Match Recap: Portland Thorns at Gotham FC

The Thorns fell hard tonight in New Jersey with a 3-0 loss to Gotcham FC.

While in the NWSL standings these teams may have looked identical coming into tonight, it was a dangerously hot Gotham team and an extremely shorthanded Thorns offense that met head to head.

Midge Purce, Rose Lavelle and Katie Stengel were all able to exploit the Portland defense and score, while the Thorns went 90+ minutes with only two shots on goal.

Making their Thorns and NWSL debuts, Laila Harbert and Valerin Loboa both took the field for the first time tonight in the second half.

Lineups & Prematch

Rob Gale told the media this week that a shift in the lineup was imminent coming into tonight – as concerns had been raised about players with ailments, physical fatigue, and an overload of minutes as of late.

However, with an offense that's already lacking in firepower due to an influx of SEI's, it's hard to balance health, safety, and success at this point in the season if you are Rob Gale hoping to earn a playoff spot.

Highlights

10' The first 15 minute monster roars

The Thorns chose to start five back defensively, in an effort to extinguish Gotham's diverse attack, and still Midge Purce gets one past Mackenzie (Macca) Arnold in the first 10 minutes of tonight's match.

Purce dominates Jayden (JP) Perry and demands position in the box before she heads one into the goal, off the assist from Mandy Freeman.

22' Gotham knocks on the door ... again

With Gotham having dominated much of the possession in this one so far, Esther finally gets free in the box and is able to challenge Macca.

Thankfully for the Thorns Macca holds strong in goal and wins this battle.

35' Right wing back to left wing back... that's the offense tonight

One of the few times we saw hope of a score from the Thorns tonight was a cross ball from Mallie McKenzie to Reyna Reyes, and still, they come up empty handed.

43' Gotham doubles their lead in the first half

A forced turnover on Reyna Reyes and a quick push upfield allows Gotham's attack to find room again. A picture perfect pass from Jaedyn Shaw finds Rose Lavelle for a picture perfect finish, and puts Gotham up 2-0 in the first half.

+2 minutes of stoppage time added

Halftime: Gotham 2, Thorns 0

45' Reilyn Turner on for Isa Obaze out of the half

51' *insert sigh of relief*

Purce finds space from JP again, and breaks free upfield off the pass from Shaw before finding the back of the goal once more.

But, the Thorns get a break on this one: the goal comes back on an offsides call on Purce.

54' Howell off the cross bar

At this point it is becoming increasingly apparent that the Thorns cannot escape the Gotham attack, and are desperately needing to do so.

Jaelin Howell daringly launches a shot on goal, but the Thorns escape utter defeat once more, this time with help from the cross bar – keeping Gotham at bay, still 2-0.

62' Laila Harbert NWSL debut

The 18-year-old loan from Arsenal makes her NWSL debut in the midfield, as she replaces Hina Sugita in the 62nd minute.

73' Gotham. Scores. Again.

The punches keep coming for the Thorns – Katie Stengel extends the lead to 3.

77' Tordin for Fleming

A player we assumed we would not see much of tonight, if at all, subbed on in Pietra Tordin. Tordin takes the field in exchange for Jessie Fleming, in what appears to be a last ditch effort from the Thorns to try and get on the board.

83' Another Thorns debut

Valerin Loboa takes the field in the 83rd minute for Deyna Castellanos – making her the second player (and second eighteen-year-old) to make their NWSL debut tonight for the Thorns.

Kaitlyn Torpey also replaces Reyna Reyes.

+6 minutes of stoppage time added

Final: Gotham 3, Portland 0

Final Thoughts

The offensive threat was nonexistent for the Thorns tonight, but with all this team has lost offensively this season, there's not much else to expect at this point.

Still, stacking the roster defensively didn't prove to be effective for this team either – as they conceded more than two goals tonight, for the first time in the last 14 games.

While the Thorns simply could not escape the Gotham attack, I still must give credit where credit is due. This is a dangerous Gotham team, who is not only clicking at the right time, but has the pieces to make a deep run in this year's NWSL playoffs.

But was a 3-0 result excusable? No.

It will be necessary for this team to turn the page to October 4th ASAP, ahead of yet another critical match against Bay FC and a chance to truly honor Christine Sinclair with a statement win at home.

For now the Thorns will fight to keep a share of that 4th place spot with the San Diego Wave, ahead of a weekend full of NWSL play that is just beginning.