**SEATTLE, Wa.** – Another supremely entertaining edition of the Cascadia rivalry resulted in a 2-0 away win for Portland Thorns FC, who relied on a 17 ^th minute goal from forward Sophia Smith and a finisher from attacker Christine Sinclair in the 87 ^th minute to collect all three points. The goal is Smith’s fifth of the season, good enough to take her into a tie for first place in the league standings, where she also currently sits in the league’s assists category (5).
The two sides spent the opening minutes tinkering their play with Portland opening up the Reign defense slightly. Out of very little, though, came forward Sophia Smith’s goal in the 17 ^th minute to separate the two sides early on. Smith had received a pass around 27 yards from goal near the center of the field. From there, she turned onto her left side and dribbled some eight yards further toward goal as she crossed toward the left of the center of goal. Picking up her head there, Smith then fired a low shot from 19 yards out that snuck its way through the defense and past Reign goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce for the game’s opening goal.
By no means was Smith’s chance the only chance, though, with OL Reign producing the bulk of the rest of the first half’s opportunities despite not finding their equalizer. In the 23 ^rd minute, attacker Megan Rapinoe was on the ball in the left side of the penalty area when she attempted to swing a left-footed shot back across the frame of goal. However, that shot was deflected out of play for a corner that produced nothing. Then, in the 27 ^th minute, a cross came in for forward Bethany Balcer who was free near the six-yard box. However, she could not direct her effort on goal as she missed just wide to the right.
Two chances just past the half-hour mark—one for each side—were the only quality looks at goal left in the first half. In the 30 ^th minute, Portland midfielder Olivia Moultrie attempted to capitalize on her team’s ability to win the ball back high up the pitch when she swung on goal from just outside the box after the turnover. Tullis-Joyce was in great position to make the save though, smothering the ball after an initial bobble.
The Reign then had their final opportunity to beat Portland goalkeeper Bella Bixby in the first half when forward Elyse Bennett was played through on goal with a ground through pass. From a few yards out, she could not poke her effort between an onrushing Bixby and the far post and her shot trickled wide.
Into the second half, the Reign continued to create the bulk of the chances as they pressed for an equalizer. In the 49 ^th minute, Rapinoe had received a cross-field pass from defender Sofia Huerta on the left flank when she decided to cut in on her right foot and shoot. However, her effort landed on the roof of the net just over and out of play.
Follow up have for Rapinoe again and for forward Jordyn Huitema in the 56 ^th and 61 ^st minutes both failed to produce goals as well, with Portland steadying out and creating a chance for forward Christine Sinclair in the 73 ^rd minute. However, her shot from just inside the box would be saved well by Tullis-Joyce.
What would not be saved is Sinclair’s game-ending goal in the 87 ^th minute from just inside the box, a strike that demonstrated her poise and power as she cut the effort through the Seattle defense and careened into the back of the net. With little time left, the goal all but sealed the result, though Reign attacker Tziarra King tested the Portland defense one more time in the fifth minute of added time as she forced Bixby into a good save.
In the end, the visiting Thorns held on for the clean sheet and earned another big three point to extend their unbeaten run to four games. The result also takes them top of the league table until Gotham’s match against San Diego tomorrow night. Meanwhile, for the Reign, they sit in fifth place level on points with the Wave but behind them on goal differential.

Match Highlights

Match Highlights