Portland Thorns advance to NWSL final with win over San Diego Wave FC

Oct 23, 2022; Portland, Oregon, USA; Portland Thorns FC midfielder Yazmeen Ryan (23) controls the ball during the second half as San Diego Wave FC defender Christen Westphal (20) defends during the semifinals of the 2022 NWSL Playoffs at Providence Park. Mandatory Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports
By Steph Yang
Oct 23, 2022

The Portland Thorns defeated the San Diego Wave FC 2-1 on Sunday afternoon, advancing to their first NWSL final since 2018.

It was a rough start for the Thorns in their semifinal playoff against the San Diego Wave. Before the game, head coach Rhian Wilkinson told media that though the team had gotten plenty of rest due to receiving a by directly to semis, too much time between games wasn’t ideal, and it was perhaps this astute assessment that helped play a factor in the Thorns giving up an early goal in the eighth minute. Taylor Kornieck was able to sneak between the center backs somehow, quite a feat for a 6-foot-1 player who makes for an extremely obvious target. Alex Morgan served the cross and Korneick headed it neatly home to make it 1-0.

The Thorns struck back in the 21st minute though, as Rocky Rodriguez hit a goal of the year contender from the edge of the 18-yard box, nailing a lovely ball with her laces to tie the game 1-1.

It was a high-transition game for most of the first half, both teams trying to put quick pressure on the others’ defense, with the Wave having a better time of it in turning back forwards, as the Thorns defense felt nervy and sometimes disorganized. Still, it was clear the Thorns wanted to quickly get Sophia Smith into space in front of the Wave center backs and set up plenty of direct balls into that space for her.

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A number of substitutes in the second half couldn’t break the deadlock, despite some close calls, including a neat ball chipped to the back post by Crystal Dunn in the 85’. The Thorns knocked several more times, again asking Sophia Smith to make herself dangerous in the box. Several times they were kept out through the extreme efforts of Naomi Girma or Kailen Sheridan. Late in regulation, the Wave pulled numbers tightly into the box, attempting to confound Thorns attempts with up to eight or nine Wave players at a time packing the space.

The game looked headed for extra time until Dunn pulled up in the third minute of stoppage, ripping an incredible goal to match Rodriguez’s early effort, striking from nearly the same spot on the edge of the 18 to put the Thorns up 2-1. The Thorns held out for the next couple of minutes of stoppage against a clearly exhausted Wave and managed to finish out the game, advancing to the NWSL final.

(Photo: Craig Mitchelldyer / USA Today)

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Steph Yang

Steph Yang is a staff writer for The Athletic covering women’s soccer in the United States. Before joining The Athletic, she was a managing editor at All for XI and Stars & Stripes FC and a staff writer for The Bent Musket, as well as doing freelance work for other soccer sites. She has covered women’s soccer for over seven years and is based out of Boston, Mass.