Soph being Soph was Just too Much for the Spirit

The Washington Spirit flies out to the pacific northwest to take on the defending champion Portland Thorns FC. Washington currently sits in first place, 1 point ahead of the champs, the two teams will battle hard in the final match before the World Cup 2023 send-off.

Washington comes in with the deadliest trio in the league upfront, Trinity Rodman, Ashley Hatch aka Hatchy, and Ashley Sanchez. For Portland all things go through Sophia Smith and Christine Sinclair, then you have setup woman Crystal Dunn.

Washington and Portland both get chances early in the first 5′ of play, but neither side can finish their opportunities so far. Sophia Smith opens the scoring in the 11′ when she takes on 5 Washington Spirit players and beats them all before firing an off-balanced shot from the top of the box inside the 2nd post.

Thanks to Sanchez and Hatch connecting in the box to tie the match after Hatchy goes lower corner 2nd post, Portland’s lead lasts barely two minutes. In the 23′ Sophia Smith takes on three defenders, for Washington, and just rifles a low driven ball from the top right of the box, into the lower corner of the 2nd post for her second of the match and giving the Thorn FC the lead again, now up 2 – 1.

The first half would see Sophia Smith go off and she could’ve had 4 goals that half, but some good reactionary defense kept it a 2 – 1 match at halftime.

Soph being Soph now has 30 career goals in just two years of play in the NWSL. The league and Country just want Soph to continue being Soph unless you’re her opponent then you want Soph to chill out already.

What a goal by Ashley Sanchez from the top of the box in the 46′ going upper 90 inside the 1st post. Just like that, we’re tied up 2 – 2 in the second half. Sophie Smith doesn’t like ties and she gets behind the defense from the left of the goal inside 8 yards and blasts another into the net for the hat trick in the 47′.

For Soph that’s her 10th of the season and 31st of her career. Portland is back up 3 – 2. The Mark Parsons duo comes back to haunt him, Weaver slides behind the defense and finishes clinically inside the 1st post to give Portland a 4 – 2 lead in the 63′.

Jaurena has been dreadful tonight and a big Portland punching bag, Mark has had enough of it and brings on the 16-year-old spitfire Chloe Ricketts, cast and all. She right away shows why Mark subbed her in, going hard at the Portland midfield and giving them no room causing a few turnovers and some sloppy play.

What a huge save by Shelby Ann Hogan on Hatchy from point-blank range inside 5 yards. It was a brilliant strike and an even bigger save to keep the match at 4 – 2 in favor of Portland in the 76′. Trinity Rodman missed an amazing chance at goal, putting the ball over the crossbar from 7 yards out on the volley in the 79′.

The Spirit has been in the match the whole game, since Chloe entered Portland has been less dangerous and the Spirit has pushed Portland backward. Andi Sullivan has also been off for the Spirit tonight in a big game, did the never beaten Portland in Portland Ghost trickle into the Spirit veteran’s minds on the defensive side we may never know.

Portland holds on to secure the win and take first place, Coffey takes the lead in assists as well. Not the result Mark Parsons wanted in his homecoming to Portland, the Spirit fought and hung in there, but Sophia Smith was just too much for the backline and company putting in some amazing goals. Have to tip my cap to Chloe Ricketts who went toe to toe with Coffey and Smith and held her ground tonight.