Two favorites for the 2018 NWSL Championship met on Saturday afternoon in a rematch of the 2017 NWSL Championship final, and this time the Courage finished the 90 minutes on the right side of a 1–0 scoreline.

Debinha’s 70th-minute goal was the only shot to find the back of the net, and North Carolina started the 2018 season just as they started in 2017: on top.

The cold and rain made conditions miserable for players and fans alike at WakeMed Soccer Park, but both sides saw decent chances on the pitch, with Portland having the better of play early on (with the exception of a should’ve-been-goal for Lynn Williams just 90 seconds in).

Courage coach Paul Riley said before the game that he feared the Thorns would park the bus for 90 minutes, so they likely caught North Carolina on the wrong foot, but several good plays from Sabrina D’Angelo kept the game scoreless until her teammates could take over.

And take over they did. For the rest of the game, the Junkyard Dogs had the better of the ball, more possession, and more chances as Portland began to play that defensive style Riley predicted. Crystal Dunn was exceptional in the midfield, the back four was stellar, and last year’s pairing of Jess McDonald and Williams up top combined for several threats on Adrianna Franch’s net.

In the 70th minute, the Courage took the lead and wouldn’t give it up, moving on to their first three points of the season against a foe no one in North Carolina minds seeing defeated.

The turning point

Clearly, the turning point in this one was the lone goal. Irish international and Courage midfielder Denise O’Sullivan made a long run toward the box and then passed it through two Thorns to an open Debinha. She took her time and fired an unstoppable shot into the right netting past a leaping Franch.

Even Portland-based soccer writer Caitlin Murray had to give her credit.

Three who mattered

Debinha, MF : Magical. Clearly, the goal scorer made the difference on the scoreboard, but her goal was just one of several impressive moments. Just minutes after giving the Courage the lead, the Brazilian dribbled through the box, had a shot blocked, recovered possession and nutmegged a defender. She earned the late-substitute standing ovation Riley granted her.

: Magical. Clearly, the goal scorer made the difference on the scoreboard, but her goal was just one of several impressive moments. Just minutes after giving the Courage the lead, the Brazilian dribbled through the box, had a shot blocked, recovered possession and nutmegged a defender. She earned the late-substitute standing ovation Riley granted her. Sabrina D’Angelo, GK : After a difficult season at Sahlen’s Stadium in 2017, D’Angelo reclaimed the starting position for the home opener in 2018 and earned her first clean sheet of the season. It wasn’t all easy going either: The Thorns had several chances that required her to play the ball aggressively, but she was up to the task coming off the line and controlling the box. A well-timed second half clearance nearly looked like a foul in the box, but replays showed D’Angelo had the ball cleanly in a really important play.

: After a difficult season at Sahlen’s Stadium in 2017, D’Angelo reclaimed the starting position for the home opener in 2018 and earned her first clean sheet of the season. It wasn’t all easy going either: The Thorns had several chances that required her to play the ball aggressively, but she was up to the task coming off the line and controlling the box. A well-timed second half clearance nearly looked like a foul in the box, but replays showed D’Angelo had the ball cleanly in a really important play. Crystal Dunn, MF: She’s just so good. A late move to juke a defender near the OCS endline in the second half resulted in a cross into the box, and it made both my wife and me squeal. Dunn brings yet another ridiculous attacking threat to this group, and she hasn’t even settled in yet. Can’t wait to see what she brings to the team by midseason.

They said it

Paul Riley, after the game, couldn’t say enough about the Courage goal scorer.

“We created five, six really good chances, I think, to win the game. We didn’t give a lot away, and it’s nice to start on a clean sheet at home. … Happy with the result. It was a great winner — what a goal to win the game, and Debinha’s been doing that for most of preseason when she’s been here. She’s a different player, and it’s great to have her here and go 100 percent.”

Roary is back!

In news that is likely far more important to the little Courage fans than the final scoreline, the Courage introduced (re-introduced?) a new (old?) mascot on Saturday: Roary.

The lion will remind longtime Raleigh soccer fans of the old Carolina Courage mascot from back in the day and, needless to say, the updated version is a hit with the kiddos.

Up next

The Courage play Sky Blue FC next Saturday, March 31 at 3:30 p.m. at WakeMed Soccer Park. Last year, the teams split three contests 1–1–1.

The Thorns visit the Chicago Red Stars next Saturday and play at Toyota Park at 5:15pm.

Box score

NC Courage— 1

Portland Thorns — 0

Goals

NC Courage: Debinha ‘70.

Portland Thorns: none.

Attendance: 4,210