Portland Thorns at Gotham FC: Match recap, highlights, and reaction

The Portland Thorns headed on the road to face off against reigning and defending NWSL champions, Gotham FC.

With a win they would close the shield race to four points and a loss would set them back to 10.

This match would pit the top two teams against one another.

How would they fare against the Bats?

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Reyna Reyes was benched for the fourth consecutive match with Carolyn Calzada making another start. With Isa Obaze is out due to a hamstring injury and Sam Hiatt would start in her place once again.

Reilyn Turner, Marie Müller, and Morgan Weaver would all return for the Rose City.

Gotham FC midfielder Rose Lavelle would be out due to concussion protocol, but the team received a boost when goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger, who was initially listed as questionable, was active for the match.

First Half

The match pitted two teams who could not be any more different. Gotham FC came into the game first in possession at 59.2% and Portland 15th at 44.6%.

That's exactly what happened in the first half. The Bats dominated possession with PTFC looking to pounce off turnovers for counters.

Both teams had dangerous spots and could not do enough with those chances.

The only surprise? Where the attack from visitors came from...

The Thorns struggled to play from the back with Mackenzie Arnold, Jayden Perry, Sam Hiatt, M.A. Vignola, and Carolyn Calzada opting for long clearances or direct passes to Soph Wilson. When they did have the ball, the entire backline looked uncomfortable and those errant passes led to turnovers where Gotham generated many dangerous chances.

Even with the issues, Portland kept a solid defensive shape and last-ditch defending from Jessie Fleming, Nina Nijstad, and the backline was consistent.

In true fashion, the Portland Thorns midfield workhorse, led the half with seven defensive contributions. Fleming continues to shine in her role and saved her side from giving up multiple clear opportunities.

The first 45 minutes were a defensive chess match with both teams opting to for the high-press less frequently, neutralize the frontlines, and force the action through and not over the top.

Second Half

All it took was one moment of brilliance or mistake.

Gotham FC erased all of the Thorns' defensive efforts with one audacious strike from Jaedyn Shaw.

Mackenzie Arnold was caught napping and was chipped by Shaw a mile away. A huge goalkeeping gaffe that just can't happen.

However, the saving grace came from video review - Pietra Tordin was stepped on in the box by Jaelin Howell. That call was correct whether or not Lori Lindsey agrees with that (no, the players' reaction to the foul does not matter either).

Sophia Wilson converted the PK for her 11th goal of the season and the equalizer.

After earning a 2-2 draw at Providence Park against Gotham FC, the Portland Thorns held on for a 1-1 draw at Sports Illustrated Stadium.

Even without the PK, it was an even match. Neither team were particularly dangerous and opted for more of a defensive chess match.

Reaction

At the end of the day, when you can earn a draw on the road versus the top team in NWSL, you take it.

In defense, they held up for the most part and have continued to build better chemistry over the past few weeks. The last ditch defending, communication, and effort have been vastly improved. The attention to details, have been noticeable.

The one issue? If you had ambitions for the NWSL shield, that is essentially gone as you are still trailing by seven points. Also, you'd like the team to have a few more chances and ventures forward, the overreliance on Soph Wilson is very obvious.

A point doesn't make or break you... three points though? That makes a massive difference.

What did they prove? Portland proved they can compete with the likes of Gotham FC, held on defensively, especially late, away to record a hard-earned point.

Nothing about this game should have surprised anyone as Gotham dominated possession and Portland looked to capitalize on the counter.

The Portland Thorns have now earned two draws in the regular season against Gotham FC - that's a massive statement.

Players of the Match

M.A. Vignola and Jessie Fleming led the way in defensive contributions, with 12 and 10, respectively. Carolyn Calzada was third on the team with nine.

The Portland Thorns midfielder also led the team with 0.32 xA (expected assists) which continues to shine a spotlight on her importance in attack.

Highlights:

4' Gotham FC unlocks the counter and it leads to Jordynn Dudley for the first shot of the game - it just goes wide.

9' Jaelin Howell's shot from outside of the box, just rises at the end over the bar.

15' Soph Wilson takes a narrow shot, but it's saved out of bounds to earn the first corner of the match.

16' Corner kick is easily dealt with by Gotham.

17' A bad pass from Jayden Perry leads to a Gotham FC counter in the attacking half. Sam Hiatt snuffs out the attack and clears it.

20' Deyna Castellanos' corner kick delivery leads two headers from PTFC, but none are enough to register a shot on goal.

22' Hiatt misjudges the cross into the box and Sam Kerr rises and wins the header - Mackenzie Arnold makes a diving save.

24' Arnold tries to build from the back and misplays it to Gotham which leads to a shot from Sam Kerr that misses to the right.

28' Short corner kick is taken with Jessie Fleming collecting the ball at the top of the box and finding Hiatt header's which Berger barely saves with a diving attempt. The recycle leads to a Castellanos shot, but it's right at AKB.

32' Corner kick for Jaedyn Shaw and Gotham.

41' Jessie Fleming sliding intervention prevents an open look for Gotham

42' Soph Wilson is in on goal. Her touch is heavy and goes to AKB.

43' Nina Nijstad fouls Jordynn Dudley right outside the box.

44' Shaw's free kick is on goal, with limited pace which does not trouble Arnold one bit.

48' Portland refuses to put any pressure on Dudley who slips it to Shaw. Her shot on goal is over the post.

50' Fleming foul on Dudley results in a dangerous free kick

56' PTFC wins the ball high up the pitch off their high press and Tordin lays it off to Wilson. She couldn't cleanly get a shot off, the rebound lands to Nijstad who attempted to curl it far post.

57' Another dangerous free kick for the Bats

58' Gotham FC throw the Thorns off by laying off the ball, Kerr somehow has an open header, and it's right to Arnold.

60' Caiya Hanks and Morgan Weaver on for Renee Lyles and Deyna Castellanos - Pietra Tordin moves to CAM

61' 0-1 Gotham | Golazo Jaedyn Shaw - the midfielder collects the ball and catches Arnold flat-footed and chips it into the back of the net.

70' Tordin has two looks at goal and they're both blocked by a Gotham CB.

72' VAR check for potential penalty

74' PENALTY KICK FOR PORTLAND THORNS | VAR review concludes that Pietra Tordin was taken down in the box by Jaelin Howell.

75' 1-1 | Sophia Wilson converts the PK and scores her 11th goal of the season

85' Hiatt's diving header lands right to Howell, but Thorns swarm and refuse to give Gotham a shot.

91' M.A. Vignola draws the yellow card

94' Nijstad finds Tordin at the six and the shot is blocked. The ensuing rebound goes everywhere, but the back of the net...

95' Arnold doesn't come off her line, Perry beats Kerr in a foot race, but can't control it leading to a corner. Gotham FC wins a header and it's right at the GK.

96' Midge Purce stops a breakaway of Caiya Hanks and is booked with a yellow card.

FT 1-1

Postgame Press Conference