THORNS FC, SKY BLUE FC PLAY TO 1-1 DRAW AT PROVIDENCE PARK

Portland Thorns FC earned a 1-1 draw against Sky Blue FC in front of 19,070 fans at Providence Park on Saturday night. Christine Sinclair scored her seventh goal of the season, recording a goal for a fourth straight match to help Thorns FC earn a point.

Sinclair goals
Sinclair tallied a goal for a fourth consecutive match, increasing her season total to seven goals in eight appearances. Her seven goals ranks third in the NWSL this season and leads the team. Additionally, her stretch of four consecutive games with a goal is tied for the second-longest streak for consecutive games with a goal in club history.

Key plays
In the first minute, Meghan Klingenberg received the ball on the left side and delivered a curling ball into the center of the box. Midge Purce flicked the ball on with her back to goal, sending a header just inches wide of the right post.

Pushing for the opening goal, Caitlin Foord received the ball off a throw-in and raced up field, playing the ball into space behind the Sky Blue FC backline. Purce surged into the box and beat two Sky Blue FC defenders, firing a shot from a tight angle off the left post in the eighth minute.

In the 24th minute, Gabby Seiler won the ball in midfield and quickly slotted a pass to Foord, who dribbled to the edge of the box and unleashed a shot from distance that went just over the crossbar.

Remaining on the front foot, Sinclair played a looping cross into the box for Purce, who settled the ball in between two defenders and chipped the ball from close range just over the target in the 35th minute.

Hayley Raso earned a penalty kick for Portland in the 38th minute when she was fouled by Sky Blue FC’s Estelle Johnson. Sinclair stepped to the penalty spot and converted to give Thorns FC a 1-0 lead.

On the counter-attack, Raso picked up the ball in the center circle, dribbled down the field and fired a shot that went just wide of the left post in the 58th minute. On the ensuing goal kick, Portland intercepted the ball just outside Sky Blue FC’s box and Foord sent a curling attempt from the edge of the box just past the right post.

Sky Blue FC tied the match at 1-1 in the 69th minute. On a quick restart, Sarah Killion played a pass to Elizabeth Eddy running down the right side of the box. Eddy played a diagonal ball through the box to Imani Dorsey, who finished into the right corner of the goal.

In the 89th minute, Thorns FC generated two consecutive chances. Klingenberg made an overlapping run down the left side and played a pinpoint cross to the center of the box for Simone Charley, who delivered a snap header down toward the left post. Sky Blue FC goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan dove to her right pushing the ball off the post. On the ensuing corner kick, Dagny Brynjarsdottir connected with a header from the center of the box that hit off the crossbar.

Next match
Facing a quick turnaround, Thorns FC travel for a road match against Reign FC on Wednesday, Aug. 7, at Cheney Stadium in Tacoma, Wash. Beginning at 7 p.m. (Pacific), the match will be broadcast on Yahoo! Sports