**Portland, Oregon** – Portland Thorns FC earned a long-awaited win on Friday night as the hosts defeated Angel City by a 3-0 scoreline thanks to a brace from forward Christine Sinclair and a first goal of the season for defender Kelli Hubly.
It didn’t take long for the hosts to spring into action with the Thorns’ first look on goal coming after just six minutes. Streaking down the right side of the field, forwards Sophia Smith and Christine Sinclair combined as Smith picked out Sinclair with a low ball inside the penalty area. Turning a quick effort on goal, Sinclair was denied by a brilliant save from Angel City goalkeeper DiDi Haracic to keep the score level.
However, in the 15 ^th minute, Portland ended up breaking the deadlock as Samantha Coffey won a corner kick off Angel City defender Vanessa Gilles which yielded the opening goal. Stepping up to deliver, Sophia Smith whipped in a cross with her right foot that found defender Kelli Hubly still some six yards outside goal. However, the power on the delivery combined with the speed of Hubly’s redirection helped the ball sail past the Angel City defense and the goalkeeper Haracic as Hubly scored her first goal of the season and the game’s first goal.
Then, just three minutes later, the hosts found a second goal as Christine Sinclair helped her side capitalize on a giveaway in Portland’s attacking third. Midfielder Hina Sugita danced around the defense just outside the top of the box following the giveaway and then spotted the forward run of Sinclair to her left. Picking out the Canadian international, Sinclair then slid her effort past Haracic, and the Thorns were quickly two in front.
In the 25 ^th minute, both teams had a look on goal that nearly resulted in another tally one way or the other. First, it was Smith on the attack for Portland as she ripped and roared through the Angel City defense before she powered a shot on goal that Haracic did well to repel. Seconds later, the visitors were on the attack and forward Simone Charley was able to get past the Portland defense and skip over goalkeeper Bella Bixby in her run, though she was unable to recollect the ball and produce a shot on goal.
At the half, Portland boasted a well-deserved two goal lead over Angel City after producing double digit shots and multiple shots on target compared to just one shot on target for the visitors in the opening 45 minutes.
In the 56 ^th minute, Smith was again a threat on the Angel City goal as she shifted into the penalty area on the left side and produced a step over that allowed her to shake her defender. Cutting down toward goal, Smith beat an effort at the near post that Haracic was able to put out for a corner. The ensuing corner and follow up attempts caused a bit of confusion in the Angel City penalty area, but no more.
Angel City were able to come close in the 65 ^th minute on a set-piece of their own as struck the crossbar on a headed chance. On a set-piece from the right flank, midfielder Savannah McCaskill picked out fellow midfielder Cari Roccaro in the box on the run. Producing a glancing header toward the far post, Roccaro could only watch as the ball bounced off the top of the crossbar and away.
However, just three minutes later, Portland put what would be the final stamp on the game via a second goal for Christine Sinclair in the 68 ^th minute. Recovering the ball after a broken down move forward, attacker Janine Beckie picked up the ball near the endline and turned to lift a cross to the back post. Positioning herself well, Sinclair was first to meet the ball and made no mistake in burying the chance from close range as the Thorns went three to the good.
Chances for Christen Press in the 81 ^st minute and Beckie in the 85 ^th minute both failed to produce a goal despite each players’ best efforts, and Portland was able to hold onto their three-goal lead for a resounding home win and clean sheet. The result helps the Thorns to pick up their first win since the regular season opener on April 30, while Angel City lost their second straight game after dropping a home match against Gotham FC last week.

Match Highlights

Match Highlights