MATCH INFORMATION

Date: Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016

Kickoff: 4 p.m. (Pacific)

Location: Yurcak Field (Piscataway, N.J.)

Forecast: Clear, 70 degrees

Referee: Christina Unkel

Assistant Referees: Amilcar Sicaju, Ian McKay Fourth Official: Rosario Candela

Webstream: www.thornsfc.com

MATCH DAY PREVIEW

Portland Thorns FC close out the 2016 NWSL regular season on the road against Sky Blue FC on Sunday, Sept. 25, at Yurcak Field in Piscataway, N.J.; kickoff is set for 4 p.m. (Pacific).

Thorns FC (11-3-5, 38pts) enters Sunday’s match in second place in the league standings, just one point behind the first-place Washington Spirit (12-4-3, 39pts) with an opportunity to capture the 2016 NWSL Shield. Thorns FC will capture their first-ever Shield with a win against Sky Blue FC and a Washington Spirit loss or draw to the Chicago Red Stars on Sept. 24th. Another scenario in which the Thorns can clinch the Shield would be a draw against Sky Blue FC and a Washington Spirit loss to Chicago. Portland and Washington would be level on points, but Thorns FC hold the tiebreaker – head-to-head record – over the Spirit.

LAST MATCH RECAP

Playing their final regular-season home match, Thorns FC defeated the Western New York Flash 3-2 behind goals from forward Nadia Nadim, forward Christine Sinclair and the game-winning goal scored by Dagny Brynjarsdottir on Sept. 11. Portland opened the scoring in the 27th minute after Nadim dispatched her penalty kick into the back of the net. Thorns FC doubled the lead in the 37th minute after Sinclair took a touch inside the box and her left-footed shot struck the left post and went in. Brynjarsdottir would cap the scoring after being released into space by Tobin Heath and her right-footed shot was dispatched into the the roof of the net in the 69th minute.

SERIES HISTORY

Sunday’s match marks the second and final meeting between the Thorns and Sky Blue FC this season, as Portland defeated Sky Blue 2-1 at Providence Park on July 2, behind goals from midfielder Dagny Brynjarsdottir in the 38th minute and the game-winning goal scored by Nadim in the 62nd minute. This will be the 11th meeting all-time between the two clubs, with Portland trailing the overall series 3-5-2. In four away matches against Sky Blue, Thorns FC have a 0-2-2 record. Additionally, six of the last seven meetings were decided by a single goal.

SCOUTING SKY BLUE FC

Sky Blue FC (7-7-5, 26pts) come into Sunday’s match following a 2-1 win on the road over the Orlando Pride at Camping World Stadium on Sept. 10, which snapped a four-game winless streak. Sky Blue has a 3-3-3 record at home and a 1-3-1 overall record in its last five games dating back to July 31. Sky Blue FC have conceded the third-most goals in the NWSL this season (27). As a team, 10 different players have scored for the club. Forward Sam Kerr, who last scored in the 2-1 win over Orlando, has scored in four-consecutive matches and leads the team with five goals in eight appearances this season. Midfielder Taylor Lytle and rookie forward Leah Galton have each recorded a team-best three assists. Defender Christie Rampone is the only player for Sky Blue to start all 19 games and play every minute of every match.

PLAYOFF PICTURE

With the 3-2 win over Western New York on Sept. 11, Portland clinched its first ever playoff home match in four seasons, joining the Washington Spirit as playoff hosts during the semifinals of the 2016 NWSL Playoffs. The Chicago Red Stars join Portland and Washington as the other team to clinch a playoff spot. With Sky Blue FC eliminated from playoff contention, fourth place Western New York and fifth place Seattle Reign FC will jockey for the final playoff berth.