Portland Thorns x Angel City FC
On Saturday night, the Portland Thorns hosted NWSL action for the second consecutive weekend, welcoming Angel City FC to Providence Park. But things were off to a rocky start for the Thorns, as they gave up a goal on a solo effort by Alyssa Thompson in the ninth minute.
However, the Thorns quickly recovered. In the 29th minute, Portland tied the game on a penalty kick. Morgan Weaver made a risky drive down the left and then cut the ball back toward the middle of the area, where Julie Ertz used her arm to unintentionally deflect the ball. Hina Sugita took control of the PK, seizing the equalizing chance in front of scores of devoted fans at Providence Park. To even the score, Sugita wasted no time burying a low shot to Dijana Haracic's bottom right.
The Thorns had turned the game around at the 20-minute mark of the second half. by the talented 17-year-old Olivia Moultrie. Moultrie brought the ball into the final third for Angel City, and her 25-yard through pass found Morgan Weaver, who tapped it past a diving Haracic from just inside the box to make it 2-1. Angel City scored an undisputed equalizer in the 74th minute on an own goal by the Thorns. The night became even more exciting when, only five minutes later, the visitors seized the 2-3 lead again on a goal by Julie Ertz.
Angel City did all they could to waste time, but in the fifth minute of added time, Portland had one more chance at a corner kick. Bella Bixby, the game's ultimate clutch player, entered the box at the last possible moment to help the Thorns score. Bella Bixby took a quick reaction backheel flick off the redirected corner to give Providence Park the most insane goal it has ever seen. The crowd went wild after her swift and beautiful last touch. The Rose City Riveters' cries of "She's our keeper!" reverberated through the clouds of crimson smoke.
The Thorns' never-say-die mentality helped them win a game featuring three different lead changes and three different comebacks, giving them their fifth win in a row to start the 2023 NWSL season. The win on Saturday night kept Portland in first place in the league by themselves.
[Photography by Jackie Shinstrom]
