Great Goals, Poor Attendance, Start Portland Thorns Run at the Champions Cup

SEPETEMBER 2, 2024 – PORTLAND, OR: Christine Sinclair scores her second goal in 28′ during  CONCACAF Champions Cup group stage America de Mexico (MEX) at Portland Thorns (USA) by Diego G Diaz.

The Portland Thorns started their run in the Concacaf W Champions Cup hosting the legendary Club America of Mexico DF, known to most as Las Águilas. Portland showed a heavily rotated squad with Christine Sinclair back in her captain role. The Canadian legend led the locals to a comfortable 3-1 win, against an opponent that showed plenty of quality but never got fully in game rhythm.

The Portland Thorns were the home side in location only. Americanistas fans outnumbered the Thorns, in a good show by the club fans from Mexico’s emigrant community present in Oregon. With it all, Providence Park  showed one of the poorest attendance in many years, in another example of the lack of interest by US fans on international club tournaments. Both Portland Timbers and now Thorns official continental club matchups have been notoriously poorly attended over the years, while fans can go the length talking on European Champions league, they seem to completely ignore their own.

While the scene looked like b-roll filler reel, there was nothing second tier about Sinclair’s performance, demonstrating why she is one of the most influential woman footballer still active. She masterfully opened the scoring in minute 13 after effective pressure by midfielder Olivia Wade-Katoa on Jocelyn Orejel. Orejel’s rushed pass went to Sinclair and left the Club America goalkeeper Sandra Paños out of position by the penalty spot. Sinclair didn’t think it twice and chipped the ball to the net from the three quarters line. Golazo.

Christine Sinclair repeated 15 minutes later in the 28th minute, completing a pass from Marie Müller, running unmarked to the center of the penalty box. Reilyn Turner would score her first goal as a Thorns player in the 51st minute with a header from a corner kick. Irene Guerrero would cut down the advantage in Club America’s only goal, in an excellent individual effort in minute 53.