Match Forecast: OL Reign Open 2022 at Lumen Field Against Portland Thorns FC
OL Reign is set to play its first 2022 Challenge Cup match against Portland Thorns FC. This is OL Reign’s first game since the club announced its move to Lumen Field.
WHEN AND WHERE: Kickoff is at 7:00 p.m. PT on Friday, March 18 at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington
WHERE TO WATCH: The match will be available on Paramount+ in the U.S. and Twitch internationally. Get tickets to attend the game in person here.
2022 CHALLENGE CUP RECORDS AND STANDINGS (W-L-D): OL Reign: 0-0-0 (0 points), Portland Thorns FC: 0-0-0 (0 points)
Key Points Ahead of the Match:
1. LAST MEETING – The last time that OL Reign and the Thorns faced off was October 13, 2021, at Providence Park in Portland, Oregon. The two teams, who were battling for first place, tied 1-1.
Portland got on the board early, thanks to a third minute goal scored by Morgan Weaver in the midst of a disorganized OL Reign 18-yard box. Portland continued to press the Reign throughout the half, limiting the team to only three shots in the first half. The hard work of OL Reign’s backline and goalkeeper Sarah Bouhaddi kept the Thorns to one goal despite their 15 shots. After halftime, Portland continued to apply intense pressure to the Reign. As the half went on, OL Reign started to build more a rhythm and find shots on goal but did not create any truly threatening chances.
A flurry of subs brought new energy onto the pitch for the Reign and hope was reignited as defender Alana Cook hit a shot off the post and Dani Weatherholt followed it up. Weatherholt’s shot was blocked by the hands of Portland midfielder Angela Salem in the box and OL Reign was awarded a penalty kick.
It was veteran Megan Rapinoe who stepped up to the spot to take the kick. Cool, calm and collected, Rapinoe shot the ball into the lower right corner to tie the game in the 86th minute. Tensions flared in the final few minutes of the match with both teams desperate to take three points, but neither team found the game-winner and settled for a point apiece.
2. PRESEASON THOUGHTS – OL Reign and the Thorns had a chance to come together in preseason, but neither team fully knows what to expect from the other, as each squad looks a bit different from last year.
“They’re always a difficult team to play,” said head coach Laura Harvey. “It doesn’t matter who is there and who isn’t there, form, injury... it doesn’t matter. It’s Portland vs. Seattle. You have to show up. That’s going to be our mentality tomorrow and I’m sure it’s going to be theirs.”
OL Reign is entering its milestone tenth season at a new stadium – Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington. As most fans know, there are three OL Reign originals left on the team – defender Lu Barnes, midfielder Jess Fishlock and forward Megan Rapinoe. All three of these players have played an integral part in building the culture of the team and the culture of the Cascadia rivalry in the NWSL.
“Even though it’s a bigger field, who we are, and our identity won’t change. It’s turf but that doesn't change who we are and what we want to do. There may be games where we change who we want to be because of the game, but I don't think the stadium impacts that. We want to put on a show for the fans every week and we want to put on a show of hard work and organized chaos,” said Harvey.
3. HEAD-TO-HEAD – While this is the start of OL Reign’s 2022 Campaign, the team played Portland once in the 2021 Challenge Cup and three times in the 2022 regular season.
In the 2021 Challenge Cup, OL Reign traveled to Portland and lost 2-0. However, during the regular season, the Reign went undefeated against the Thorns, picking up two wins and a draw. The Reign earned their first win of the year against the Thorns in May at Providence Park, by a score of 2-1. Portland got on the board first in just the fourth minute of the match, but OL Reign scored two quick goals to secure the lead. Rapinoe scored the first goal in the ninth minute, followed by Shirley Cruz’s game-winner in the 15th minute.
The next time the two teams met was at the first-of-its-kind doubleheader event at Lumen Field. OL Reign was victorious again, earning another 2-1 win. Rapinoe scored both OL Reign goals in the match, in the 16th and 40th minutes. Portland found a goal back in stoppage time of the first half, but OL Reign held onto the lead for the remainder of the match.
The last meeting between the two teams in 2021 ended in a 1-1 draw, as mentioned above. Portland scored early and OL Reign spent most of the game chasing an all-important equalizer. Rapinoe was the player to find it again, converting an 86th minute penalty to earn a point for the Reign.
MultiCare Injury Report:
OUT
Alyssa Malonson – Knee
Megan Rapinoe – Calf
QUESTIONABLE
None