HOUSTON – Goalkeeper Michelle Betos stopped a penalty kick in the second half as Portland Thorns FC kept a clean sheet to earn a 0-0 draw against the Houston Dash in front of 4,864 fans on Saturday night at BBVA Compass Stadium.
Squaring off against Houston for the second time in their last three matches, Thorns FC (2-3-3, 9pts) earned a point on the road as Betos saved Houston forward Kealia Ohai’s penalty kick in the 55th minute. Ohai got behind Portland’s backline and was pulled down in the box, but Betos dove to her right to make the save on Ohai’s penalty-kick attempt to keep the game scoreless. Betos finished the match with two saves, earning her first clean sheet of the season.
With the draw, Portland improved to 3-1-1 all-time against Houston, including an unbeaten record on the road (2-0-1) against the Dash. Saturday’s match marked the third time in five meetings that Thorns FC have recorded a shutout against Houston, including three shutouts in three trips to BBVA Compass Stadium since 2014. It also was the second time that a Portland goalkeeper has saved a penalty kick against the Dash in a match. Nadine Angerer saved a penalty kick in a 1-0 win on May 14, 2014.
Thorns FC outshot Houston, 15-5, and limited the Dash to just one shot attempt in the second half. Portland saw a close chance miss in the 40th minute as midfielder Taylor Comeau’s half-volley attempt was headed for goal, but was tipped over by Houston goalkeeper Bianca Henninger, who made five saves in the match. Thorns FC forward Ayo tallied a match-high seven shots and found herself in scoring position in the 80th minute as she was one-on-one with Henninger. Ayo dribbled down the right side of the box, but fired her shot just wide of the right post from close range.
The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) begins its break during the group stage of the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup following Saturday’s matches. Thorns FC return to action against FC Kansas City on Friday, June 19, at Providence Park; kickoff is set for 7 p.m. (Pacific. The match will be broadcast live via web stream at www.portlandthornsfc.com.
Notes:
- Defender Rachel Van Hollebeke started her first match since April 18 against the Western New York Flash.
- Defender Emily Menges made her 15th consecutive start, dating back to the 2014 season.
- Midfielder McCall Zerboni started her 23rd consecutive NWSL match, dating back to 2014.
- Saturday’s match marked the second straight year a Portland goalkeeper has saved a penalty kick against Houston, both times at BBVA Compass Stadium. Nadine Angerer saved a penalty kick in a 1-0 win against the Dash on May 14, 2014.
- Portland improved to 3-1-1 all-time against the Dash, including a record of 2-0-1 on the road.
- Thorns FC have outshot Houston by a margin of 33-9 in the last two meetings.
- Portland has held the Dash to five shots or less in three consecutive meetings.
- Goalkeeper Michelle Betos became the second Thorns FC goalkeeper to save a penalty kick in match.
- Betos’ clean sheet was her first of the season and the second of her career for Thorns FC.
- Portland has never allowed a goal to the Dash in three meetings at BBVA Compass Stadium.
- Thorns FC have shut out Houston in three of their five meetings all-time.
- Midfielder Kendall Johnson appeared in her 45th career NWSL match.
- Portland finished with 0-0 score line for just second time in team history. Thorns FC and the Western York Flash played to scoreless draw during the 2013 campaign.
Portland Thorns FC (2-3-3, 9pts) vs. Houston Dash (2-2-4, 10pts)
June 6, 2015 – BBVA Compass Stadium (Houston, Texas)
Goals by Half 1 2 F
Portland Thorns FC 0 0 0
Houston Dash 0 0 0
Scoring Summary
n/a
Misconduct Summary
HOU: Camila (Caution), 35
HOU: Bock (Caution), 44
POR: Terry (Caution), 65
Lineups & Stats
POR: GK Michelle Betos, D Rachel Van Hollebeke, D Emily Menges, D Kat Williamson ©, M Taylor Comeau (Hanna Terry, 59), M Sinead Farrelly, M McCall Zerboni, M Kendall Johnson (Alyssa Kleiner, 89), M Allie Long, M Mana Shim (Sarah Jackson, 82), F Ayo
Substitutes Not Used: GK Emily Kruger, M Kate Bennett
TOTAL SHOTS: 15 (Ayo, 7); SHOTS ON GOAL: 5 (Five players, 1); FOULS: 8 (Menges, 2); OFFSIDES: 6; CORNER KICKS: 4; SAVES: 2
HOU: GK Bianca Henninger, D Ellie Brush, D Camila (Jen LaPonte 65), D Toni Pressley, D Ella Masar ©, M Niki Cross, M Brittany Bock (Rachael Axon, 61), M Melissa Henderson (Allie Bailey, 72), M Tiffany McCarty, F Kealia Ohai, F Jessica McDonald
Substitutes Not Used: GK Megan Kinneman, M Jordan Jackson, M Cami Privett, D Jazmyne Avant
TOTAL SHOTS: 5 (McCarty, 2); SHOTS ON GOAL: 2 (Ohai, McCarty, 1); FOULS: 10 (Camila, 3); OFFSIDES: 3; CORNER KICKS: 1; SAVES: 5
Referee: Danielle Chesky
Assistant Referees: Veronica Perez, Francisco Bermudez
4th Official: Christa Dorsey
Attendance: 4,864
Weather: Partly cloudy, 91 degrees
All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial.
