**Seattle, Washington** – Debuting at their new home Lumen Field, OL Reign carved out a 1-1 draw with Portland Thorns FC as first half goals from Reign defender Sofia Huerta and Thorns FC forward Christine Sinclair settled the scoreline.
In the early stages of the match, last year’s NWSL MVP Jess Fishlock showed exactly why she is as valuable as earned when she opened up the Thorns defense with a splitting through ball for forward Veronica Latsko. Latching onto the end of the pass, Latsko lifted her effort over onrushing Thorns FC goalkeeper Bella Bixby but could not land it on target as her shot bounced just wide.
After steady pressure from the hosts, they earned a deserved opener as seamless passing saw Tziarra King play Angelica near the top of the penalty area, and Angelica laid a pass off to the defender Huerta. Huerta didn’t think twice about a first-time effort and produced fine technique on an incredible strike that flew past Bixby and in.
Then, in the 25 ^th minute, King nearly doubled Reign’s lead just six minutes after their opener as she settled a cross at the back post and looped a deceiving effort over Bixby’s head, only to see it clang off the crossbar and back into play.
However, in the 28 ^th minute the visiting Thorns pulled one back through forward Christine Sinclair. Fellow forward Sophia Smith, who posed significant danger throughout the first half, had a close-range shot denied by Reign goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce, but the follow-up clearance would not get past Sinclair and the prolific Canadian pushed an effort into the bottom right corner to level again the scoring.
Despite a flurry of chances for the hosts to close the half, including a second time hitting the crossbar, the sides shared the spoils at the break.
The second half played out more slowly than the first with both sides tinkering tactically as they attempted to best the other. In all, Thorns FC and Sophia Smith had a pair of the best looks, though she was unable to convert either. One came in the 69 ^th minute when she turned on the left flank and whipped a snapshot that landed wide of the far post, while the second was likely her best look of the night. Rounding the defense in the 78 ^th minute, Smith was able to pull past the netminder Tullis-Joyce, but her shot on the run landed wide of the goalmouth as one of Portland’s best opportunities went begging.
At the fulltime whistle, another chapter in the Cascadia Rivalry was written with all square at the end of 90 minutes thanks to tallies from Huerta and Sinclair on opposite sides. OL Reign’s Challenge Cup continues against Angel City next Saturday, while Portland travels south to face San Diego later that evening.

Match Highlights

Match Highlights