The Portland Thorns kept their unbeaten streak going on Saturday, taking down the Chicago Red Stars on the road on the strength of two goals within an 11-minute stretch late in the game. The first-place Thorns have yet to lose in their first season as a franchise.
Portland established a consistent defensive presence in the first half, fighting off the Red Stars and preventing them from gaining a single shot on goal. While the Thorns’ defense was solid from the start, the offense was held scoreless by an equally determined Chicago front, despite maintaining possession for the majority of the first half.
The Red Stars came out stronger in the second, getting three attempts on goal, but Thorns goalkeeper Karina LeBlanc held her ground, shutting down each drive to keep the game scoreless. Finally, in the 70th minute, Alex Morgan found some room and launched a shot, which was blocked by Chicago goalkeeper Erin McLeod but deflected toward approaching forward Danielle Foxhoven, and Foxhoven directed it past McLeod to give the Thorns a one-goal lead. Christine Sinclair followed her in the 81st minute with another goal, this one coming off an assist from Morgan after a series of passes between the two forwards broke through the Chicago defense. The 2-0 advantage was more than enough for Portland, whose defenders held the Red Stars scoreless over the remainder of the game to give the Thorns the victory.
Portland is currently at the top of the National Women’s Soccer League standings in the early part of the season, with the duo of Morgan and Sinclair among the league leaders in scoring. Last week, the Thorns acquired midfielder Elizabeth Guess off waivers, hoping to bolster their already imposing lineup. Guess, who won two NCAA national championships while at the University of North Carolina, spent last season as a member of ADO Den Haag in the Netherlands and played one game for the Boston Breakers of the NWSL this year before being released and picked up by Portland. She made her official debut for the Thorns in the 90th minute against Chicago, coming into the game to replace Morgan.
The Thorns move on to the second leg of their three-game road trip, gearing up for a meeting with the Washington Spirit on May 4 at the Maryland SoccerPlex. The fifth-place Spirit are looking for their first win in 2013 and will have their hands full with a Portland squad that is gaining more confidence with each match.