**Leesburg, Virginia** – Portland Thorns FC produced an impressive comeback win to defeat the Washington Spirit, 2-1, on Friday night, with Christine Sinclair’s equalizer in the 85 ^th minute only added to by attacker Morgan Weaver’s late winner in the second of eight minutes of stoppage time. The win helps Portland extend their unbeaten run to 11 games, while the Spirit dropped points from a winning position and are still struggling to string together many meaningful results.
Early on, both sides were keen to test the other with Portland doing the lion’s share of attacking the opposition goal in the first half. First, there was a chance in front of goal in the 27 ^th minute that Spirit defender Sam Staab got in front of at the last second to send away for a corner. Then, Thorns forward Marissa Everett was unable to convert just two minutes later as good build-up play following a giveaway right near the midfield line resulted in Everett being played through on goal. However, though she got to the ball first, her shot sailed high over the bar.
Washington was not without opportunities in the first half either, though, with midfielder Andi Sullivan creating one of the better looks on goal in the 33 ^rd minute. After stopping Portland from scoring just a few seconds earlier, the Spirit charged down the field where Sullivan was able to keep the ball in the attacking third after the original move broke down. Skipping around a defender, Sullivan wound up from just outside the penalty area and fired hard toward the top far corner only for Bixby to make a smart stop and keep the chance out.
At the halftime whistle, neither side had broken the deadlock as the match remained all square despite both sides’ best attempts.
Into the second half, it took less than a minute for Washington to produce one of the best chances in front of goal all night as they nearly caught Portland napping coming out of the break. Keeping the ball in the attacking third, a ball in from the right flank toward the middle of goal saw midfielder Dorian Bailey with a chance to bundle the ball over the line from just a few yards out. However, Bailey was unable to keep her shot down as well as the attempt shot over the bar and out.
The opening goal of the night came in odd fashion, though, as a corner kick opportunity in the 76 ^th minute led to an own goal by Portland goalkeeper Bella Bixby. As the delivery came in, Bixby made a weak punch that didn’t help the ball out of the penalty area but instead allowed it to remain loose in front of goal. Eventually catching the ball, Bixby’s momentum was already taking her back toward her own goal and saw her cross over her own goal line. As she attempted to dump the ball back into a playable position, the refereeing crew had judged that the ball had already gone completely over the goalline resulting in an own goal for Portland and a slender lead for Washington.
However, Portland would not be dismayed and ended up piling further pressure on the hosts’ goal that saw them crack not once but ultimately twice as the match’s fortunes turned completely.
First, forward Christine Sinclair found an equalizing goal in the 84 ^th minute following a corner kick and defender Kelli Hubly hitting the post. The delivery from the set piece found Hubly in the box, and her attempt toward goal sailed over the defense and onto the crossbar as it bounced back into play. From there, Sinclair was waiting unmarked just a few yards out from goal and was able to push it back over the line for Portland’s leveler.
Not done there though, Portland would then go on to produce a match-winning goal via forward Morgan Weaver in the second minute of stoppage time to break Washington’s hearts and send the Spirit back down into a spiral. In the second of eight minutes added in, attacker Hina Sugita cut a pass up field for Weaver on the right flank. Flashing her footwork, Weaver did well to cut inside past a pair of Spirit defenders where she eventually curled a left-footed shot around Spirit goalkeeper Aubrey Kingsbury and into the back of the net for her side’s second goal.
In the end, Portland’s second half heroics ended up helping them secure an 11 ^th straight game without a loss as they just maintain their first place position in the league standings and prepare for the Women’s International Champions Cup next week. For Washington, another loss stings and especially one where the club was already leading late on. The loss snaps the Spirit’s three-game unbeaten run and keeps them in 10 ^th in the league standings after 16 games played.

Match Highlights

Match Highlights