The Portland Thorns beat the Chicago Red Stars 2-1 in their first preseason game of 2019 at Merlo Field at the University of Portland Sunday.

Thorns coach Mark Parsons started the majority of his available starters in the match. Center back Emily Menges, who has been dealing with a foot injury, was unavailable for the game. Goalkeeper Adrianna Franch and winger Hayley Raso, who were both in training with the Thorns last week, were notably absent from the lineup.

Parsons said Franch was dealing with a minor injury, but should be fine within a few days. Parsons said Raso would feature in Wednesday’s game after joining the Thorns late last week. Australian forward Caitlin Foord is still waiting on her visa and has yet to arrive in Portland. She is expected to join the Thorns this week. Draft pick Sandra Yu is dealing with a minor injury and a personal issue and will join the Thorns at a later date.

Midfielder Dagny Brynjarsdottir entered Sunday’s game in the 61st minute to plenty of cheers from the crowd at Merlo Field. Brynjarsdottir is returning to the Thorns this year after giving birth to her son in 2018.

Thorns defender Katherine Reynolds, who has been recovering after undergoing surgery to repair a torn medial collateral ligament (MCL) in her right knee last August, entered the game in the 79th minute.

Thorns forward Tyler Lussi scored the opening goal of the game in the sixth minute after getting on the end of a loose ball in the box following a corner kick from Tobin Heath. The Red Stars tied the game up in the 54th minute when Kayla Sharples headed-home a corner kick.

“Good first half,” Parsons said. “I saw lots of positives. Both sides of the ball, we saw ideas. At the same time, I think we wanted to make improvements on those ideas. In that first half, it was clear, I think a couple of players were doing really well and being very dangerous in creating chances. Second half, I think we dropped off and I think it exposed that we’re a long, long way from where we want to be when the season comes around.”

Thorns captain Christine Sinclair, a University of Portland alumni, gave the Thorns the win in the 76th minute.

Sinclair got on the end of a pass from Heath in the box and fired a shot into the corner of the net with her first touch to hand Portland the 2-1 win.

“A piece of magic from Sincy to give us a positive result is a nice way to finish the game,” Parsons said.

-- Jamie Goldberg | jgoldberg@oregonian.com

503-853-3761 | @jamiebgoldberg

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