PORTLAND THORNS FC GAME NOTES PORTLAND THORNS FC VS FC KANSAS CITY SATURDAY, APRIL 26, 2014, 7 P.M. (PT) VP Communications: Chris Metz - (503) 553-5433, cmetz@timbers.com Manager, Media Relations: Marc Kostic - (503) 553-5415, mkostic@timbers.com Coordinator, Media Relations: Mark Nelson - (503) 553-5529, mnelson@timbers.com
THORNS FC
2014 SCHEDULE
FC KANSAS CITY
2014 NWSL RECORD: 1-0-1 (Home: 0-0-0; Away: 1-0-1)
VS.
1-0-1 (4pts)
0-1-1 (1pt)
MATCH INFORMATION Date: Saturday, April 26, 2014 Kickoff: 7 p.m. (Pacific) Location: Providence Park (Portland, Ore.) Forecast: Partly Cloudy, 58 degrees Referee: Katja Koroleva Assistant Referees: Veronica Perez, Ronald Lagraff Fourth Official: Farhad Dadkho Webstream: www.portlandthornsfc.com Talent: Ann Schatz (play-by-play), Marian Dougherty (analyst)
NWSL WEEK 3 SCHEDULE Wednesday, April 23 Washington Spirit at Seattle Reign FC
TIME (PT)
Saturday, April 26 Washington Spirit at Chicago Red Stars FC Kansas City at Portland Thorns FC
TIME (PT) 5 p.m. 7 p.m.
Sunday, April 27 Houston Dash at Seattle Reign FC Sky Blue FC at Boston Breakers
TIME (PT) 4 p.m. 4 p.m.
2013 NWSL CHAMPIONS Thorns FC play host to FC Kansas City tonight in their highly anticipated 2014 NWSL home opener. To commemorate Portland winning the inaugural NWSL championship in 2013, the club will unveil its championship banner tonight at Providence Park as part of a special pregame ceremony. Additionally, returning members of Thorns FC, including defenders Nikki Marshall and Rachel Van Hollebeke, midfielders Angie Kerr, Allie Long and Mana Shim and forwards Alex Morgan and Christine Sinclair, will receive their championship rings during a pregame presentation. Portland finished the 2013 regular season among the league’s top teams and defeated the top two seeded playoff teams, FC Kansas City and the Western New York Flash, on the road to capture the NWSL’s first championship. Tobin Heath and Christine Sinclair each scored in a 2-0 win against the Flash in the title game on Aug. 31, 2013.
DATE Sat., April 12 Sat., April 19 Sat., April 26 Sat., May 3 Sat., May 10 Wed., May 14 Wed., May 21 Sat., May 24 Wed., May 28 Sat., June 7 Sun., June 15 Sat., June 21 Wed., June 25 Sat., June 28 Fri., July 4 Wed., July 9 Sun., July 13 Thurs., July 17 Sun., July 20 Wed., July 23 Sun., July 27 Sun., Aug. 3 Sun., Aug. 10 Sun., Aug. 17
OPPONENT @Houston Dash @Sky Blue FC FC KANSAS CITY @Western NY SEATTLE REIGN FC @Houston Dash WESTERN NY SKY BLUE FC @Boston Breakers WESTERN NY WASHINGTON @Washington SKY BLUE FC @FC Kansas City CHICAGO @Chicago FC KANSAS CITY @Chicago BOSTON @Washington @Seattle Reign FC HOUSTON DASH @Boston SEATTLE REIGN FC
TIME/RESULT BROADCAST/ATT. W 1-0 8,097 D 1-1 2,983 7 p.m. portlandthornsfc.com 4 p.m. portlandthornsfc.com 7 p.m. portlandthornsfc.com 5 p.m. portlandthornsfc.com/CSN 7 p.m. portlandthornsfc.com 7 p.m. portlandthornsfc.com 4 p.m. portlandthornsfc.com 7 p.m. portlandthornsfc.com 2 p.m. portlandthornsfc.com 3:30 p.m. portlandthornsfc.com 7 p.m. portlandthornsfc.com/CSN 5 p.m. portlandthornsfc.com 11 a.m. portlandthornsfc.com 5 p.m. portlandthornsfc.com 2 p.m. portlandthornsfc.com 5 p.m. portlandthornsfc.com 2 p.m. portlandthornsfc.com 4 p.m. portlandthornsfc.com 4 p.m. portlandthornsfc.com 2 p.m. portlandthornsfc.com/CSN 3:30 p.m. portlandthornsfc.com 2 p.m. portlandthornsfc.com
*dates and times subject to change
MATCH DAY PREVIEW After opening the 2014 NWSL season with consecutive road matches, Portland Thorns FC play host to FC Kansas City in their home opener tonight at Providence Park. Thorns FC captured a second straight result on the road in their last match, playing Sky Blue FC to a 1-1 draw on April 19, and return home in second place in the NWSL through two matches. FC Kansas City visits Providence Park in search of their first win of the season. The Blues received a goal from forward and U.S. international Amy Rodriguez in a second straight match, but fell 3-1 on the road to the Washington Spirit in their last match April 19. Tonight’s game features a rematch of the 2013 NWSL playoff semifinal between Thorns FC and FC Kansas City on Aug. 24, 2013. Portland overcame a two-goal deficit on the road in that match to force extra time, and Allie Long scored the game-winning goal in the 103rd minute to propel Thorns FC to a 3-2 victory and a place in the league’s title match.
HOME, SWEET, HOME Thorns FC plays in its first home match tonight since the team’s 2013 regularseason home finale on Aug. 4, 2013, against FC Kansas City. Since then, Portland has played in seven consecutive away matches, including a pair of NWSL playoff games on the road. While away, Portland assembled a six-match unbeaten stretch on the road, including the 2013 postseason and the first two regular-season matches of the 2014 NWSL campaign. Back on their home grounds at Providence Park, Thorns FC will play in front of their supporters for the first time in 261 days. Thorns FC averaged 13,320 fans at Providence Park during the 2013 regular season.