Kansas City NWSL Falls to Portland 2-0 on the Road

PORTLAND, Ore. (Aug. 1, 2021) - Kansas City NWSL took to the road for the Pacific Northwest as they faced the top of the table Portland Thorns in a mid-afternoon game on Sunday. Despite Kansas City’s threatening offense, they could not find the back of the net. Portland took the lead with an own goal scored in the 10th minute of play, then sealed the victory with a set-piece goal in the 43rd minute from Sophia Smith to Marissa Everett to give Portland the 2-0 win. 

Kansas City NWSL’s new forward Kristen Hamilton had a dangerous chance in the sixth minute of action after Darian Jenkins slipped a pass through the defense to Hamilton. The veteran forward one-timed a shot that was certain for goal, until the Thorn’s goalkeeper, Bella Bixby, made an incredible save to keep out of the net. 

Although Kansas City owned the possession advantage in the first seven minutes, Portland was able to find a goal in the 10th minute of action when a cross from Emily Menges took an unfortunate deflection off Kansas City’s defender Kristen Edmonds into the net to put the Thorns up 1-0.

Kansas City’s Hamilton, Hailie Mace, and Jenkins were aggressive up top as they set the pace for the Kansas City attack by creating many dangerous chances while combining for seven shots to test Bixby and the Thorns backline. 

Goalkeeper Katelyn Rowland played a great game in her debut, ending the game with six saves after facing 20 shots from Portland. The Thorns looked dangerous early in the first half with chances from Simone Charley and Smith, but Rowland was able to keep the ball out of the back of the net and keep Kansas City in the game. 

Desipte the great play from Rowland, Portland was able to find the net for a second time on a short cornerkick play in the 42nd minute that was deflected in by Everett to put the Thorns up 2-0.

Although down 2-0, Kansas City did not let down on either side of the ball. Kansas City ended up firing 18 shots at the goal but just was unable to find the net. 

“One thing with this team, I was extremely proud of every player today,”said Head Coach Huw Williams. “They did not give up and although the result didn’t turn out the way we want, they all played hard to the very end.”

Kansas City will now shift its focus for another road match and visiting Racing Louisville on Sunday, August 8 at 2 p.m. CT. The contest will be at Lynn Family Stadium in Louisville, Kentucky, and will air locally on KSMO-TV and stream nationally on Paramount+.

NWSL Match Report

Match: Portland Thorns vs Kansas City NWSL

Date: August 1, 2021

Venue: Providence Park, Portland, Oregon

Kickoff: 12:09 p.m. PT, 2:09 p.m. CT, 3:09 p.m. ET

Weather: 75 degrees, sunny

Discipline

83’ POR - Moultrie (Yellow)

Scoring

10’ POR – Edmonds (Own Goal)

42’ POR - Everett (Smith)

Scoring Summary

Lineups: 

Portland Thorns: Bixby, Klingenberg (75’ Pogarch), Hubly, Menges©, Kuikka (83’ Westphal), Boureille, Salem, Rodriguez, Everett (75’ Moultrie), Charley (83’ Nally), Smith (90+3’ Strom-Okimoto)

Substitutes Not Used: Hogan, Betfort, Porter.

Kansas City: Rowland, Corsie©, Edmonds, Weber, Pickett, K., Vincent (72’ Listro), Pickett, V., McCain (72’ Larroquette), Hamilton, Mace (54’ LaBonta), Jenkins (60’ Vasconcelos). 

Substitutes Not Used: Nelson, Del Fava, Johnson, Maemone, Nolf.

PORTLAND, Ore. (Aug. 1, 2021) - Kansas City NWSL took to the road for the Pacific Northwest as they faced the top of the table Portland Thorns in a mid-afternoon game on Sunday. Despite Kansas City’s threatening offense, they could not find the back of the net. Portland took the lead with an own goal scored in the 10th minute of play, then sealed the victory with a set-piece goal in the 43rd minute from Sophia Smith to Marissa Everett to give Portland the 2-0 win. 

Kansas City NWSL’s new forward Kristen Hamilton had a dangerous chance in the sixth minute of action after Darian Jenkins slipped a pass through the defense to Hamilton. The veteran forward one-timed a shot that was certain for goal, until the Thorn’s goalkeeper, Bella Bixby, made an incredible save to keep out of the net. 

Although Kansas City owned the possession advantage in the first seven minutes, Portland was able to find a goal in the 10th minute of action when a cross from Emily Menges took an unfortunate deflection off Kansas City’s defender Kristen Edmonds into the net to put the Thorns up 1-0.

Kansas City’s Hamilton, Hailie Mace, and Jenkins were aggressive up top as they set the pace for the Kansas City attack by creating many dangerous chances while combining for seven shots to test Bixby and the Thorns backline. 

Goalkeeper Katelyn Rowland played a great game in her debut, ending the game with six saves after facing 20 shots from Portland. The Thorns looked dangerous early in the first half with chances from Simone Charley and Smith, but Rowland was able to keep the ball out of the back of the net and keep Kansas City in the game. 

Desipte the great play from Rowland, Portland was able to find the net for a second time on a short cornerkick play in the 42nd minute that was deflected in by Everett to put the Thorns up 2-0.

Although down 2-0, Kansas City did not let down on either side of the ball. Kansas City ended up firing 18 shots at the goal but just was unable to find the net. 

“One thing with this team, I was extremely proud of every player today,”said Head Coach Huw Williams. “They did not give up and although the result didn’t turn out the way we want, they all played hard to the very end.”

Kansas City will now shift its focus for another road match and visiting Racing Louisville on Sunday, August 8 at 2 p.m. CT. The contest will be at Lynn Family Stadium in Louisville, Kentucky, and will air locally on KSMO-TV and stream nationally on Paramount+.

NWSL Match Report

Match: Portland Thorns vs Kansas City NWSL

Date: August 1, 2021

Venue: Providence Park, Portland, Oregon

Kickoff: 12:09 p.m. PT, 2:09 p.m. CT, 3:09 p.m. ET

Weather: 75 degrees, sunny

Discipline

83’ POR - Moultrie (Yellow)

Scoring

10’ POR – Edmonds (Own Goal)

42’ POR - Everett (Smith)

Scoring Summary

Lineups: 

Portland Thorns: Bixby, Klingenberg (75’ Pogarch), Hubly, Menges©, Kuikka (83’ Westphal), Boureille, Salem, Rodriguez, Everett (75’ Moultrie), Charley (83’ Nally), Smith (90+3’ Strom-Okimoto)

Substitutes Not Used: Hogan, Betfort, Porter.

Kansas City: Rowland, Corsie©, Edmonds, Weber, Pickett, K., Vincent (72’ Listro), Pickett, V., McCain (72’ Larroquette), Hamilton, Mace (54’ LaBonta), Jenkins (60’ Vasconcelos). 

Substitutes Not Used: Nelson, Del Fava, Johnson, Maemone, Nolf.