PORTLAND THORNS FC GAME NOTES CHICAGO RED STARS AT PORTLAND THORNS FC SUNDAY, JULY 28, 2013, 4 P.M. (PT) VP Communications: Chris Metz - (503) 553-5433, cmetz@portlandtimbers.com Manager, Media Relations: Marc Kostic - (503) 553-5415, mkostic@portlandtimbers.com Coordinator, Media Relations: Mark Nelson - (503) 553-5529, mnelson@portlandtimbers.com
THORNS FC
2013 SCHEDULE
RED STARS
2013 NWSL RECORD: 9-4-3 (Home: 4-3-1 Away: 5-1-2)
VS.
9-4-3 (30pts)
6-7-4 (22pts)
MATCH INFORMATION Date: Sunday, July 28, 2013 Kickoff: 4 p.m. (Pacific) Location: JELD-WEN Field (Portland, Ore.) Forecast: 75 degrees, partly cloudy Referee: Kari Seitz Assistant Referees: Felisha Marsical, Desmond Miller Fourth Official: Jason Perlewitz National TV: FOX Soccer Talent: Steve Cangialosi (play-by-play), Kndrya de St. Aubin (analyst), Heather Mitts (sideline) Local Radio: Freedom 970AM Talent: Ann Schatz (play-by-play), Angela Harrison (analyst)
NWSL WEEK 16 SCHEDULE Wednesday, July 24
TIME (PT)
NATIONAL TV
FC Kansas City 3, Boston Breakers 0 Thursday, July 25
TIME (PT)
Seattle Reign FC 4, Chicago Red Stars 1 Saturday, July 27
TIME (PT)
Boston Breakers at Washington Spirit
4 p.m.
Sunday, July 28
TIME (PT)
FC Kansas City at Sky Blue FC Chicago Red Stars at Portland Thorns FC
3 p.m. 4 p.m.
FOX Soccer
HOLDING A LEAD Thorns FC are the only team in the NWSL that has yet to concede a lead this season. Portland, 8-0-0 when scoring first, is the lone remaining squad that has not allowed an opponent to come back for a tie or win in a match.
SCORING STREAK Rookie midfielder Meleana Shim became the fourth Thorns FC player to record a goal in consecutive matches this season with her game-winning goal against Boston on July 21. Shim, who has scored three goals this year, tallied the game-tying goal against the Western New York Flash on July 14. Forwards Alex Morgan (May 4-12), Christine Sinclair (May 19-25) and Danielle Foxhoven (June 6-16) have scored goals in back-to-back matches this year. Shim is also one of two Thorns FC players that have recorded three points in a match this season. Shim tallied a goal and an assist on June 16 against Seattle. Morgan notched three points (1g, 1a) on July 21 and four points (1g, 2a) on June 6.
DATE Sat., April 13 Sun., April 21 Sat., April 27 Sat., May 4 Sun., May 12 Thurs., May 16 Sun., May 19 Sat., May 25 Sat., June 1 Thurs., June 6 Sun., June 16 Sat., June 22 Sun., June 30 Sat., July 6 Sun., July 14 Sun., July 21 Sun., July 28 Wed., July 31 Sun., Aug. 4 Wed., Aug 7 Sat., Aug. 10 Sat., Aug. 17
OPPONENT TIME/RESULT at FC Kansas City T 1-1 SEATTLE REIGN FC W 2-1 at Chicago Red Stars W 2-0 at Washington W 2-1 at Chicago Red Stars W 2-0 SKY BLUE FC L 0-1 WASHINGTON W 2-0 at Seattle Reign FC W 1-0 CHICAGO RED STARS L 0-2 FC KANSAS CITY W 4-3 SEATTLE REIGN FC W 2-0 at Sky Blue FC T 0-0 at FC Kansas City L 0-2 BOSTON BREAKERS L 0-2 WESTERN NEW YORK T 1-1 at Boston Breakers W 2-1 CHICAGO RED STARS 4 p.m. SKY BLUE FC 7:30 p.m. FC KANSAS CITY 5:30 p.m. at Boston Breakers 4 p.m. at Western New York 4:35 p.m. at Seattle Reign FC 8 p.m.
ATTENDANCE 6,784 16,479 2,855 5,011 1,329 11,055 12,474 3,324 12,446 10,886 13,802 3,002 4,774 12,436 13,021 2,978 FOX Soccer FOX Soccer
*dates and times subject to change
MATCH DAY PREVIEW Sunday’s match marks the fourth, and final, regular-season meeting between Portland Thorns FC and the Chicago Red Stars. Thorns FC hold a 2-1-0 series advantage over Chicago in the inaugural National Women’s Soccer League season with a 4-2 edge in scoring. Each of the three previous matches between the clubs has ended in a 2-0 shutout for the winners. Portland, which is just two points shy of first-place FC Kansas City in the NWSL standings, earned its first-ever shutout of the season in a 2-0 win at Chicago on April 27. Just two weeks later, on May 12, Thorns FC registered another 2-0 shutout against Chicago at Benedictine University Sports Complex in Lisle, Ill. Chicago comes into Sunday’s game following a 4-1 loss against Seattle on Thursday at Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila, Wash. The Red Stars, who are battling for the fourth, and final, spot to the NWSL playoffs, earned a 6-3-2 record following a 2-0 win over Thorns FC on June 1 at JELD-WEN Field. Chicago started the year 0-4-2, but earned their first-ever win on June 1.
LAST MATCH VS. CHICAGO The last time Thorns FC and the Chicago Red Stars squared off, Chicago tallied a goal in each half in a 2-0 win before 12,446 fans at JELD-WEN Field on June 1. Missing national team players Alex Morgan, Rachel Buehler, Christine Sinclair and Karina LeBlanc (and with Tobin Heath yet to arrive in Portland), Thorns FC fielded a lineup that included amateur goalkeeper Cris Lewis earning the starting nod in goal and three players making their first start of the season. Chicago rookie midfielder Zakiya Bywaters headed in the go-ahead goal in the 35th minute, while defender Jackie Santacaterina added an insurance goal for the Red Stars in the 61st minute. Also missing several national team players, Chicago welcomed the addition of experienced German international forward Inka Grings and defender Sonja Fuss, each of whom made their Red Stars team debut in the win over Thorns FC. The two sides combined to record 26 total fouls, a season-high for combined fouls for Thorns FC.