The Portland Thorns FC beat the Houston Dash on penalties in the Women's International Championship Cup semifinals at Providence Park on Wednesday night. Portland fought back from a 2-0 deficit in the second half, with two goals from Natalia Kuikka and Olivia Moultrie – her first as a professional – to tie the game at 2-2 at the end of regulation.

In the shootout, Thorns goalie Shelby Hogan made three saves, but Meghan Klingenberg, Moultrie, and Simone Charley all scored on their tries, giving Portland the victory and a berth in Saturday's championship final against Olympique Lyonnais.

Houston's Shea Groom went around her defender and scored a goal inside the far post in the 17th minute to put the Thorns down 1-0. The Dash subsequently scored their second goal with some fast combination work, with Groom completing the move to put Portland down 2-0.

The Thorns cut the advantage in half in the second half when Moultrie's corner kick found defender Natalia Kuikka at the penalty spot, who smashed a header into the net. When Moultrie curled a beautiful free-kick over the Houston wall and into the bottom left corner of the net in the 58th minute, the Thorns tied it up at 2-2.

After saving three of the Houston Dash’s penalities the Thorns would win the match. Securing them a spot in the final against OL Reign this past weekend.

[Photography by ICONIC photographer Jackie Shinstrom]