Long time rivals FC Kansas City and Portland Thorns FC faced off Saturday night in a heated match at Providence Park in front of 17,000 people. The season-long struggling visitors made handed Portland their first loss of the season and also effectively breaking their unbeaten streak.
Betos comes up big first half
As they kicked off, attacking players on both teams tested the keepers a bit to keep them on their toes. When the game began to settle down about 15 minutes in, Kansas City began to control the game, maintaining possession and creating chances. Erika Tymrak nearly scored as she blasted a shot towards the upper 90 of the goal, forcing Portland’s keeper Michelle Betos to make an incredible save, forcing it out for a corner. The visitors kept applying the heat, taking advantage of defender Katherine Reynolds’ weak back pass to Betos with Mandy Laddish attempting to score, only to have Betos block it once again.
The 28-year-old goalkeeper could only fend off attempts for so long. Kansas City broke through in the 23rd minute. Tymrak’s shot hit the post, but forward Tiffany Mccarty was quick to collect it and serve it back in to find the head of Shea Groom, who flicked it right past Betos for a goal. It wasn’t until the last minutes of the half that Portland began to string chances together. Amateur player Shade Pratt boldly took a shot far outside of the box, forcing Nicole Barnhart to not only backtrack, but switch directions in order to tip the ball over the net. Portland’s only other threat before the whistle blew for half was Nadia Nadim taking advantage of Barnhart’s attempt to clear it in a sliding tackle, but she was unable to keep up with the ball. They headed into the locker room with the visitors leading 1-0.
Second half rising action
Just as they did in the first half, Kansas City came out and controlled the game once again. Things got a bit feisty with Kansas City’s Brianne Reed and Portland’s Hayley Raso matching up on the left side, and after one too many fouls it resulted in Reed receiving a yellow card in the 52nd minute. Only two minutes later, Groom once again headed a ball straight into the net with service from Mccarty, putting the Blues up 2-0.
Realizing their backline needed to be cleaned up, Coach Mark Parsons subbed veteran Kat Williamson in the 61st minute. Williamson underwent knee surgery in late May, and this was her first appearance for the team since then. Placing her on the field and taking rookie McKenzie Berryhill out proved to be a smart move, opening more chances for the Thorns attack. Midfielder Meleana Shim, who’d been creating chances for the home side all night, tried her luck outside the box, but Barnhart was quick to tip it over the bar. Ten minutes later, Kat Williamson did more than just organize the defense. In the 76th minute, she scored off of a free kick to pull one back for the Thorns. She was subbed out five minutes later due to her lack of games under her belt post surgery.
Momentum began to build for the Portland Thorns in the dying minutes of the match, but it wasn’t enough. Their last chance game in stoppage time, where Raso was fouled just outside of the box. Nadim stepped up to take it, and agonizingly hit it high over the goal. Only seconds later, the whistle blew, signaling the Portland Thorns’ first loss all season.
What happens next
With tonight’s loss, Kansas City sits at eighth on the table, a full five points ahead of ninth-place Houston Dash while Portland remains at number one with only two points ahead of trailing Western New York Flash.
The Portland Thorns will travel to BBVA Compass Stadium on July 16 to face the Houston Dash. Kansas City will host Washington Spirit on the same day at Swope Soccer Village.