By Marilia Macedo
This Friday (19), the OL Reign’s first Challenge Cup match ended in a draw against Portland Thorns by 1-1 at Lumen Field. Huerta and Sinclair secured one point each.
The match was very even since the beginning. The Thorns tried to find a way to surprise the home team with Sinclair’s experience, but the goalkeeper Tullis didn’t allow it. In response, Fishlock, Latsko, and Tziarra King presented good plays.
Later on, with 18 minutes on the clock, King ran down the left side of the pitch and found Angelina free of marking. So, the Brazilian midfielder assisted Sofia Huerta, who right-footed with precision from outside the area and opened the score for the Reign, 1-0.
The equalizer came about 10 minutes later when Smith received a ball right through the middle. Then, she tried to score, but Tullis saved it in the first moment. However, Sinclair took the rebound to tie the game, 1-1.
During the second half, both teams kept fighting for each piece of the field to find the best opportunities. Nevertheless, Laura Harvey’s squad didn’t create a lot, compared to the first half, as the Thorns had most of the chances missed – the best one with Smith, who had the goal wide open, but her shot went far.
In the end, the final whistle announced the tie, one point each. Although it wasn’t a perfect game, it was pretty solid. Of course, it is just the beginning, and Harvey’s squad has a lot to improve.
For the next game, the OL Reign will play against Angel City at Titan Stadium on Saturday, March 26, at 1:00 PM PT. On the same day, Portland Thorns will visit the San Diego Waves at Torero Stadium at 7:00 PM PT.