Match Recap: OL Reign Extends Home Unbeaten Streak in Draw with Portland
OL Reign (4-2-5, 17 points) earned a 2-2 in their final Cascadia rivalry match of the season, in front of a record-breaking crowd of 9,032 fans. Despite going down a goal twice in the match, the Reign fought to earn a point.
The Thorns got on the board first in the match, taking advantage of some chaos in OL Reign’s 18-yard box, applying pressure to force an own goal in the 12th minute of the match. However, OL Reign responded instantly, scoring a goal from the restart.
Forward Bethany Balcer found rookie forward Olivia Athens through in the center of the field. Athens fought to maintain possession of the ball before taking a touch to beat the Portland defense and slot the ball past Bella Bixby in goal for the Thorns, scoring in her first professional start.
After the goals, the game slowed down a bit offensively. The Reign defended five more shots from the Thorns, but nothing was able to get by Phallon Tullis-Joyce in goal and the teams went into halftime level at one apiece.
After halftime, the Reign started slow. Portland took four shots before scoring a second goal in the 60th minute of the match, when defender Meghan Klingenberg served a ball into the box and found the feet of midfielder Hina Sugita.
The Reign trailed for just over 20 minutes before forward Bethany Balcer found an equalizer. Forward Veronica Latsko took her space down the left side of the field, before floating a perfectly placed cross to Balcer, who’s near post run allowed her to get her head on the ball and level the score.
For the final ten minutes of the match, the teams battled it out, looking for the game winner before the final whistle. In the 82nd minute, Fishlock nearly found the third for OL Reign, but the shot was just off target. Tullis-Joyce held down OL Reign’s net, seeing the game through to a 2-2 draw. With this draw, the Reign have extended their undefeated streak at Lumen Field to seven matches.
QUICK FACTS:
· Olivia Athens, who earned her first professional start, scored OL Reign’s first goal of the match in the 13th minute. The goal marked her first professional goal.
· OL Reign remain undefeated at Lumen Field
· With her game-tying goal, Bethany Balcer has now scored in three consecutive matches
UP NEXT: OL Reign’s next home match is Sunday, August 7 at 3:00 p.m. PT against the Houston Dash. Tickets are available here.
MATCH SUMMARY
2022 NWSL Regular Season
OL Reign 2-2 Portland Thorns FC
Date/Time: Sunday, July 10, 2022, 3:00 p.m. PT
Location: Lumen Field, Seattle, Washington
Weather: 70, Sunny
Scoring Summary
OL Reign 2 - 2 Portland Thorns FC
RGN: Athens – 13’, Balcer – 81’
POR: OL Reign own goal – 12’, Sugita – 60’
Discipline
RGN: Fishlock (Caution – 87’), Harvey (Caution – 87’)
POR: None
Lineups
RGN: GK Tullis-Joyce, D Barnes, D Hiatt, D McClernon, D Miramontez, M Canales (63’ Latsko), M Van der Jagt, M Little, M Fishlock, F Athens (63’ Watt), F Balcer
Unused substitutes: GK Ivory, D Burris, D Malonson, D Brown, F Heath
Total Shots: 10 (Fishlock– 4)
Shots on Goal: 4 (Balcer – 2)
Fouls: 3 (Three tied with – 1)
Offsides: 1
Corner Kicks: 3
Saves: 3 (Tullis-Joyce – 3)
POR: GK Bixby, D Nally (Provenzano 73’), D Hubly, D Klingenberg, M Pogarch, M Sugita, M Moultrie, M Ryan (Beckman 73’), M Coffey, F Everett (Porter 81’), F Weaver (Betfort 73’)
Unused substitutes: GK Smith, GK Hogan, D Shorts, M Byrne
Total Shots: 10 (Weaver – 6)
Shots on Goal: 4 (Four tied with – 1)
Fouls: 9 (Ryan – 3)
Offsides: 2
Corner Kicks: 4
Saves: 2 (Bixby – 2)
Budweiser Player of the Match: Olivia Athens
Referee: Mark Allatin
Assistant Referee 1: Katarzyna Wasiak
Assistant Referee 2: Baboucarr Jallow
4th Official: Kelsey Harms