NWSL Preview: Portland Thorns (6-1-7) at Washington Spirit (1-5-9)

Match Preview: Washington Spirit vs. Portland Thorns FC

Segra Field | Leesburg, Virginia – Wednesday, August 10 at 7:30 PM ET

Players to watch:

The Washington Spirit are led up front by attackers Ashley Hatch and Trinity Rodman, who have together combined for 10 goal contributions already this season. In the club’s last match, Hatch was on the make to tally her fifth goal of the season, while the match prior it was Rodman’s brace that helped Washington earn a point in a 3-3 draw with North Carolina.

Thorns fans were treated to a stunning display from forward Sophia Smith in the club’s last time out, with her brace helping the club to secure a point in a 3-3 draw with the Courage. Smith has now scored in two straight games and is tied for the lead in the Golden Boot race with 11 goals, the co-leader being San Diego forward Alex Morgan. Also producing prolific play in the last couple of games have been attackers Hina Sugita and Morgan Weaver, both of whom who have been involved in multiple goals this season.

Match facts: The Washington Spirit host Portland Thorns FC on Wednesday night at Segra Field as the hosts attempt to extend their unbeaten streak to four games (3D), while the visitors aim to go beyond even that and increase their unbeaten run to 11 games (5W 4D).

The Spirit currently sit in 10^th place in the standings but have seen their fortunes potentially slowly turn around over the last few games as their three consecutive draws have helped them to that unbeaten run, with the club only other managing a similar streak once (4 – 4D) earlier in the season. In Washington’s most recent match, they traveled to face Racing Louisville FC and left with a point after a 1-1 draw in an all-around even contest.

Portland, meanwhile, is on a tear and may even feel as if they should have left their last game with more than a point after North Carolina’s impressive second half comeback. That said, the Thorns have made the most of their recent opposition and in their nine-game run and have outscored them 30-11, pouring out in attack on multiple occasions.

However, the only meeting between the two sides was a tight one with both sides settling for a draw behind Sophia Smith’s 57^th minute strike and Ashley Hatch’s 63^rd minute equalizer. The two teams were relatively even in the stats department, though Washington did outshoot the hosts 19-13 and 7-3 in shots on goal.