FC Kansas City started the match strong, fast and connected. And throughout the first half, Portland’s defense struggled to keep up. Thorns goalkeeper, Michelle Betos, made her usual gravity defying saves but one can only take so much. The shots were unrelenting and, finally after 23 minutes of play, KC’s forward Shea Groom slipped one in after a chaotic save by Betos and a follow up cross from Tiffany McCarty. SAD TROMBONE
NOT SO HOT PANTS
Having the opponent score first usually lights a fire under the Thorn’s umbros, but there seemed to be more confusion than combustion. Occasionally the Thorns' defenders were able to strip a ball from the opponent, but once delivered, there were no Thorns to be be found on the other side of the half line. After 40 or so minutes, just as the rain started to fall, the Thorns began to find a little momentum. But KC’s coverage of Nadim and Brynjarsdottir was heavy, and breaks for the goal were quickly shut down. KC’s McCarty took another tremendous cross and KC was up by two after Groom blasted a header past Betos. Thorns broke for the half needing to make some tactical adjustments—just as I needed a $10 beer. 20 OUNCES OF PURE PRICY BLISS!
BACK, BETTER BUT BEATEN
Thorns returned from the half seemingly determined, but still timid. Rasso got a nice touch on the ball for a powerful shot right outside of the 18, but KC’s goalkeeper, Nicole Barnhart, tipped it over the goal. FOILED AGAIN! The shot was missed but something clicked with that chance. A switch had been flipped and the Portland Thorns started playing their fast and furious game. TOOT TOOT!
BUCKLE UP
Somewhere around the 75th minute the Thorns were awarded a penalty shot right outside of the arc. Nadia Nadim chipped it right in front of the goal for an awkward bounce. When the goalkeeper fumbled for it, Portland’s Katherine Reynolds found it and put one on the board for the Thorns. JAZZ HAND EMOJIS!
With the smell of red smoke bomb and the ringing of the Riveters echoing, we watched the fight, spite, bite, and brass that we had been waiting to see all game. The Thorns may have played the first half looking at a map upside down in the dark, but the last ten minutes of this game fans watched some of the most intense soccer we’ve seen all season.
LONG STORY SHORT (too late)
Time ran out and we lost.
#1 LOSERS
It’s not that I hate to lose, I just don’t like it. Trust me, I grew up a New Orleans Saints fan- I WAS BORN INTO A LOSING FAMILY. And while it would have been great to go through a whole season without watching the Thorns lose in their own stadium, I think the Thorns will get a lot out of this game. Plus, we are still the number one team in the league!
Playing without our starters for so many games is bound to affect our record and it’s taking a little time and patience for our second and third stringers to find their pace with each other. The Thorns that played Saturday night looked incredibly frustrated. They know they are a better team, they just lacked confidence with each other. After this loss, and more training together, these women will ease off the clutch and floor it victory! IT'S CALLED OPTIMISM- HEARD OF IT?
A REAL TREAT
Thank goodness for sports and the athletes that play them. The week’s onslaught of negativity, murder and the ongoing struggle of humanity to maintain had beaten me down. This game, the USWNT match, the euro final and the Timbers all provided my brain and body with a little rest and much needed entertainment. While I acknowledge the severity of our American situation, the call to action and the desperate need for change, I was thrilled to watch professionals from all over the world meet equally on the pitch for sport.
Thorns FC play in Houston on Saturday July 16th at 5:30 pm. You can catch the game online right here and you can catch me on line on Twitter! @erinjeanius