Match Recap: Reign FC Defeats Portland 1-0
Seattle Reign FC downed Portland Thorns FC 1-0 in an intense Cascadia Rivalry match at Lumen Field on Friday night. An early first half goal from rookie forward Maddie Dahlien made all the difference in the battle between sworn enemies.
From the first whistle, the high-octane match provided ample entertainment for fans in the building, as the Reign came flying out of the gates. In the 4th minute, forward Lynn Biyendolo threaded a ball to forward Maddie Dahlien, who cut into the 18-yard box, taking Portland’s defense head on before shifting the ball to her right foot and unleashing a shot low and hard to the far post to score her first professional goal and give Reign FC the lead.
Dahlien continued to supply pace and energy as the Reign pressed on, working hard on both sides of the ball to control the game. Goalkeeper Claudia Dickey made a save in the 15th minute of the match, soundly catching a ball shot straight at her by forward Payton Linehan.
On the other side of the field, Biyendolo sent warning signs to Portland in the 31st minute, when she turned her defender in the box, but sent the ensuing shot wide. She had another chance less than 10 minutes later that looked like a sure goal, as she was dribbling towards goalkeeper Bella Bixby, but her shot scraped the outside of the net, barely staying out. The rest of the half brought one more shot for Dahlien, but the 1-0 scoreline held.
Returning from the break, the visitors were on the front foot, forcing the Reign’s defense, along with Dickey, to stay sharp. Holding 72% of possession, the Thorns took five shots, but Dickey preserved the clean sheet.
In the final 15 minutes of the half, the Reign shifted more into the attack, putting together several passing combinations that drew Portland’s backline out of position, but the final touch needed to double the lead was not quite there.
Forwards Emeri Adames and Ana-Maria Crnogorcevic, both of whom entered as substitutes, drove forward in the 86th minute, in a direct attacking play. Adames carried the ball into the box, fighting through several Portland players before being knocked to the ground. The ball continued to the feet of Crnogorcevic, who fired off a quick shot that rang off the woodwork. Adames added the Reign’s last shot of the night in the 90th minute. Though on target, she was unable to convert the opportunity.
Through eight minutes of stoppage time, Dickey came up big for the Reign, making three important saves, including a save on a corner kick, where Reilyn Turner hit a shot off the crossbar.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
DAHLIEN: Forward Maddie Dahlien scored her first professional goal in the 4th minute of the match to eventually earn three points for the Reign.
BIYENDOLO: Making her first start with the club, forward Lynn Biyendolo earned the assist on Dahlien’s goal, marking her first-ever assist for the Reign. With this assist, she is now tied for the all-time NWSL assist record.
RIVALRY: With this win, the all-time head-to-head record between Seattle and Portland pulls level once again, with 15 wins, 135 losses and 10 draws.
UP NEXT: The Reign hit the road on Saturday, April 26 to take on Bay FC. Tune in to the match on ION!