For the Portland Thorns, their first game with Rob Gale as Interim Head Coach was a successful one, as they would get their first win of the season with 4-1 win over the Houston Dash. Christine Sinclair, Sophie Smith, Olivia Moultrie, and Janine Beckie would all score for the home side, while Diana Ordóñez had the lone goal for the visitors.
In just the 6th minute, the Thorns would take the lead when Sophie Smith‘s tight-angle shot was saved by Houston goalkeeper Jane Campbell, but the rebound would be right into the run of Christine Sinclair at the far post, who one-timed the ball into the open net, and the Thorns had a 1-0 lead.
In the 27th minute the lead would double when Smith stole the ball about 35 yards out from goal, and had a one-on-one chance with Campbell, and slipped the shot just inside the left post, and the Thorns lead was now 2-0. In the 41st minute, Sinclair had a great chance with a sliding redirection, but Campbell was well-positioned to make the save. The Thorns would hold a 2-0 lead at the halftime break.
In the 49th minute, the Dash would pull back a goal when Bárbara Olivieri would get on the end of a cross and play it back in front of net, where Diana Ordóñez one-timed a soft shot, well-placed that eluded the Thorns defense and goalkeeper Shelby Hogan, and the lead was now 2-1.
Then in the 87th minute, Smith made a run into the box for the Thorns, and found Olivia Moultrie near the penalty spot, and Moultrie put the ball on her right foot and placed her shot just inside the right post, and the Thorns lead had been extended to 3-1.
Then in stoppage time, the Thorns would add another goal when Janine Beckie would intercept a Houston pass near midfield and made an open run into the Houston box, and finished with a low shot just inside the left post, and the Thorns lead was now 4-1, which would be the final.
RECAP | Portland Thorns earn 4-1 victory at Providence Park | Thorns website
