San Diego, CA – San Diego Wave FC (5-3-0, 15 points) tied 1–1 with the Portland Thorns FC (4-1-3, 15 points) at Snapdragon Stadium on Friday night in front of an announced crowd of 18,130.
At the 87th minute Sofia Jakobsson scored the first goal of the game. Following a ball over the top, Jakobsson took on the Thorn’s backline and smoked a shot to the back of the net.
Three minutes later at 90th minute, Portland’s Reyna Reyes evened up the match with a shot to the bottom right corner to secure the point.
By the halftime break, Portland had outshot San Diego 12 to four, and out-possessed San Diego 57% to 43%. The score however remained 0-0.
“It was a great ball in and I just saw it and I said, ‘I got it, I got it,” Reyes said after the match with a big smile. “I couldn’t believe it. I’m so happy.”
The Thorns put a little pressure on the Wave in the fifth minute, compliments of Sophia Smith. Took a rebounded pass from outside the box, her shot bounced off Wave goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan’s crossbar before going out-of-bounds. The reigning MVP continued to press the action as she recorded 28 touches and three shots through her first 45 minutes of play, leading the Portland attack against the Wave.
Portland push the tempo and took control of possession heading into the 20th minute-mark, and controlled much of the possession in the first half. In the 24th minute, Sheridan’s skills was tested. Sam Coffey smoked a free kick from the left which found Hina Sugita at the far post but her shot was saved by Sheridan.
Portland goalkeeper Bella Bixby remained solid in the first half between the pipes. Bixby recorded three saves and stayed busy in the final five minutes of the half. Portland twice came close to scoring. First in the 40th minute, with defender Kelli Hubly sending a rebound in the box just over the top of the crossbar. A few minutes later, Smith did the same, her shot came outside the box.
With all to play for in the second-half, both clubs returned to the field with the same starting eleven.
As the tempo of the match die down, Portland received a jolt of energy from midfielder Olivia Moultrie who was subbed on in the 66th minute. Six minutes after getting in, she kept Sheridan busy with two recorded shots, with her second forcing Sheridan to a diving save.
Bixby came up huge in the 74th minute, denying San Diego’s Alex Morgan with a diving save to force a corner. But Bixby and the Portland backline would get caught off guard in a San Diego counter in the 86th minute. Sofia Jakobsson opened the scoring following a Bixby deflection that landed in front her. With four minutes left in the game, Portland was on the verge of losing their second road game.
When time was added on the clock, the Thorns rookie left back stepped up. Competing in her first full 90 match as a pro, Reyes delivered a clutch, 90th minute header off a Coffey corner to give Portland the tie. Reyes, the fifth overall pick in the 2023 NWSL Draft, recorded her first professional goal while Coffey tallied her fourth assist of the season en route to the team securing a point on the road. Reyna became the 12th different scorer for Portland this season.
Box Score:
San Diego Wave 1:1 Portland Thorns
Scoring Summary:
SD – Jakobsson (2) 86’
POR – Reyes (1) (Coffey) 90’
Misconduct Summary:
POR – Smith (Caution) 20’
SD – Kornieck (Caution) 78’
SD – McNabb (Caution) 83’
San Diego Wave FC: GK Sheridan, D Girma, D Westphal, D McNabb, D Riehl, M Colaprico (Pogarch 74’), M Enge, M Hill (Shaw 74’), M Doniak (Kornieck 54’), F Jakobsson, F Morgan ©
Subs not used: GK Yanez, D Gyau, M Briede, M DeMarco, M Barcenas, F Ali
Portland Thorns FC: GK Bixby, D Kuikka, D Hubly, D Menges, D Reyes, M Dunn (D’Aquila), M Coffey, M Sinclair © (Moultrie 65’), F Sugita (Vasconcelos 77’), F Smith, F Weaver
Subs not used: GK Hogan, D Nally, D McGrady, M Porter, F Betfort, F Leon
Stats Summary: SD / POR
Shots: 15 / 28
Shots on Target: 5 / 8
Saves: 7 / 4
Corners: 9 / 10
Fouls: 9 / 4
Offsides: 1 / 1
Possession: 43.2% / 56.8%
Next on the schedule: San Diego Wave return to Snapdragon in five days when they host OL Reign on Wednesday, May 31 in the club’s second UKG NWSL Challenge Cup of the season. The match will be streamed live on Paramount+
