By Amelia Hirtle
The Cascadia derby may be the NWSL’s oldest rivalry. The clash between the Portland Thorns and OL Reign always brings the chaos and determination of both sides to the forefront. And while the broadcast itself, presented on Twitch, disappointed many fans with its quality, the game itself, did not.
Both teams had many players out due to international duty, but that didn’t mean the game carried any less excitement. The Thorns got a lucky goal early, on an own goal from Reign defender Phoebe McClernon. McClernon was attempting to clear a ball, but she slipped and poked the ball into the net, past the Reign keeper. Less than a minute later, the Reign were able to equalize off a goal from Olivia Athens.
In the 60th minute, Meghan Klingenberg sent a cross into Hina Sugita who got the easy finish. With the energy shifting to the visitors, the Reign were forced into a response, or they would take the loss at home.
OL Reign did not give up and scored in the 81st minute to equalize. Veronica Latsko had the assist, with Bethany Balcer scoring on the header. Both sides pushed to the end, with the Reign looking dangerous in the final minutes.
With a final score of 2-2, the Cascadia rivalry continues to bring dramatic results despite missing players for both sides. The Concacaf W Championship tournament continues, with both the United States and Canada having secured a spot in the 2023 World Cup. The Thorns currently sit in 3rd place with 18 points and are scheduled to meet Racing Louisville next on Saturday, July 16th, at 7:30 PM PT/ 10:30 PM ET.