The Portland Thorns FC defeated the Boston Breakers, 2-0, in front of a crowd of 18,637 at Providence Park in Portland, Oregon. The win moves Portland into fifth place in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) while the loss puts Boston at 2-3-2 and seventh place.
Portland, still without several players due to injury, welcomed Allie Long back into the midfield of their 4-3-3. For Boston, Norwegian international Emilie Haavi made her NWSL and Boston debut after recovering from a broken jaw.
It was a dominant first half for Portland after getting on the score board in the first minute after an own goal by Boston.
Portland up, 1-0, after a Boston own goal. #PORvBOS pic.twitter.com/u7d4QcXkUf
— Our Game Magazine (@OurGameMagazine) May 28, 2017
French international Amandine Henry scored her first NWSL goal in the 5th minute to double Portland’s lead. Henry intercepted a Boston pass at the center circle and took the ball up the middle of the pitch straight at the Breakers’ defense. Boston failed to stop the ball and gave Henry too much space and time to get a left-footed shot to the far post off that beat a diving Abby Smith.
Henry’s first #NWSL goal puts Portland up, 2-0. #PORvBOS pic.twitter.com/6OOHnNUVXk
— Our Game Magazine (@OurGameMagazine) May 28, 2017
Portland almost added a third goal to its tally in the 32nd minute but Smith made the save. The game went into halftime with the Thorns leading, 2-0, and dominating the first-half with 65% of the possession and registering 11 shots, four of which were on goal.
Smith. (We see that second try, Sinc.) #PORvBOS pic.twitter.com/TDPmBktkbP
— Our Game Magazine (@OurGameMagazine) May 28, 2017
Boston come out in the second half looking to cut the deficit early. In the 52nd minute, Rose Lavelle’s shot was deflected by a sliding defender and almost went in.
It was an overall complete performance by Portland with perhaps the only mark against the club is not converting for more goals. The Thorns registered 17 total shots to Boston’s 5 and finished the game with 60% of the possession.
In stoppage time, Boston’s Allysha Chapman was shown a straight red for a tackle on Hayley Raso and will miss the Breakers’ next match.
Portland will face Sky Blue in New Jersey on Saturday, June 3, while Boston heads to Orlando to face the Pride.
Attendance: 18,637
Notes
The win is Portland’s eighth straight regular-season home win dating back to last year.
Lineups
Portland Thorns FC
24-Adrianna Franch; 25-Meghan Klingenberg; 4-Emily Menges; 16-Emily Sonnett; 30-Celeste Boureille; 10-Allie Long; 7-Lindsey Horan; 28-Amandine Henry (27-Meghan Cox, 86′); 21-Hayley Raso; 12-Christine Sinclair (c) (26-Mallory Weber, 76′); 9-Nadia Nadim (15-Kendall Johnson, 90′)
Boston Breakers
14-Abby Smith; 2-Allysha Chapman; 20-Christen Westphal; 4-Megan Oyster; 8-Julie King (c); 26-Angela Salem; 7-Emilie Haavi; 11-Rose Lavelle; 10-Rosie White (25-Morgan Andrews, 62′); 19-Adriana Leon (18-Tiffany Weimer, 72′); 9-Natasha Dowie (21-Margaret Purce, 76′)
Discipline
Portland Thorns FC
Yellow Cards:
Nadia Nadim, 49′
Boston Breakers
Yellow Cards:
Emilie Haavi, 24′
Christen Westphal, 71′
Red Cards:
Allysha Chapman, 90 + 1′