Live-Blogging: Portland Thorns vs. North Carolina Courage 10/30/2021

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NWSL: Portland Thorns FC vs. North Carolina Courage 10/30/2021

Match Location: Providence Park, Portland, OR​

Hello, and welcome to another edition of ‘Live-Blogging Shish on Women’s Soccer’. Tonight, it is the Last Fixture of the 2021 Regular Season, between Portland Thorns (13-6-4, 43 points) and North Carolina Courage (9-9-5, 32 points).
 
Thorns have the NWSL Shield wrapped up. The only thing for them is to eliminate their longtime rival Courage.
 
For the Courage a win and neither Dash nor Gotham earn any points and North Carolina will return to the NWSL Playoffs. A loss, however, will send Dash and Gotham to play next week.
 
It is Portland Thorns and North Carolina Courage, coming up shortly.

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

Thorns are in their black uniforms. While Courage are in their home white uniforms.

1st Half:
:00:00: Courage kicks off to start the 1st Half. Carolina will attack the right net. While Thorns defend the left net. 
:04:00: Weaver's shot too high, for the Courage.
:05:00: Rodriguez's shot hits the goal post.
:08:00: Sinclair's shot saved by Murphy.
:09:00: Courage will get a corner kick.
:10:00: Pickett's shot missed, for the Courage.

:13:00: Thorns with a corner kick.
​:15:00: Courage with a corner kick.
​:17:00: Williams' shot missed, for the Courage.
:18:00: Smith saved by Murphy.
:18:00: Smith's shot wide right, for the Thorns.
:21:00: Erceg's shot missed for the Courage.
:23:00: Smith's shot saved by Murphy.
:23:00: Thorns get a corner kick.

​:23:00: Ryan's shot saved by Bixby.
:26:00: Thorns will get another corner kick.
:29:00: Thorns with another corner kick.
:31:00: Thorns has a corner kick.
:32:00: Salem's shot blocked.

​:37:00: McDonald's shot blocked Bixby.
:39:00: Debinha's shot saved by Bixby.
:41:00: Smith's shot missed, for the Thorns.
:43:00: Smith's shot missed, for the Thorns.
:43:00: Smith's shot saved by Murphy.
:45+1: Salem's shot missed, for the Thorns.
:45:18: The Match has reached Halftime.

Halftime:
POR 0, NC 0

Halftime Stats:
Shots: POR 14, NC 9
SOG: POR 4, NC 1
Corners: POR 5, NC 2

Halftime Thoughts:
Courage started off aggressive, then Thorns countered. A battle for these two arch-nemesis.

Reign Clinched #2 Seed in NWSL Playoffs, with 3-0 Clean Sheet Over KC Current 

2nd Half:
:45:00: Thorns will kickoff to start the 2nd Half, defending the right net. While Courage will defend the left net.
​:49:00: Weaver's shot saved by Murphy.
:50:00: Sinclair's shot saved by Murphy.
:51:00: Thorns get another corner kick.
:55:00: Smith's shot missed, for the Thorns.

:59:00: Courage gets a corner kick.
:60:00: Pickett's shot too left.
:61:00: Debinha and Christine Sinclair had a scuffle. No Cards.
:61:00: Ryan's header too high. 
:63:00: Thorns with a corner kick.
:64:00: SUBSTITUTION: Natalia Kuikka and Madison Pogarch replace Lindsay Horan and Meghan Klingenberg, for the Thorns.
:66:00: McDonald's shot saved by Bixby.
:66:00: McDonald's shot missed, for the Courage.

:70:00: Kuikka's shot missed, for the Thorns.
:70:00: Weaver's shot blocked. Thorns get a corner kick.
:74:00: Debinha's shot missed, for the Courage.
:78:00: Rodriguez's shot missed, for the Courage.
​​:78:00: SUBSTITUTION: Simon Charley and Olivia Moultrie replaces Morgan Weaver and Angela Salem, for the Thorns.
​
​:83:00: Courage gets a corner kick.
:86:00: Rodriguez's header blocked.
:88:00: Courage gets a corner kick.
:88:00: McDonald's header hits the goal post!
:89:00: Debinha's shot blocked.
:90:00: 3 minutes of stoppage time.
:90:00+1: Courage with a corner kick.
:90:00+4: SUBSTITUTION: Tyler Lussi replaces Sophia Smith, for the Thorns.
:90:00+5: The Match has reached Full Time.

Full Time:
POR 0, NC 0
POR: (13-6-5, 44 points)
NC: (9-9-6, 33 points)

Final Stats:
Shots: POR 19, NC 20
SOG: POR 5, NC 2
Corners: POR 8, NC 6

Final Thoughts:
This draw is more devastating for Courage. As they have to wait for the outcome of Washington Spirit /Houston Dash, to find out if they will play Next Sunday. A Dash draw and win and North Carolina will be eliminated from 2021 NWSL Playoffs. If Dash losses, Courage clinches a NWSL Playoff Spot.

For the Thorns, they played okay but were they enjoyed the luxury to rest some of their stars, in the 2nd Half.

With the draw, NJY Gotham FC clinched a NWSL Playoff Spot. 

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