TUKWILA, Wash. – Forward Christine Sinclair registered a brace to lead Portland Thorns FC to a come-from-behind, 2-1 win over Seattle Reign FC in the regular-season finale before a sellout crowd of 3,855 at Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila, Wash., on Saturday night.
After conceding the game’s opening goal to Seattle forward Megan Rapinoe in the third minute, Sinclair responded with a goal in each half to record her second brace of the season for Thorns FC. Sinclair netted the game-winning goal in the 83rd minute to finish the regular season tied for the team high with eight goals.
Due to Western New York’s 2-1 win over the Boston Breakers earlier Saturday, Thorns FC can earn no higher than the third seed in the National Women’s Soccer League playoffs. Portland currently has a grasp on third place, but would only drop to fourth if Sky Blue FC defeats the Washington Spirit by three or more goals on Sunday. Depending on Sunday’s results, Thorns FC is all but guaranteed to face either Western New York or FC Kansas City in the semifinal round of the playoffs on Saturday, Aug. 24. Sky Blue FC could potentially move into the No. 2 spot if they win by six or more goals.
Sinclair, a former University of Portland standout, responded to Rapinoe’s go-ahead goal with the equalizer in the eighth minute. Midfielder Allie Long threaded a through ball down the middle of the field for Sinclair and the forward slipped around two Seattle defenders for a one-on-one opportunity against Reign FC goalkeeper Hope Solo. Sinclair took a touch around Solo near the top of the box and delivered a shot into the back of the net to level the score.
The assist was Long’s third of the season, tying her with midfielder Tobin Heath for second on the team.
Forward Danielle Foxhoven nearly put Portland ahead in the 57th minute, but her strike from the top of the penalty box struck the underside of the crossbar and was cleared away from the goal by the Reign FC defense.
Thorns FC (11-6-5, 38pts) notched the game-winning goal in the 83rd minute as midfielder/forward Tiffany Weimer looped a pass over the top of the Reign FC defense for Sinclair. The Canadian international outran the Seattle defense, settled the pass and fired low inside the far left post for the game-winning goal. The tally was Sinclair’s second game-winning goal inside the final 10 minutes in three appearances against Seattle this season. She netted an 84th-minute penalty kick for the game-winning goal in a 1-0 victory over Seattle on May 25.
Portland finished the regular-season with a 4-0-0 record against Reign FC, including a 2-0-0 mark on the road.
Reign FC (5-14-3, 18pts), nearly equalizer late in the match as Rapinoe rattled a shot off the left post in the 86th minute and forward Christine Nairn followed with a close-range shot that forced Thorns FC goalkeeper Karina LeBlanc to make a reaction save. LeBlanc came up with another save on a long-range, looping shot from Seattle midfielder Jessica Fishlock in the fourth minute of second-half stoppage time – punching the ball over the crossbar.
LeBlanc made seven saves in the win and Sinclair finished with a team-high three shots on goal. Reign FC outshot Portland 18-12 with Rapinoe attempting 12 of Seattle’s 18 shots.
Following Sunday’s final regular-season games, the NWSL playoff pairings and television broadcast information will be announced on Monday.
Notes:
- Forward Christine Sinclair recorded her second brace of the season, becoming the only Thorns FC player to achieve the feat this season.
- Defenders Nikki Marshall, Kathryn Williamson and midfielder Allie Long started all 22 matches for Thorns FC during the regular season.
- Goalkeeper Karina LeBlanc made her 13th consecutive start for Thorns FC; LeBlanc has played 1,170 straight minutes in goal for the club.
- Forward Alex Morgan missed her second straight game due to a mild MCL strain; Morgan finished the regular season as the team’s points leader (8g, 5a, 21pts).
- Portland won the season series against Reign FC with a 4-0-0 record, outscoring Seattle 7-2 in four games.
- Sinclair finished the season with three goals and one assist in three games against Seattle.
- Portland ended the regular season with a league-best 6-2-3 away record, outscoring opponents 13-8 on the road in 11 games.
- Thorns FC have registered 10 or more shots in eight of their last nine games.
Portland Thorns FC (11-6-5, 38pts) at Seattle Reign FC (5-14-3, 18pts)
Aug. 17, 2013 – Starfire Sports Complex (Tukwila, Wash.)
Goals by Half 1 2 F
Portland Thorns FC 1 1 2
Seattle Reign FC 1 0 1
Scoring Summary
SEA: Rapinoe (unassisted), 3
POR: Sinclair (Long), 8
POR: Sinclair (Weimer), 83
Misconduct Summary
POR: Marshall (caution), 70
POR: Shim (caution), 78
Lineups & Stats
POR: GK Karina LeBlanc; D Marian Dougherty (Casey Ramirez, 51), D Kathryn Williamson (Tina Ellertson, 73), D Rachel Buehler, D Nikki Marshall, M Angie Kerr, M Allie Long, M Meleana Shim, M/F Tiffany Weimer, F Christine Sinclair (capt.), F Danielle Foxhoven (Courtney Wetzel, 82)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Adelaide Gay, D/M Emilee O’Neil, M Tobin Heath
TOTAL SHOTS: 12 (Sinclair, 3); SHOTS ON GOAL: 6 (Sinclair, 3); FOULS: 11 (Four players tied, 2); OFFSIDES: 0; CORNER KICKS: 4; SAVES: 7
SEA: GK Hope Solo; D Elli Reed (Kiersten Dallstream, 88), D Kaylyn Kyle, D Lauren Barnes, D Stephanie Cox (Renae Cuellar, 76), M Keelin Winters, M Jessica Fishlock, M Kate Deines, M Emily Van Egmond (Liz Bogus, 64), F Christine Nairn, F Megan Rapinoe
Substitutes Not Used: GK Michelle Betos, D Emily Zurrer, F Kristina Larsen, F Jessica McDonald
TOTAL SHOTS: 18 (Rapinoe, 12); SHOTS ON GOAL: 8 (Rapinoe, 4); FOULS: 7 (Rapinoe, 2); OFFSIDES: 3; CORNER KICKS: 6; SAVES: 4
Referee: Christina Unkel
Assistant Referees: Adrienne McDonald, Ronald Lagraff
Fourth Official: Farhad Dadkho
Attendance: 3,855
Weather: Clear, 71 degrees
All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial
