Portland Thorns vs Washington Spirit | Recap, Reaction, and Highlights

Riding an unbeaten of 13 games at Providence Park, the Portland Thorns faced off against 2025 NWSL shield and championship runner-ups, Washington Spirit.

Could they keep the streak going or would it come to an end?

In front of 19,065 fans, it was time to find out.

Head coach Robert Vilahamn, started the same backline with Reyna Reyes benched for the fifth straight match.

Deyna Castellanos was unavailable (excused absence) which would shift Pietra Tordin into the midfield.

Although not quite 90 minutes fit, Reilyn Turner and Morgan Weaver entered the starting lineup allowing Caiya Hanks and Renee Lyles or Marie Müller off the bench in the second half. It's an aggressive move and one needed against a side like Washington.

First Half

Nina Nijstad's impact was felt early and often. In defense, she intervened and prevented multiple Spirit attacks with her physicality and speed. She stopped Sofia Cantore and Mélissa Bethi in the first 15 minutes.

And in the 17th minute, the midfielder drew the foul in the box on Monique Ngock - Sophia Wilson converted for her 12th goal of the season.

Phuoc Nguyen (Fook Win) ✍️ (@phuocerman.bsky.social)

18’ 1-0 Portland Thorns #BAONPDX #NWSL 12th goal of the season for Sophia Wilson. Nina Nijstad earned the PK.

Bluesky SocialPhuoc Nguyen (Fook Win) ✍️

Washington didn't have their first shot until the 42nd minute.

PTFC put on a clinic with and without the ball in the first half. In defense, they snuffed out attacks left, center, and right all day long with pressure and solid 1v1 defending. The Spirit were held to an xG of just 0.10 and just two shots.

In attack, the possession numbers were solid alongside lightning quick counter attacks. Even without the penalty kick, the momentum and xG were in favor of the home side.

The home side put together one of their best halves of football, but the score was only 1-0.

Would they regret not taking advantage and punishing the visitors more?

Second Half

If the first half was a terrific showing, than the second half was a complete nightmare.

The Spirit made their halftime adjustments and absolutely steamrolled the Thorns in every way imaginable.

Washington generated an xG of 2.23 in the second half alone with Portland only able to counter with 0.68.

Almost all the momentum favored the visitors and it showed in every second ball and details in box defending.

After video review, Sam Hiatt was called for a foul in the box. Tara Rudd would convert the penalty kick to level the proceedings at 1-1 in the 59th minute.

The nightmare would be realized in the 80th minute when Trinity Rodman found an unmarked Mélissa Bethi for the 2-1 comeback win.

Late flurries and shots from the Thorns could not find the back of the net and they saw their long unbeaten streak at home come to an end.

Reaction

After an outstanding first half in attack and defense, the Portland Thorns would regret not punishing the visitors more than once.

The Washington Spirit responded in the second half and completely outplayed the home side. They snuffed out counters at the start on several occasions, won second balls routinely, and defended with tons of energy as well as precision.

Jessie Fleming led the way with 91% passing accuracy (31/34), 16 defensive contributions, and nine duels won.

Soph Wilson and Pietra Tordin did much of the heavy lifting in attack, but early on received help from the midfield, especially from Fleming and Nijstad.

Another positive? Reyna Reyes earned her first minutes in six matches and was exceptional down the stretch. Marie Müller also provided terrific energy down the stretch.

A lot of what derailed Portland recently, came to roost. Against inferior competition, you can get away with that, but a top side in NWSL? Absolutely not.

Can the Thorns find that magic from the first half moving forward or will it be the downpour of the second half? It's likely to be a mix of both and that's what will determine if they are a true contender or not.

The team's inconsistency continues to be the story on the season. Their 13-game unbeaten streak at home also comes to a close.

The good news? Chicago Stars come to two after allowing six goals in back-to-back matches.

Handball or Not?

As one of two pool reporters, I submitted questions to PRO (Professional Referee Organization) after the match and here were the responses:

Potential Handball on Tara Rudd:

Foul in the Box on Sam Hiatt:

Postmatch Press Conference

Robert Vilahamn: "They came out and we almost scored — hit the post — so it's not like they came out and dominated the second half. We could've actually gone 2-0 up in the beginning there. I think there's a momentum switch when they get the penalty, to be honest. All of a sudden we felt like we were dominating the game, and all of a sudden it's 1-1 — without them actually getting too many chances or touches in the box. That probably impacted the game and the momentum from that. Then, obviously, we should've had a penalty to go 2-1. But overall they got a chance and a few more chances at their end, so we need to look at what we can improve in that phase, because the momentum switched a little bit. And when we don't get the penalty for 2-1, we drop the quality in our attacking and give them the turnovers. That's what killed us today, I think."

Highlights:

1' Morgan Weaver has the first shot of the game on a through ball from Reilyn Turner and dummy from Soph Wilson.

3' Nina Nijstad goes down, but is able to continue

4' Nijstad tracks all the way back and prevents Sofia Cantore from getting a cross or shot off

8' Spirit earn first corner kick of the match

17' PENALTY | Nina Nijstad is fouled in the box by

18' 1-0 Portland Thorns | Soph Wilson converts the PK for her 12th goal of the season

26' Pietra Tordin earsn free kick at the top of the box and draws a yellow card on Ngock

29' WHAT IN THE WORLD? Sandy MacIver comes up big multiple times for Washington Spirit.

29' Calzada wins the header, but steers it wide.

31' M.A. Vignola goes down, but does not need the training staff.

32' Wilson draws a yellow card and a foul at the top of the box on Tara Rudd

33' Tordin's attempt goes wide

41' Foul on Tordin gives Washington a dangerous free kick with Rudd on take.

42' Rudd's attempt sails over the bar

44' Vignola loses the ball off the dribble, Calzada wins the ball from Rodman.

45' + 1 Gabby Carle shot goes straight to Mackenzie Arnold

Second Half

46' Caiya Hanks on for Morgan Weaver

46' Pietra Tordin OFF THE POST

47' Soph Wilson collects the rebound, but the shot sails

51' Caiya Hanks ends the counter with a shot that goes off Ngock... She is able to get up after trainers check up on her.

59' 1-1 | VAR check for a penalty kick for Washington Spirit - Tara Rudd converts.

64' Marie Müller on for Reilyn Turner

66' Carolyn Calzada last-ditch challenge saves the day. Trinity Rodman is near the goal and plays it to Cantore, but the tackle prevents the shot.

68' Somehow a handball is not called on Rudd on a shot from Caiya Hanks

73' Mackenzie Arnold comes up with the save of the match and denies from Cantore

80' 1-2 Washington Spirit | No one marks Mélissa Bethi and a fantastic find from Trinity Rodman.

83' MacIver comes out of her goal and Wilson rounds her, but the shot is deflected out for a corner

84' Reyna Reyes and Maddie Padelski on for Carolyn Calzada and M.A. Vignola

85' Hiatt's blocks a shot

90' Nijstad wins the ball and plays it to Soph who's shot is saved

90' + eight minutes of stoppage

90' + 2 Hanks fires from distance and MacIver makes another save

90 + 3 Yellow card given to Perry

90 +6 Reyna Reyes dribbles and wins a free kick at the top of the box - second yellow card for Andi Sullivan and is out of the match

90 +7 Tordin's free kick is taken with no pace

FT 1-2 Washington Spirit