PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland Thorns FC recorded 18 shots, including nine on goal, but conceded the late game-winning goal to defender Kelley O’Hara in a 1-0 loss against Sky Blue FC in front of 13,427 fans at Providence Park on Saturday night.
Controlling the tempo throughout the match, Thorns FC (4-2-2, 14pts) finished with an 18-9 edge in shots while forcing Sky Blue FC goalkeeper Jill Loyden to make a season-high eight saves. Despite the advantage, O’Hara tallied the game-winning goal for Sky Blue FC in the 84th minute off a set piece, as U.S. Women’s National Team captain Christie Rampone served a free kick into the penalty box while O’Hara got in behind Portland’s backline for the header and her second goal of the season.
The Thorns FC attack produced multiple goal-scoring opportunities in the second half as forward Christine Sinclair had two looks at goal. A header off midfielder Allie Long’s corner kick in the 61st minute was cleared off the line by Sky Blue FC forward Monica Ocampo, while in the 63rd minute Long and Sinclair connected once again as Sinclair’s one-touch, left footed volley from 10 yards out was saved at the left post by Loyden.
Defender Kat Tarr’s sliding shot hit the hand of a Sky Blue FC defender in the 77th minute resulting in a Portland free kick just outside the box. Sinclair used the opportunity for a quick restart, touching the ball to Mana Shim running toward the near post, but her shot from close range was saved out for a corner kick.
Portland registered two chances in the opening 10 minutes of the match as forward Jessica McDonald beat her defender in the box, serving a ball to Long, but her one-touch shot was blocked out of bounds just wide of the right post from inside the six-yard box. On the ensuing corner kick, Long’s driven ball found the head of defender Nikki Marshall near the penalty spot and her header sailed wide of the mark.
Portland takes to the road for its third game in eight days and its fifth road match of the season on Wednesday, May 28, against the Boston Breakers at Harvard Stadium; kickoff is set for 4 p.m. (Pacific). The match will be broadcast live via webstream at www.portlandthornsfc.com.
Portland Thorns FC (4-2-2, 14pts) vs. Sky Blue FC (2-3-4, 10pts)
May 24, 2014 – Providence Park (Portland, Ore.)
Goals by Half 1 2 F
Sky Blue FC 0 1 1
Portland Thorns FC 0 0 0
Scoring Summary
SKY: O’Hara (Rampone), 84
Misconduct Summary
n/a
Lineups & Stats
POR: GK Nadine Angerer, D Courtney Niemiec, D Nikki Marshall, D Emily Menges, D Kat Tarr, M Rebecca Moros (Huffman, 88), M Sinead Farrelly, M Meleana Shim, M Allie Long, F Christine Sinclair ©, F Jessica McDonald (Kerr, 66)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Betos, M Brooks, F Acevedo, F Morgan, F Sullivan
TOTAL SHOTS: 18 (Shim, 6); SHOTS ON GOAL: 8 (Sinclair, Shim, 2); FOULS: 11 (Long, 6); OFFSIDES: 2; CORNER KICKS: 10; SAVES: 2
SKY: GK Jill Loyden, D Kelley O’Hara, D Christie Rampone ©, D CoCo Goodson, D Kendall Johnson, M Camille Levin, M Ashley Nick, M Sophie Schmidt, M Katy Freels, F Jonelle Filigno (Hayes, 69), F Monica Ocampo (Morris, 87)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Brittany Cameron, D Lindsi Cutshall, D Madeleine Thompson
TOTAL SHOTS: 9 (Ocampo, 3); SHOTS ON GOAL: 3 (Three players tied, 1); FOULS: 10 (Schmidt, 3); OFFSIDES: 0; CORNER KICKS: 6; SAVES: 8
Referee: Bernard Hosu
Assistant Referees: Marlene Duffy, Kelsey Harms
4th Official: Levi Rippy
Attendance: 13,427
Weather: Partly Cloudy, 63 degrees
All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial
