Providence Park | Portland, Oregon – Wednesday, May 31 at 10:30 PM ET
Players to watch:
Portland midfielder Sam Coffey assisted Portland’s equalizing goal against San Diego on Saturday, her third assist in the last two matches, equaling her total from her first 32 games in all NWSL competitions. Only teammate Sophia Smith (5) has more assists in all NWSL competitions than Coffey (4) this season.
Angel City has yet to score in this year’s competition through two games played, but forwards Katie Johnsonand Alyssa Thompson, both of whom have made a goalscoring impact in the regular season, lead the team in shots on target (2) with Johnson also leading the team in total shots. And though DiDi Haracic is typically first choice for the first team in the regular season, goalkeeper Brittany Isenhour has earned both appearances between the sticks to date and is likely to continue that trend on Wednesday night.
Match facts: Portland Thorns FC welcomes Angel City FC for Wednesday’s nightcap fixture with the Thorns looking to bounce back from an opening loss in the competition, while Angel City is still searching for its first Challenge Cup win in its third match this season.
After losing only two of their first 14 matches in the Challenge Cup (W6 D6), Portland has lost three of its last four matches in the competition (W1), including the last two in a row. The Thorns have suffered only one home defeat in the competition, however (W4 D1). Portland is in a good vein of form though, having won or drawn five of their last six in the regular season (W2 D3), including a 3-3 draw against Angel City on April 29.
Angel City has won only one of its eight all-time Challenge Cup matches (D2 L5), though that win came against Portland, 1-0, at home last April. Angel City earned its first away point in the Challenge Cup in its last match in the tournament though, a scoreless draw at OL Reign. Angel City has attempted fewer than 10 shots in four of its five matches in May in all competitions, including the last three in a row, averaging 8.6 shots per match in that time. Angel City was held under 10 shots just once in its previous 10 matches dating back to last September, averaging 14.8 attempts per match over that time.
That 3-3 draw between Portland and Angel City came in dramatic fashion with Thorns goalkeeper Bella Bixby scoring the equalizer in the seventh minute of stoppage time. The Thorns had conceded only two goals in their first four meetings with Angel City (in all competitions) before allowing three in the last meeting.
