Portland Thorns Reaction Fall Short to Chicago Red Stars in a 1-0 Loss at Home

The Portland Thorns ceded three valuable points to Chicago Red Stars at Providence Park on the evening of Friday, September 13th. The 1-0 loss puts their relatively safe playoff spot in play in the race for the postseason.

A dull first half gave Chicago the advantage. Though much better in the second half, Portland still fell short of the equalizer clashing with a very effective Chicago defense . The great news for the home fans and club was the return of left winger Morgan Weaver.

The is no sugar coating. Portland Thorns had a dreadful first half, a team that shows all the spice of talent, but had no bite. They failed to combine between their high profile attackers with a Chicago defensive web that seemed to anticipate every play. The Thorns were able to create danger on individual actions only. Every attempt the locals took to drive the ball through the pressing midfield was met by the Red Stars back four in a superb display by left back Taylor Malham,  enter defenders Hannah Anderson and Cari Roccaro, and the former Thorns right back Natalia Kuikka.

Chicago’s plan of attack was secondary, but when they lounged forward, they created danger and had the most clear opportunities of the half with an always dangerous Mallory Swanson back from injury. Luck didn’t want to wear the red jersey of the Portland Thorns, and a very unfortunate play caught the goal keeper Mackenzie Arnold grossly out of position. A sloppy pass back from Olivia Moultrie from midfield found a pressing Ally Schlegel. The Chicago left winger effortlessly rounded the Arnold and scored the lone goal of the match on a wide open goal in minute 15.

Ally Schlegel capitalize on a defensive error for Chicago’s goal during Regular Season Chicago Red Stars at Portland Thorns by Diego G Diaz.

The second half started in the same fashion with a dull Portland, and the visitors were happy to keep the advantage and exploit the spaces created by an increasingly desperate Thorns on full attack. Three minutes in it, Chicago had the opportunity to double the advantage from the penalty spot, when forward Ludmila Da Silva was fouled by Thorns defender Reyna Reyes. This time Arnold responded to Swanson’s shot with a great save.

In minute 66, things started to change for Portland. While some inconsequential play was going on midfield, the fans started to roar at almost goal celebration levels. The reason was that the much loved attacking winger Morgan Weaver was in full kit on the sidelines ready to take on the pitch after her several months in the injury list. Her impact was immediate, and demonstrated why she is the team’s best dance partner for Sophia Smith. The Thorns threat multiplied, and confined Chicago to its own half for most of the rest of the match.

SEPTEMBER 13, 2024 – PORTLAND, OR: NWSL Regular Season Chicago Red Stars at Portland Thorns by Diego G Diaz.

Thorns coach Rob Gale introduced more changes that added even more fire to the attack, Jessie Fleming for a laborious but ineffective Alexa Spaanstra, and forward Reilyn Turner for Christine Sinclair, in minute 75. Now owning the initiative, the opportunities started to come and Chicago’s defense went on overdrive. The Thorns were in the driving wheel, still were missing a tat of clarity on the last touch. Portland really seems to be in a scoring slump when it comes to regular NWSL season matches.

Only two unfortunate plays broke the relentless push of the home side. First, a break by Swanson, that forced Thorns defender Kelli Hubbly to make one of those tactical fouls to stop a dangerous counter attack in exchange for the yellow card. Her obvious push, landed the Chicago star player on her shoulder, and was subbed off injured. That was minute 74.

Friday the 13th wasn’t done with Providence Park. It wasn’t  just on the lack of goals from the host team, as the game approached the end of regulation, Hina Sugita got the worst of a brutal accidental clash while attempting to head a cross. Sugita had to be wheeled off the field hardly able to stand up, bringing the whole stadium to silence and forcing 13 minutes of stoppage time. The fourth official did indeed showed on the electronic marker exactly the number 13, like in a plot of a horror story.

The dynamic didn’t change for the rest of the match. Portland kept pushing Chicago to the ropes, and Chicago kept the guard up, took the body blows, and was able to walk off Providence Park with three gigantic points that solidifies their postseason aspirations.  Chicago climbed up in playoffs territory to the seventh place with 26 points, just one shy of The Portland Thorns, sitting in sixth place with 27.

No official communication has been issued on any of the injuries at the time of this article, as both are still under doctor’s evaluation.