Live-Blogging: Portland Thorns FC vs. Washington Spirit 05/18/2022

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NWSL: Portland Thorns FC vs. Washington Spirit 05/18/2022

Starting Lineups

Fixture Location: Providence Park, Portland, OR

​Hello, and welcome to another edition of ‘Live-Blogging Shish on Women’s Soccer’. Tonight, it is a National Women’s Soccer League fixture, between Portland Thorns FC (1-0-1, 4 points) vs. Washington Spirit (1-1-0, 3 points).

Thorns are coming off a scoreless draw over OL Reign. And they would like to defeat the defending NWSL Champions.

The Defending NWSL Champion Spirit is coming off a 1-0 loss to Angel City FC at home. Spirit is going to need dominate performances by Trinity Rodman and Ashley Hatch, to counter the likes of Sophia Smith and the Thorns.

It is Portland Thorns FC and Washington Spirit, coming up shortly.

Thorns are wearing their black uniforms with red lettering. While Spirit are in their road white uniforms.

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

:00:00: Spirit to kickoff. Washington to defend the right net. While Portland to defend the left net.
:04:00: Smith's shot blocked, for the Thorns.
:05:00: Thorns get a corner kick.
:11:00: SCORE: POR 0, WAS 0

Earlier Tonight, Pride and Racing Won Their Fixtures in Midweek NWSL Action

:14:00: Heiferty's shot saved, for the Spirit.
:15:00: Spirit to get a corner kick.
:18:00: Spirit to get a corner kick.
:18:00: Feist's shot missed, for the Spirit.
:19:00: INJURY TIMEOUT: Match is stopped due to Christine Sinclair being down on the ground. Sinclair back off the turf. POR 0, WAS 0
​:24:00: Spirit to get a corner kick.
:24:00: SCORE: POR 0, WAS 0
​
Last Month, I Live-Blogged Thorns Being Eliminated From Challenge Cup Playoffs Contention, in Their 1-0 Loss to Angel City FC

:27:00: Rodman's shot missed, for the Spirit.
:29:00: Trinity Rodman having some issues trying to walk something off.
:30:00: Rodman is back playing normal.
:31:00: Hatch's shot missed, for the Spirit.
:34:00: SCORE: POR 0, WAS 0

:35:00: Sanchez's shot missed, for the Spirit.
:37:00: Sinclair's shot hits the Spirit Goal Post.
:42:00: Feist's shot missed, for the Spirit.
:43:00: Feist's shot missed, for the Spirit.
:45:08: The Match has reached Halftime.

Halftime:
POR 0, WAS 0

Halftime Stats:
Shots: POR 2, WAS 9
SOG: POR 0, WAS 1
Corners: POR 1, WAS 3

Halftime Thoughts:
Both clubs haven't figured out how to get the ball to the net. But Spirit had an opportunity towards the end of the 1st Half. Where Spirit had some scoring chances, but Bixby and company were able to keep the Defending NWSL Champions from getting a goal.

NWSL Scores:

2nd Half:
:46:00: Thorns to kickoff the 2nd Half. Thorns to defend the right net. While Spirit to defend the left net.
:46:00: SUBSTITUTIONS: Morgan Weaver and Meaghan Nall replace Rocky Rodriguez and Becky Sauerbrunn respectively for the Thorns.
:48:00: Sanchez's shot saved by Bixby.
:49:00: Smith's shot saved by Kingsbury.
:50:00: Spirit with a corner kick.
:52:00: Smith's shot missed, for the Thorns.
:55:00: Thorns get a corner kick.
:56:00: SCORE: POR 0, WAS 0

​:57:00: GOAL: Sophia Smith puts the ball past Kingsbury, for a Thorns goal. POR 1, WAS 0
​:58:00: SUBSTITUTION: Janine Beckie replaces Natalia Kuikka, for the Thorns.
:60:00: Smith's shot blocked by Kingsbury. Corner Kick for Thorns.
:62:00: SUBSTITUTION: Taylor Aylmer replaces Amber Brooks, for the Spirit.
:63:00: GOAL: Ashley Hatch scored a header goal, for the Spirit. POR 1, WAS 1
:63:00: INJURIES TIMEOUT: Both training staff looking at Hatch (WAS) and Bixby (POR) as they collide during Hatch's game-tying goal. Both players back off the ground.
​:65:00: Thorns to kickoff.
:67:00: Spirit with a corner kick.
:67:00: Spirit with a corner kick.
:67:00: Sanchez's shot blocked by Bixby.
:69:00: SCORE: POR 1, WAS 1
​
:71:00: Spirit gets a corner kick.
:72:00: Spirit with another corner kick.
:72:00: Spirit thought they had a goal, but the refs called Washington for offside. Right after the call, Bixby puts the ball back in play. No Goal. POR 1, WAS 1
:74:00: SUBSTITUTION: Madison Ewell replaces Bayley Feist, for the Spirit.
:74:00: Thorns with a corner kick.
:74:00: Weaver's header missed, for the Thorns.
:77:00: Klingenberg's shot saved by Kingsbury.
:79:00: Rodman's shot hits a goal post.
:79:00: SCORE: POR 1, WAS 1
​
Back in March, I Live-Blogged Spirit and Courage 2-2 Draw in 2022 Challenge Cup

:80:00: Sanchez's shot saved by Bixby.
:81:00: Rodman's shot kick saved by Bixby.
:81:00: Sanchez's shot saved by Bixby.
:82:00: Spirit with a corner kick.
:83:00: YELLOW CARD: Kelli Hubly gets a yellow card, for the Thorns.
:87:00: SUBSTITUTION: Olivia Moultrie replaces Christine Sinclair, for the Thorns.
:87:00: Spirit gets a corner kick.
:88:00: Weaver's shot too wide, for the Thorns.
:89:00: Weaver's shot too high, for the Thorns.
:90:00: Spirit with another corner kick.
:90:00: 4 minutes of stoppage time.
:90:00+1: Sonnett's shot missed, for the Spirit.
:90:00+1: YELLOW CARD: Madison Ewell gets a yellow card for tripping.
:90:00+3: Nally's shot too wide, for the Thorns.
:94:32: The Match has reached full time.

Full Time:
POR 1, WAS 1
POR: (1-0-2, 5 points)
WAS: (1-1-1, 4 points)

Final Scoring:
:57:00: Sophia Smith (POR) G
:63:00: Ashley Hatch (WAS) G

Final Thoughts:
An entertaining 1-1 draw. Spirit had chances, they had 12 corners to Spirit's 5 corners. But unfortunately for the Defending NWSL Champions, they were only able to muster Ashley Hatch's header goal, in the 63rd Minutes.

For the Thorns, Bella Bixby was outstanding for Portland. Only one goal given up on 7 SOG. She had a great sequence in the 81st Minute, where she kick saves a Trinity Rodman shot and blocked an Ashley Sanchez shot.

A well played 1-1 draw for both these championship contenders tonight.

Thorns will stay in Portland, to face Houston Dash on Saturday Afternoon. While Spirit will head to Seattle, to face OL Reign on Sunday Afternoon.

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