PORTLAND, Oregon (Friday, May 25, 2018) – Utah Royals FC (2-2-5, 11 points) lost their second match in club history against Portland Thorns FC, ending 2-0 at Providence Park. First-half goals from Thorns’ FW Christine Sinclair and MF Lindsey Horan put the home-side up early, making it difficult for URFC to come back late in the game.
Aside from the score line, both teams were evenly matched throughout the 90 minutes of play, with Utah ending the game with 51% possession to Portland’s 49%. Both teams got eight shots, three of which came from FW Amy Rodriguez who led URFC in shots on frame. Towards the end of the game, “A-Rod” had two big chances to score, but Portland GK Britt Eckerstrom came up big between the pipes – earning her second clean-sheet of the season.
UP NEXT: URFC will be looking for three points as they travel to take on Sky Blue in the second-leg of their four-game road campaign. Kickoff is set for 5:00 p.m. MT, on Saturday, June 2, at Yurcak field.
GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN
POR: Christine Sinclair, 18’ – Give-and-go passing between Christine Sinclair and Tobin Heath gave Sinclair an open window for a near-post shot at the top of the moon, which she nailed against the woodwork into the back of the net.
POR: Lindsey Horan, 39’ – A long cross into the box from Megan Klingenberg found the thigh of a sprinting Lindsey Horan, who redirected the ball from the top of the six-yard box into the goal.
KEY SAVES AND DEFENSIVE STOPS
UTA: GK Abby Smith, 36’ – Ellie Carpenter crossed a ball into the box that found the foot of Christine Sinclair, who settled and volleyed the ball towards the frame – but was denied by a diving GK Abby Smith, who blocked the ball back into the box.
UTA: DF Becky Sauerbrunn, 36’ – Following Smith’s big save, Tobin Heath placed the rebounded ball towards the far-post, but a diving Becky Sauerbrunn took the shot to the face, deflecting the ball over the touchline.
POR: DF Megan Klingenberg, 45’ – A bouncing ball in the box met the foot of FW Amy Rodriguez, who tried to volley the ball over GK Eckerstrom – but was denied by a waiting Megan Klingenberg for the clearance.
UTA: DF Becky Sauerbrunn, 48’ – Christine Sinclair slotted a pass into the box to a streaking Ana Crnogorecevic, whose first-time shot was deflected away by a diving Becky Sauerbrunn.
UTA: GK Abby Smith, 72’ – Tobin Heath sent a well-weighted cross into the penalty spot where Ana Crnogorecevic connected for a diving header towards the goal, but GK Abby Smith read the redirected ball for a clean catch.
UTA: GK Abby Smith, 87’ – A wall pass with Tobin Heath gave Christine Sinclair another open shot at the top of the eighteen. Her rocket of the shot skipped just over the bar thanks to GK Abby Smith, who tipped it over the crossbar.
POR: GK Britt Eckerstrom, 93’ – In an effort to get one final shot, FW Amy Rodriguez fired towards goal after receiving the ball on top of the box, but was denied by an
Eckerstrom dive and parry.
NOTES
- -- There are five players on URFC that have played every single minute for the club, including GK Abby Smith, DF Rachel Corsie, DF Becky Sauerbrunn, MF Gunny Jonsdottir, and MF Desiree Scott.
- -- The last time URFC gave up a goal was against Portland at Rio Tinto Stadium on April 28.
- -- URFC still leads the league in fewest goals conceded, totaling seven after the Portland loss.
- -- Gunny continues to lead the league in fouls won for the fourth consecutive week in a row.
Match: Utah Royals FC vs Portland Thorns FC
Date: May 24, 2018
Venue: Providence Park; Portland, OR
Attendance: 15,113
Weather: Partly Cloudy, 66 degrees F
Scoring Summary:1 2 F
Utah Royals FC 0 0 0
Portland Thorns FC 2 0 2
POR: Sinclair (Heath), 18’
POR: Horan (Klingenberg), 39’
Lineups:
Utah Royals FC (4-3-3): Abby Smith, Brooke Elby (Katie Bowen, 78), Rachel Corsie, Becky Sauerbrunn, Becca Moros, Desiree Scott, Gunny Jonsdottir, Katrina Gorry, Diana Matheson (Katie Stengel, 78), Amy Rodriguez, Erika Tymrak (Elise Thorsnes, 63)
Substitutes not used: Nicole Barnhart, Sydney Miramontez, Lo’eau LaBonta, Taylor Lytle
Portland Thorns FC (4-3-3): Britt Eckerstrom, Midge Purce, Katherine Reynolds, Emily Menges, Megan Klingenberg, Andressinha (Angela Salem, 58), Lindsey Horan, Ellie Carpenter (Kelli Hubly, 63), Christine Sinclair, Tobin Heath, Ana Crnogorcevic (Ifeoma Onumonu, 83)
Substitutes not used: Adelaide Gay, Celeste Boureille, Mallory Weber, Tyler Lussi
Stats Summary: UTA / POR
Shots: 8 / 8
Shots on Goal: 3 / 5
Saves: 3 / 2
Corner Kicks: 1 / 7
Fouls: 12 / 13
Offside: 4 / 1
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
POR: Lindsey Horan, 67’ (Caution)
UTA: Rachel Corsie, 69’ (Caution)
UTA: Gunny Jonsdottir, 83’ (Caution)
OFFICIALS
Center: Lukasz Szpala
First Assistant: Chris Elliott
Second Official: Kelsey Hrams
Fourth: JJ Blodgett
