Nikita Taparia
It was midweek action for OL Reign, as their second 2021 NWSL Challenge Cup match saw them traveling down Interstate 5 to meet that familiar foe, the Portland Thorns FC in their notorious house, Providence Park. One team looked very much like a complete unit, while the other looked every bit rusty and regressed some from last Friday’s match. Portland Thorns beat OL Reign on goals by Lindsey Horan and Simone Charley, and in doing so, ensured they will top the West group and play in the 2021 Challenge Cup final.
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Morgan Weaver catapults Portland Thorns to win over Chicago Red Stars, top of NWSL Challenge Cup standings after rescinded red card
Updated 7:19 PM;
Today 6:34 PM
The Portland Thorns face Kansas City in the NWSL Challenge Cup opener at Providence Park on Friday, April 9, 2021. Sean Meagher/The Oregonian
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Morgan Weaver almost didn’t even play in Thursday’s Challenge Cup match after a controversial red card last week. But after the NWSL overturned her suspension, she became the game-winner for the Portland Thorns in a 1-0 road win over the Chicago Red Stars.
After 66 minutes of tense deadlock in Chicago, Weaver was launched upfield from a long, direct Celeste Boureille ball. Weaver collected it and cut inside to get past defender Casey Krueger before slipping a shot inside the far post.
Portland Thorns beat Chicago 1-0 thanks to goal from Weaver
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Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images
Portland Thorns FC traveled to Chicago and defeated the Red Stars 1-0 after a gritty defensive performance. The Thorns stay at the top of the West group with six points.
In the Thorns’ second match of the 2021 NWSL Challenge Cup, they were dealing with a depleted roster and didn’t have their head coach Mark Parsons on the sideline. Portland was still without their international stars and Simone Charley and Parsons were serving their suspension for being red-carded in the previous match.