MATCH INFORMATION
Date
: Saturday, July 11, 2015
Kickoff
: 4 p.m. (Pacific)
Location
: Yurcak Field (Piscataway, N.J.) Forecast: Partly cloudy, 89 degrees
Referee
: Randall Kelley
Assistant Referees
: Hagan Barnett, Logan Brown Fourth Official: Artur Sibiga
Webstream
available via
www.portlandthornsfc.com
MATCHDAY PREVIEW
Meeting for the second time in a nine-day span, Portland Thorns FC travel to Piscataway, N.J. to square off against Sky Blue FC on Saturday, July 11, at Yurcak Field; kickoff is set for 4 p.m. (Pacific).
Saturday marks the third time in team history Portland has faced the same opponent in consecutive matches doing so against the Washington Spirit and Chicago Red Stars during the 2014 season. Thorns FC are unbeaten when playing teams in consecutive matches (2-0-2).
Portland and Sky Blue FC play their second game of three this season, and the first of two at Yurcak Field on Saturday. Saturday’s match will be just the third between the two teams at Yurcak Field and both of the previous meetings finished in a draw (1-1 on April 19, 2014 and 0-0 on June 22, 2013).
LAST MATCH RECAP
Thorns FC rallied from a halftime deficit, scoring two goals in the final 20 minutes to secure a 2-1 win against Sky Blue FC when the two teams met on July 3 at Providence Park. Midfielder Allie Long registered her team-leading fifth goal of the season, tying the match at 1-1 with a penalty kick in the 70th minute. Less than 10 minutes later, midfielder Sinead Farrelly connected with a header on a pinpoint cross from midfielder Alyssa Kleiner, tallying her second goal of the season. Goalkeeper Michelle Betos once again came up with a massive play late, making a save on a potential game-tying goal as midfielder Katy Freels hit a well-placed free kick that Betos pushed over the crossbar in second-half stoppage time.
SCOUTING SKY BLUE FC
Sky Blue FC’s (1-6-4, 7pts) lone win this season came in the opening game of the season on the road; a 1-0 win against reigning NWSL Champion, FC Kansas City. Sky Blue FC has scored seven goals this year, while surrendering 17 to op- ponents, but goalkeeper Brittany Cameron has been solid, playing more minutes (990) than any other goalkeeper in the NWSL, while tallying a league-best 55 saves. Midfielder Katy Freels leads the team this year with four goals, while forward Nadia Nadim has two goals and an assist. Joining the team this week after helping guide Australia to the quarterfinal round at the FIFA Women’s World Cup are defender Caitin Foord and forward Sam Kerr. Sky Blue obtained Kerr’s rights in the fall in a trade with the Western New York Flash. Kerr had a strong campaign with the Flash in 2014, tallying nine goals and four assists for the club. In addition, Sky Blue FC features U.S. Women’s National Team players Kelley O’Hara and Christie Rampone.
FARRELLY NAMED PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Thorns FC midfielder Sinead Farrelly, the only player for Portland to start and play every minute this season, is the second Thorns FC player this season to earn NWSL Player of the Week honors. Goalkeeper Michelle Betos received the honor for Week 10. Farrelly tallied the game-winning goal, her second of the season, converting a perfectly placed cross from Alyssa Kleiner with a well-struck header in the 79th minute to give Portland a 2-1 win over Sky Blue FC.
HOT IN JULY
Thorns FC have posted a record of 5-2-6 all-time during the month of July. On July 3, Long provided her 17th career goal in Portland’s win, moving into sole possession of first place on the club’s all-time scoring list, as five of those 17 goals have come during the month of July. Historically as a team, Thorns FC have scored an average of 2.2 goals per in July, registering record-breaking scoring outputs, including seven goals in a match on July 13, 2014 against FC Kansas City and six goals against the Boston Breakers on July 20, 2014.
LONG IN FORM
Midfielder Allie Long continues to have another productive season for Thorns FC, tallying her fifth goal of the season on July 3, which ranks tied for third in the NWSL this season. In addition, Long ranks tied for third in assists (3), ranks third in shots (29) and shots on goal (17). The midfielder has tallied a goal or an assist in seven of Portland 10 games this season, including three of the team’s last four matches. Thorns FC are 3-0-1 this season when Long scores and all-time since 2013, Portland is 12-0-3 when Long scores a goal.
STOUT DEFENSE
Portland remains near the top of the league in several defensive categories through the first half of the season. Thorns FC are tied for the second-fewest goals allowed in the league (11) this season, having conceded multiple goals in a match just three times. In addition, Portland has surrendered the fewest shots (91) and is tied for fewest shots on goal allowed (47) in the NWSL.
NOTABLE STATS
Portland is 19-2-5 all-time when scoring first in a match, including a record of 2-1-0 this season. Thorns FC are 13-0-5 all-time when leading at the half and 23-4-10 when leading or tied at half. Thorns FC are 17-8-10 all-time when outshooting their opponents in a match. Also, Portland is 11-5-5 when limiting its opponent to single-digit shot attempts in a match. When scoring two or more goals in a match, Portland has a record of 18-1-4 all-time.
THORNS AT THE WORLD CUP
Eight of Thorns FC’s nine players appeared in matches at the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup, while Tobin Heath and Alex Morgan helped the U.S. lift the trophy with a 5-2 win over Japan in the final. Heath became the fourth Thorns FC player to score at the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup as she tallied the 5th goal in the win for the U.S. Portland is the only team in the NWSL with two players on its roster who have scored a goal in a World Cup Final. In addition, Thorns FC had more players score in the World Cup then any NWSL team (4) as Jodie Taylor scored for England, Christine Sinclair tallied two goals for Canada and Morgan scored in the quarterfinal round against Colombia. Nadine Angerer logged 690 minutes, the most of any NWSL player at the World Cup. The Germany international played in all seven of her country’s games at the tournament, including two matches that went to extra time. Thorns FC players combined played 2,854 minutes in the tournament, the most of any NWSL team. In addition, a total of 11 current Thorns FC players have played in a World Cup as both Rachel Van Hollebeke and Ayo appeared in the 2011 version of the tournament.
MILESTONES
Several players are approaching 50 career NWSL games play: midfielder/defender Kendall Johnson (47), midfielder Mana Shim (46) and midfielder Sinead Farrelly (43). Additionally, forward Christine Sinclair (45), along with Shim, could also become one of a handle full of players this year to reach 50 career NWSL games played for Thorns FC, joining midfielder Allie Long.
Defender Rachel Van Hollebeke surpassed 3,000 minute for her career on June 19 against FC Kansas City, becoming the fourth player in club history to reach that mark for Thorns FC.
Long tallied her ninth career assist against FC Kansas City on June 19, moving into a tie for first place on the all-time career assist list with forward Alex Morgan. Long also remains tied for first place in career goals (16). With one more assist, Long would become the first player to reach double-digit goals and assists for the club. Shim would need two goals and three assists to also reach 10 goals and 10 career assists.
