Live-Blogging: North Carolina Courage vs. Portland Thorns FC 09/12/2021

CBS Sports Network TV Broadcast

NWSL: North Carolina Courage vs. Portland Thorns 09/12/2021

Starting Lineups

​Hello, and welcome to another edition of ‘Live-Blogging Shish on Women’s Soccer’. This Afternoon, it is a National Women’s Soccer League Match, between North Carolina Courage (8-4-5, 29 points) and Portland Thorns (10-4-2, 32 points).
 
If you can best compare NWSL to any other cross-country rivals in North America, it would be Celtics/Lakers. Courage and Thorns have either won NWSL Shield or the NWSL Championship, over the last few years.
 
These matchups between these two clubs should be more intense now that Crystal Dunn moved from Cary to Portland. Dunn went from being teammates with the likes of Jessica McDonald, Lynn Williams, and Sam Mewis to Christine Sinclair and Lindsay Horan.
 
But the Courage have reloaded. As they picked Amy Rodriguez in a trade with Kansas City.
 
Courage wins and there will be a 3-way tie between these two clubs and OL Reign. If Thorns win, they will be on top of NWSL Standings by themselves.
 
It is North Carolina Courage and Portland Thorns, coming up shortly.

Announcers: Jenn Hildreth, Ally Wagner​

Thorns are in their road white uniforms. While Courage are in their navy blue uniforms.

Courage are in their 4-2-3-1 formation. While Thorns are in their 4-2-3-1 formation.

1st Half:
:00:00: Thorns will kickoff. Portland will defend the left goal. While Courage will defend the right goal.
:04:00: Kuikka's shot missed, for the Thorns.
:09:00: Williams' shot saved by Bixby.
:10:00: Dunn's shot missed, for the Thorns.
:10:00: Thorns with a corner kick.
:11:00: Horan's shot blocked by Murphy.
:11:00: Sinclair's shot missed, for the Thorns.

​:12:00: Courage with a corner kick
:13:00: Kurtz's header missed, for the Courage.
:17:00: Rodriguez's shot missed, for the Thorns.
:18:00: Thorns with a corner kick.
:19:00: Hubly's shot missed, for the Thorns.
:22:00: Smith's shot blocked, for the Thorns.
:22:00: Thorns with a corner kick.
:23:00: Salem's shot saved by Murphy.

:25:00: YELLOW CARD: Merritt Mathias gets called for a yellow card, for tugging on Salem's jersey.
:26:00: Sinclair's shot saved by Murphy.
:28:00: Smith's shot saved by Murphy.
:30:00: McDonald's shot saved by Bixby.
:30:00: YELLOW CARD: Cari Roccaro gets a yellow card for tripping.
:31:00: HYDRATION BREAK: NC 0, POR 0

:35:00: Thorns win a corner kick.
:35:00: Horan's shot saved by Murphy.
:38:00: Mathias' shot saved by Bixby.
:39:00: Smith's shot saved by Murphy.
:43:00: Mathias' shot blocked.
:45:00: 4 minutes of stoppage time.
:45:00+2: Thorns get a corner kick.
:45:00+3: Horan's shot missed, for the Thorns.
:45:00+4: Christine Sinclair being looked at by Portland's Trainer. She is being looked at by him on the sideline.
:49:35: The Match has reached Halftime. Courage will kickoff to start the 2nd Half.

Halftime:
NC 0, POR 0

Halftime Stats:
SOG: NC 3, POR 5
Shots: NC 4, POR 15
Corners: NC 1, POR 5


Halftime Discipline:
:25:00: Merritt Mathias (NC) 5th Yellow Card.
:30:00: Cari Roccaro (NC) Yellow Card.​

Halftime Thoughts:
Both clubs are playing well. But Thorns are getting more scoring opportunities and some of them saved by Casey Murphy.

2nd Half:
:45:00: Courage will kick off to start the 2nd Half. Courage will defend the left goal. While Thorns will defend the right goal.
​:46:00: Smith's shot saved by Murphy.
:55:00: Courage get a corner kick.
:57:00: GOAL: Sophia Smith puts the ball in the net, passed Casey Murphy for the Thorns. NC 0, POR 1

:59:00: Sophia Smith is being looked at by Thorns' Training.
:61:00: SUBSTITUTION: Amy Rodriguez replaces Jessica McDonald and Meredith Speck replaces Havana Soulhan for the Courage. ​
:63:00: SUBSTITUTIONS: Meghan Kilngenberg and Morgan Weaver replace Christine Sinclair and Christen Westphal.
:64:00: Smith's shot saved by Murphy.
:66:00: Debinha's shot missed, for the Courage.
:67:00: Rodriguez's shot blocked, for the Courage.
:67:00: Courage with a corner kick.
:67:00: Kurtz's header missed, for the Courage.

:73:00: Weaver's shot blocked, for the Thorns.
:76:00: SUBSTITUTION: Olivia Moultrie replaces Lindsay Horan, for the Thorns.
:77:00: Smith's shot blocked, for the Thorns.
:79:00: Smith's shot saved by Murphy.
:83:00: Thorns with a corner kick.
:85:00: SUBSTITUTIONS: Lussi and Sauerbrunn replace Smith and Menges, for the Thorns.
:86:00: Weaver's shot missed, for the Thorns.
:87:00: Thorns have a corner kick.
:88:00: SUBSTITUTION: Angharad James replaces Denise O'Sullivan, for the Courage.
:89:00: YELLOW CARD: Olivia Moultrie gets a yellow cad.
:90:00: 5 minutes of stoppage time.
:90:00+1: Williams' shot missed, for the Courage.
:90:00+2: Smith's shot saved by Bixby.
:90:00+2: Rodriguez's shot saved by Bixby.
:90:00+4: Williams' shot saved, for the Courage.
:95:20: The Match has reached Full Time.

Full Time:
NC 0, POR 1
NC: (8-5-5, 29 points)
POR: (11-4-2, 35 points)

Full Time Scoring:
:57:00: Sophia Smith (POR) Goal.

Full Time Discipline:
​:25:00: Merritt Mathias (NC) 5th Yellow Card.
:30:00: Cari Roccaro (NC) Yellow Card.​
:89:00: Olivia Moultrie (POR) Yellow Card.

Full Time Stats:
Shots: NC 11, POR 24
SOG: NC 6, POR 8
Corners: NC 3, POR 7

Final Thoughts:
In this match of stars. Courage only had one answer for Sophia Smith and her name was Casey Murphy. However in the 57th Minute, Sophia Smith got the ball passed Murphy, for the Match's lone goal.

NWSL will take a break for international play. They will resume the season on Saturday September 25th, 2021. Courage will head to New Jersey, to play Gotham. While the Thorns will head to Bridgeview, to play Chicago Red Stars. 

This is Paul Shishkoff, Junior. This has been 'Live-Blogging Shish on Women's Soccer'. Thanks for visiting this page.
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