By Marilia Macedo
At Providence Park, in Portland, OR, the first Cascadia Derby of the NWSL regular season between Reign and Thorns ended with a draw and any goals.
It was a balanced game from the start, with both teams vying for possession of the ball, attacking, and creating good opportunities on both sides – Reign with Bethany Balcer and Angelina and Thorns with Klingenberg and Smith.
Later on, the home team managed to press more and almost reached the goal, but Balcer blocked and the defense was able to withstand the pressure.
Then, while Jess Fishlock tried a beautiful shot that hit the bar, Sinclair, on the other side, received an excellent pass between the defenders, and Phallon Tullis-Joyce, cold as ice, saved Laura Harvey’s squad from being down one.
At the beginning of the second half, Barnes blocked Weaver with a beautiful tackle, and then the ball hit the post before the defenders ward off danger.
Finding spaces in OL’s defensive system, Portland even put the ball in the back of the net but was adjudged to be offside.
In response, Huerta crossed, and Balcer attempted a nice header. However, Bixby managed to send it to a corner, which came to nothing.
The match was even until the end, but the keepers Tullis-Joyce and Bixby did their best to keep the tie – a fair result.