Credit Thorns FC
By Adam Luna
What a night for the Portland Thorns clinching to the final in the NWSL Challenge Cup tournament. Three games played and 9 points making the west region teams impossible to catch up.
Portland Thorns showing off their confidence and control during most of the first 45 minutes. Lindsey Horan scored at minute 17 via a free kick with a right footed shot to the top left corner.
So many chances in the first half by Simone Charley and starting the first half, she has her golden chance to put the ball back in the net at first minute of the game.
What a surprise to see Rocky Rodriguez coming in the 53rd minute, who played the rest of the second half.
Megan Rapinoe came in the 56th minute with her first appearance in the tournament, she had a great opportunity to scored with a header from the center box, assisted by Celia Jimenez.
OL reign still could not find the right formula for the goal, despite having their stars players in the pitch (Jessica Fishlock and Megan Rapinoe)
No pressure in defense from the OL Reigns to the Thorns forwards during the game. OL Reigns just left way too many open spaces in their half.
What’s next? Thorns will finish their west conference run, when they face Houston Dash on May 2, 2022.
Would it be a 4 game win streak?