The Portland Thorns hosted their first-ever home game in the inaugural season of the National Women’s Soccer League on Sunday, bringing an astounding 16,479 spectators to Jeld-Wen Field for a matchup with the Seattle Reign FC. Assessing the incredible support the team is already enjoying this year, Thorns head coach Cindy Parlow Cone said, “As soon as I landed here in Portland in mid-January, the reception I have received and this team has received from Portland has just been unbelievable. They really came out tonight and they were the 12th person on the field—it’s hard for a team to play against 12 people.”
While on my way to the media gate I passed hundreds of young girls eagerly awaiting their first Thorns game—many clutching soccer balls and exhibiting the same kind of passion you might see at a Justin Bieber concert—screaming “Alex Morgan!” at random intervals and reaching a fever pitch of excitement as game time drew near.
When the Thorns took the field a thunderous chant broke out in the stadium, letting the home team know just how much their fans had been anticipating this moment. “To be out there and hear the national anthem from [Jazmyne Avante and to] put the Thorns jersey on—it was a great feeling,” Morgan said.
The Thorns started the contest strong, putting consistent pressure on the Reign defense. Forward Christine Sinclair ripped down the field in the 15th minute and placed a shot on goal that missed just wide but caused the stadium to erupt, quickly setting the tone for the match. In the 28th minute, Portland earned a corner kick that was launched across middle and received by an unmarked Becky Edwards, who placed a header on goal that the Reign’s Michelle
Betos saved with a beautiful diving catch. In the 36th minute, Morgan showcased her tremendous footwork versus three Reign defenders and fired another shot, but Emily Zurrer saved the ball at the line to keep the score at 0-0.
Finally, with halftime looming in the 45th minute, Portland defender Marian Dougherty headed a free kick from Kathryn Williamson for the first goal by the club at Jeld-Wen Field, putting the Thorns ahead 1-0.
The team came out firing in the second half, placing three shots on goal in the opening minutes and keeping Betos on edge. In the 52nd minute, Morgan caught a long pass from Sinclair and booted a left-footed shot into the net to put the Thorns up 2-0. “There was more of a flow between us,” Sinclair said of the goal. “I just stole the ball from their back line, I remembered seeing Alex starting her run, and I hoped she [would continue] it. And she did.”
The Reign’s Jessica Fishlock responded in the 74th minute to bring Seattle within one, but it was as close as they would get as Portland managed to keep the Reign at bay for the remainder of regulation and come away with the club’s first win. The Thorns are scheduled to take on the Chicago Red Stars next, in a road game at Benedictine University Sports Complex on April 27.