Last gasp Portland penalty rescues Thorns, denying Wave

The drama was saved until the death as Jayden Perry rescued the Portland Thorns a point from the penalty spot in thrilling draw against ten-player San Diego Wave.

Wave boss Jonas Eidevall named an unchanged side from his team who beat Bay FC at Snapdragon last weekend. Thorns Head Coach Rob Gale made two changes from the XI who triumphed against Orlando Pride last time out. Bella Bixby replaced an injured Mackenzie Arnold, whilst midfielder Jessie Fleming started ahead of Marie-Yasmine Alidou.

It was Assistant Head Coach Jack Jensen who led the Wave from the touchlines, however, as Eidevall watched from a technical booth due to illness.

The hosts broke the deadlock after just five minutes as pre-match crossing practice paid off courtesy of a Kimmi Ascanio header that flew in off the woodwork at the back post. The Wave midfielder found herself in perfect space as she nodded home a chipped Perle Morroni cross from the left hand side.

The Thorns came fighting back and were close to an 11th minute equalizer as Olivia Moultrie fired onto the roof of Kailen Sheridan’s net from a 25 yard freekick.

On the quarter of the hour mark, Reyna Reyes’ link up play with Hina Sugita very nearly proved to be the leveler as the Japanese international drilled wide from 30 yards.

With ten minutes remaining of the first half, it looked as though Ascanio had her second when Savannah McCaskill lifted her head, cut open the Thorns defense and slotted through for the Wave striker, who failed to beat a commanding Bixby.

Moments before the break, the Wave were reduced to ten as referee Natalie Simon reached for her pocket and showed red for a Kennedy Wesley foul on Moultrie who was through on goal. Deyna Castellanos’ resulting freekick ricocheted off the Wave wall and her bicycle kick from that corner flew over.

The last action of the half went to Thorns’ Reilyn Turner who latched onto a low cross from the left and steered inches wide.

The Wave were quickest out the blocks after the interval and Delphine Cascarino showed her pace as she beat her marker to the byline and found McCaskill, who’s pass to Kenza Dali was delivered perfectly for the midfielder to curl goal-bound but be tipped over.

On her 150th career appearance, Wave Captain Sheridan drew on all her experience as she flew across the face of goal to deny what would have been a beauty from Sugita in the 53rd minute.

Wave substitute Adriana Leon was next to test Bixby as the Canadian winger sent a rocket towards the Thorns shot stopper just before the hour mark.

It was almost time for the Thorns to throw the kitchen sink at it as Captain Sam Coffey cut in behind Hanna Lundkvist and struck into the side netting in the 74th minute.

The last of the drama was saved for the dying moments as Sam Coffey tumbled in the penalty area and referee Simon pointed to the spot. Thorns defender Perry sent Sheridan the wrong way and slotted home to rescue a point that moves Portland up to sixth and the Wave down to fourth.