The Portland Thorns exacted their revenge over the franchise that eliminated them in the 2016 semifinals, winning the 2017 NWSL Championship.

(Photo by Adrian J. Hernandez / Orlando Soccer Journal)

Match Recap

ORLANDO, Fla. – After falling in the 2016 semifinals, the Portland Thorns have redeemed themselves. The Thorns defeated the North Carolina Courage, the franchise that eliminated the Thorns in the semis last season, 1-0 at Orlando City Stadium early Saturday evening in front of 8,124 fans.

Despite tallying just one off-target shot in the first half, Portland scored the opening goal of the match. A set-piece at midfield in the 49th minute granted Portland the opportunity the West Coast side needed to score.

Portland’s high-arching entry pass from Emily Sonnett took a slight bounce toward the right post and Lindsey Horan. Horan let the ball bounce once to her right before popping the point-blank range shot past helpless Courage keeper Katelyn Rowland for the 1-0 lead.

“We’ve gotten so great at [set pieces],” Horan said after the win. “And, you know, Sonnett plays a perfect ball in. I don’t know who got a touch on it beforehand. I can’t even remember the goal, but I was very happy. All credit to Sonnett. She played a great ball.”

North Carolina had a chance at an equalizer in the 82nd minute when a deep ball led Jessica McDonald, who had four shots, into Portland’s box. After initially evading Portland’s Emily Menges, McDonald seemingly had space for an on-target effort inside right outside the Thorns’ six-yard box. Menges, however, recovered and stabbed her right foot in the nick of time to maintain her side’s lead.

“Yeah, you gotta have a look at the whole team, at all the work that everyone put in,” Thorns head coach Mark Parsons said after the match. “I mean, set pieces was gonna be huge today, I thought, for both teams defensively and offensively, and we had to deal with a lot… We limited to ’em to hardly goal-scoring opportunities, and the one that comes to mind is when McDonald got the better of Menges first, and Menges gets back and makes that challenge.”

The first half of the final NWSL match of 2017 was characterized by stalwart defenses from both sides. At the end of the first 45 minutes, only six shots were taken, as North Carolina’s Denise O’Sullivan had the lone on-target shot. North Carolina had the only two shots of the match by the 30th minute.

North Carolina produced the best chances of the first half. In the 14th minute, midfielder Samantha Mewis found space just past midfield and noticed Portland goalkeeper Adrianna Franch unusually off her line. Mewis then chipped the ball from distance, and it careened off the crossbar for Franch to catch.

A 35th-minute corner from the right helped the Courage set up another opportunity: the one on-target effort of the first half. After Abby Dahlkemper’s delivery was headed away, a waiting O’Sullivan chested the ball down and one-hopped the ball into the mitts of a diving Franch.

Woman of the Match: MF Lindsey Horan

Horan led Portland with a team-high two shots (one on-target), scoring the only goal of the game. She completed 72.4 percent of her 29 passes, recorded three tackles and drew three fouls. The 23-year-old also won MVP honors of the 2017 NWSL Championship.

What’s next?

With Portland being crowned the 2017 NWSL champions, the 2017 season comes to an end.

Highlights

NDR Notes

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Scoring

Time Team Goal-scorer Assisted by 50’ Portland Thorns Lindsey Horan Emily Sonnett

Statistics and Starting Lineups

Goals Assists Shots Shots on Goal Possession % North Carolina Courage 0 0 16 5 51.9% Portland Thorns 1 1 4 3 48.1%

North Carolina Courage starting XI (4-3-1-2): Katelyn Rowland (GK); Jaelene Hinkle, Abby Erceg (C), Abby Dahlkemper, Taylor Smith; Denise O’Sullivan, Samantha Mewis, McCall Zerboni; Kristen Hamilton; Ashley Hatch, Lynn Williams

Portland Thorns starting XI (4-2-3-1): Adrianna Franch (GK); Emily Sonnett, Amandine Henry, Meghan Klingenberg, Katherine Reynolds; Emily Menges, Ashleigh Sykes; Hayley Raso, Tobin Heath, Lindsey Horan; Christine Sinclair (C)

Edits Log:

10/14/17, 8:52 p.m.: Corrected development of Horan’s goal.

10/14/17, 8:54 p.m.: Corrected North Carolina attacker’s name in Menges’ equalizer-saving block.

For more coverage of the NWSL offseason and the Orlando Pride, follow Victor Tan on Twitter at @NDR_VictorTan.