside of her defender and has the pace to outrun her. If Beckman plays the ball too far ahead, or too hard, there are two Angel City defenders who are ahead of Smith to reach it first. With the quick movement of her hips and feet, Smith is able to fake out the defender on her shoulder and sit her down. From there, she has a clear path to goal.

When Smith reaches the inside of the penalty box, she is able to put the ball on her preferred right foot and deftly place it in the lower left corner of the net, out of reach of the Angel City goalkeeper. Postgame, Smith talked about how her shooting accuracy has been something she has developed through repetition, largely alongside Morgan Weaver. Seeing the fruits of training pay off in a game is very fulfilling. 

Ryan scored the second goal off a rebounded bullet shot by Natalia Kuikka. 

Ryan, circled in red, is watching Kuikka set up her shot. Once it goes off, she is able to turn on the inside of her defender and be prepared for the rebound. Her positioning here is what allows her to easily deflect the path of the ball into the back of the net. All of the Thorns were heads up during this play, with Kelli Hubly even with Ryan and ready to receive the ball if the initial shot didn’t make it. 

Weaver recorded her first Thorns goal of 2022 in the final 15 minutes of the game.

Madison Pogarch, coming back from injury and earning her first minutes of the year, was playing as a winger (finally one step closer to playing as a forward) and intercepted the ball high up the pitch. She controlled it, and passed it to Weaver at the top of the box. Weaver was able to swing the ball across her body into the open space in the arc. Both the defenders were crashing onto her left side, and by simply changing the direction, she was able to open up the entire goal. She then sent an absolute screamer curling into the side netting. Much like Smith, her goal is one that she has been repeatedly working on in practices and on her own time. As the season progresses, we can only hope that she will be prolific in front of goal. 

Challenge Cup group play is halfway over, and the Thorns remain undefeated. As they go against each team in the West once more, the Thorns’ depth will be tested. But, if they keep finding the space in front of goal as they did against Angel City, they should end up with plenty of points from these next three games.