Match Preview: Portland Thorns FC vs. NJ/NY Gotham FC
Providence Park | Portland, Oregon – Saturday, July 16 at 10:30 PM ET
Players to watch:
Thorns FC defender Meghan Klingenberg delivered an assist against the Reign, her 18th NWSL assist since the beginning of the 2017 season (including playoffs). Only three players have more assists in that span – Yuki Nagasoto (22), Sofia Huerta (22) and Jessica McDonald (20). In the goals department, attacker Hina Sugitahas scored three times on the year with two of those coming in the club’s last three matches. Sugita first scored the opening goal in the side’s 6-0 win over Orlando, then her goal on the hour mark against OL Reign helped secure a point.
Gotham FC midfielder Taylor Smith ended a 74-game goalless drought with the game-winning goal for Gotham against Louisville. Smith’s last NWSL goal prior to Friday was in a 7-1 win with the Western New York Flash against the Boston Breakers on June 24, 2016, a gap of 2204 days. Gotham has only scored seven total goals in nine games played, though, with the club’s 2-1 win the only time it has scored two or more goals on the season outside the regular season opener on May 2 (3-0 at Orlando).
Match facts: Entering in off the back of a second consecutive draw while also riding a seven-game unbeaten streak, Portland Thorns FC hosts NJ/NY Gotham FC on Saturday night at Providence Park in the second of two games across the league. It will mark the first meeting between Portland and Gotham this season, with Portland’s record against Saturday’s visitors tipping the scales in favor of a result of some kind.
The Thorns’ seven games without a loss is the second largest active streak (Chicago, nine) and was extended vai a 2-2 draw at OL Reign on Sunday. The achievement marks the fifth time Portland has had an unbeaten run of at least seven matches in NWSL play, which is tied with the Red Stars and Reign for most such streaks in league history.
On the flip side, Gotham FC ended a three-game losing streak with their 2-1 away win over Racing Louisville last weekend. Three of the club’s four wins this season have come on the road, which is tied with San Diego and Houston for most in NWSL in 2022, and the most by the team through five road games since winning four in NWSL’s inaugural season of 2013. Impressively, though the club has scored just seven goals in nine games, it has managed four wins in those nine games and is still the only side to have not drawn a single game this season.
Since 2018, Portland is unbeaten in nine games in league play against Gotham FC (W5 D4) while also winning the 2021 Challenge Cup against them in a penalty kick shootout. In 22 all-time NWSL games between the teams, Gotham has scored just 21 goals (to Portland’s 27).
