Caitlin Foord’s Portland Thorns drew 0-0 against Washington Spirit and locked up a National Women’s Soccer League Semi Final showdown with Sam Kerr’s Chicago Red Stars.
Featured image courtesy of @ThornsFC on Twitter
Portland’s fate of a third-place finish was decided before the home side kicked a ball at Providence Park, as fourth seed Reign FC were held to a 2-2 draw at Orlando Pride earlier on Sunday (AEDT).
Foord came off the bench on 78 minutes, while her Westfield Matildas teammate Chloe Logarzo appeared as a half-time substitute for Spirit, replacing United States international Mallory Pugh. Amy Harrison remained on the Washington bench.
A bumper crowd of 24,521 cheered on the Thorns, who controlled the larger share of possession but could not find the break through despite leading the shot count 21-5.
Portland will battle second seed Chicago on October 21 (AEDT) at SeekGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, Illinois, for a place in the NWSL Championship game.
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Kennedy and Catley share the points
A late goal from Brazilian legend Marta earned Alanna Kennedy’s Orlando Pride a share of the spoils in a 2-2 draw with Steph Catley’s Reign FC.
Pride’s Rachel Hill, who starred for Perth Glory in the Westfield W-League 2018/19, broke the deadlock on 24 minutes but the visitors flipped the game on its head.
Darian Jenkins restored parity on 34 minutes and seven minutes later, England international Jodie Taylor put the Seattle-based side in front at Exploria Stadium.
Pride had the edge in the second half and Marta’s 86th-minute effort ensured the NWSL’s bottom-placed team wrapped up the 2019 season on a high.
Kennedy and Catley completed 90 minutes, while Westfield Matildas number one Lydia Williams was an unused substitute for Reign.
Reign will travel to Cary, North Carolina on October 21 (AEDT) to face defending NWSL Champions and Shield holders North Carolina Courage in the other Semi Final.
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