Match Recap & Highlights: Portland Thorns vs Bay FC

In this must-win game, the Thorns traveled to California to face Bay FC, a team that was already out of the playoff race.

Portland had to win to control their own fate in clinching a playoff spot. The task wasn't insurmountable, but they had to deal with the absence of their No. 1 striker Sophia Wilson after she was suspended for two games following a red card shown in the defeat against Boston.

The lineup was pretty much like the one we saw against the Legacy, with the exception of the front line. Reylin Turner started instead of the suspended Wilson.

On Morgan Weaver's birthday, she was expecting to get out of the Bay Area with three points, but at the end of the day, that couldn't be the case.

Nonetheless, she still had a reason to celebrate after scoring the opening goal in the 10th minute (and celebrated accordingly).

However, at the end of the 90 minutes, things still looked a little grim for the Thorns.

Highlights

8' Save! Reilyn Turner's header from very close range is saved in the top centre of the goal by Jordan Silkowitz.

10' GOOOAAAL! Morgan Weaver with her second goal of the season!

16' Bay is at it and they are keeping Portland's defense busy with two blocks in five minutes.

22' Block! Reyna Reyes' right-footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.

31' VAR checks a potential PK for Bay. Decision: No penalty.

32' Bay scores the equalizer through Caroline Conti.

Half-time: 1-1

56' Double substitution: Marie Müller enters for M.A. Vignola and Shae Harvey comes for Weaver.

67' Bay scores another through Kennedy Fuller. 2-1 for the hosts.

72' Substitution: Casandra Bogere enters for Nina Nijstad.

74' Reyna Reyes is shown a yellow card.

80' Welcome back, Julie Dufour! The French forward returns from injury after 392 days on the sidelines. She comes on for Reilyn Turner.

86' GOOOAAAL! Caiya Hanks scores the equalizer.

90+3' Pietra shoots but goes directly through Jordan Silkowitz.

Full time: Portland Thorns 1-1 Bay FC

FotMob's momentum chart shows what we saw in the game. Portland dominated most of it, scoring early through Weaver. However, the few times Bay got to dominate, they punished the Thorns with two goals.

Although both Weaver and Hanks had clinical finishes, converting goals from low xG chances, it looks like Portland can't really take the game by the scruff of the neck when they have most of the possession and when they play against lower teams.

We can see the same story that happened against Boston repeating itself and it looks like the international break went to waste. The Thorns clearly didn't learn from their mistakes and that's why we saw another frustrating result this time on the road.

Caroline Conti ended up scoring on an empty net and then Kennedy Fuller beat Jayden Perry easily to get into a 1v1 with Macca Arnold.

Is this Portland the weakest version we have seen in the last three years that still has playoff chances? It seems so, which not only speaks to the quality of the team but also of the league.

The Thorns have two more games to clinch a playoff spot and show that they have been learning the lessons from these past few games. They still have a little time. The next couple of results shouldn't depend on whether Wilson is on the field or not but they should be the result of their demonstration of character on the field if they still have one.