After a 0-0 draw against San Diego on Wednesday, the Portland Thorns came out and played like they knew they should have won their last game. Unfortunately for Houston, they were the target of Thorn’s wrath.
The match opened with an own goal in the first minute with Hina Siguta sending a ball in and Katie Naughton attempting to block it with her leg, but instead, the ball went into the back of the net.
The visitors faced some pressure shortly after that when Emily Ogle took a shot that forced Bella Bixby to make a save. In the 22nd minute, Sophia Smith was taken down in the box and Portland was awarded a penalty. Smith slotted the take home, doubling Portland’s lead.
The Dash were under constant pressure from the Thorns in the first half, with very little success connecting in the final third. In the 58th minute, Olivia Moultrie took a shot that went wide, but it showed her willingness and ability to attack when the situation was right. Less than twenty minutes later, Moultrie scored her first professional goal. It came from a dreadful giveaway from Houston while trying to play from the back. Moultrie is now the youngest goal scorer in league history.
Continuing in their attack, Portland got their final goal of the night from a bad Houston clearance. After initially blocking a shot on goal, goalkeeper Jane Campbell pushed the ball away from the net. Portland pounced on it and Smith received a pass to slot it home to make the final score 4-0 in favor of the Thorns.
The Thorns have one final game prior to the international break. They will return home to go up against the Orlando Pride on Sunday, June 19th at 3:00 PM PT.
Just announced today was the USWNT roster for the upcoming Concacaf W Championship matches. The Thorns will send three players, Sophia Smith, Becky Sauerbrunn, and Sam Coffey. It is Coffey’s first call-up for the national team.