The Portland Thorns and Washington Spirit draw 3-3 in an exciting game which saw the end of legends Rachel Van Hollebeke's and Nadine Angerer’s careers. The 2nd half was much more exciting for fans of goal scoring as there were four goals combined including three by the Portland Thorns in front of the sold out Providence Park crowd in Portland, Oregon.
The crowd at Providence Park was sold out for his matchup with more than 24,000 fans in attendance. This game was very evident of the rest of the season for the Thorns, as they started poorly without the US internationals during the World Cup. They then started to play better, but still struggled and tried with all their might but just couldn’t get over the hump and win; hence, they aren’t making the playoffs this year for the first time in franchise history.
Francisca Ordega opened the scoring in this matchup for the Washington Spirit, off of a great pass from Crystal Dunn. Ordega finished by slotting the ball right through Angerer’s wickets. Dunn doubled the Spirit’s lead on a corner kick in the 45th minute, heading the ball to the far post past Angerer. That goal was Dunn’s 14th of this NWSL season. The Portland Thorns got one back in the 63rd minute when Alex Morgan put one past Ashlyn Harris to make it 2-1. That goal was Morgan’s first of the season after missing time due to injury and national team duty. In the 69th minute Tobin Heath was taken down in the box and the ref immediately pointed to the spot, and Heath tied the game up putting the PK on the bottom right corner past Ashlyn Harris. It was Heath’s first goal of the season. The Thorns took the lead to complete the comeback after Morgan headed the ball to the opposite side of of the next where Jodie Taylor scored her 2nd of the season in the 79th minute. Less than a minute later, Dunn knotted the match up once again for her 2nd of the night beating Angerer in the 81st minute in the box.
This season Dunn has scored 15 goals while the rest of the Washington Spirit have scored 15 goals combined this season. Francisco Ordega’s goal was her 3rd of the season. Lastly, Taylor’s goal was her 2nd of the season. Rachel Van Holllebeke was subbed out in the 84th minute by the Thorns and was given a rousing ovation by the fans and was hugged by her teammates as she was on the sideline.
The Washington Spirit get back at it on September 5th when they play the NWSL shield winners the Seattle Reign FC. The Portland Thorns end their season against the Western New York Flash on Friday.