LEISLE, Ill. -- Less than three minutes into Sunday night's game, Thorns forward Alex Morgan snuck in behind the Chicago Red Stars defense. Once midfielder Nikki Marshall found Morgan and delivered the ball to one of the NWSL's top scorers, it was all but over.

Morgan gained possession, evaded two defenders and drilled the ball off her left foot. The shot deflected off a Red Stars player and ricocheted past the near goalpost and into the back of the net, giving the Thorns a lead they would never relinquish. A goal by Allie Long in the first half added to the final tally, and Portland capped a three-game sweep of

with a 2-0 victory at the Benedictine Sports Complex.

"It's pretty key, on the road, to get off to a good start," said forward Christine Sinclair. "To find yourself up 1-0 after three minutes sort of erases the travel and brings up your energy, and then to get a second one fairly soon after that put us in control of the game."

The goal by Morgan extended her points streak to four games -- all Thorns victories.

Goalie Karina LeBlanc recorded four saves on goal, helping the Thorns post their second shutout in as many games versus Chicago this season. That includes one save in the 21st minute, where LeBlanc punched a ball away from crossing the goal line following a rocket shot by opposing midfielder Julianne Sitch.

"Karina came up huge for us, especially on that one save off of Sitch's shot in the first half," said Thorns head coach Cindy Parlow-Cone. "But that's a goalkeeper's job, to come off up when needed. Most of the game was a pretty quiet job, and then when you have to come up big you do. She's a veteran, and she did exactly that for us (on Sunday)."

Long's goal in the 35th minute came off a pretty assist by fellow midfielder Nikki Washington. After bringing the ball up the right sideline behind the defense, Washington dished off a soaring cross to Long, who had sprinted up the middle of the field. The ball landed perfectly at Long's feet, before she tapped it softy behind Red Stars goalkeeper Erin McLeod's outstretched arm.

The second half was a sloppy affair, as neither team could get much offense going. Chicago, playing its third game in eight days, seemed to have some tired legs, as they were unable to generate much of an attack. Meanwhile the Thorns, who were playing for the first time since May 4, displayed a bit of rust.

Each team was hit with a yellow card during the second half. In the 51st minute, Thorns defender Rachel Buehler received a penalty for a reckless foul. Three minutes later, Chicago's Alyssa Mautz earned a card for the same infraction. (

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Overall, the Thorns were pleased with the win, and excited to be heading home. On Thursday, the team will play its first home game since April21.

"I think we are getting to where we need to be (as a team). We're not quite there yet," Parlow-Cone said. "At times, we've been a bit fortunate to get the results we have, and at times we've earned them. As a whole, each game we are getting better, and that's the goal throughout the season."

Sinclair agreed, saying the team accomplished more than it had hoped for on the road.

"We are obviously thrilled to be finally going back home," she said. "It's been a long time, a lot of plane rides, but we're excited to get back and play in front of our fans.

"Our motto was to grab points on the road, but to get wins was obviously better than expected. Hopefully we can continue that at home."

-- Eli Kaberon/Special to The Oregonian