PORTLAND THORNS FC GAME NOTES PORTLAND THORNS FC AT FC KANSAS CITY WEDNESDAY, AUG. 16, 2017, 5 P.M. (PT) VP Communications: Chris Metz - (503) 553-5433, cmetz@timbers.com Manager, Media Relations - Thorns FC: Katie Simons - (503) 553-5539, ksimons@timbers.com Manager, Media Relations - Timbers: Jhamie Chin - (503) 553-5529, jchin@timbers.com Coordinator, Media Relations - Kevin Acevedo - (503) 553-5512, kacevedo@timbers.com
THORNS FC
2017 SCHEDULE
FC KANSAS CITY
2017 NWSL RECORD: 9-4-4 (Home: 7-1-1; Away: 2-3-3)
VS.
9-4-4 (31pts)
4-8-5 (17pts)
MATCH INFORMATION Date: Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2017 Kickoff: 5 p.m. (Pacific) Location: Children’s Mercy Victory Field (Kansas City, Mo.) Forecast: 88 degrees, Thunderstorms Referee: Marco Vega Assistant Referees: Shane Kennard, Ben Pilgrim Fourth Official: Devin Blazek Broadcast: nwslsoccer.com and go90.com Broadcast talent: Dave Lamont (play-by-play), Chelsea Cabarcas (analyst)
NWSL WEEK 17 SCHEDULE Wednesday, Aug. 16
TIME (PT)
Houston Dash vs. Boston Breakers Portland Thorns FC vs. FC Kansas City Seattle Reign FC vs. Chicago Red Stars
4:30 p.m. 5 p.m. 5 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 19
TIME (PT)
Washington Spirit vs. North Carolina Courage Orlando Pride vs. Boston Breakers Seattle Reign FC vs. Sky Blue Fc Houston Dash vs. Portland Thorns FC
12:30 p.m. 1 p.m. 5 p.m. 7 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 20
TIME (PT)
FC Kansas City vs. Chicago Red Stars
3 p.m.
LAST MATCH RECAP Portland handed Chicago its first home loss of the season, earning a 3-2 win on the road against the Red Stars on Aug. 12. Tied at 2-2, defender Emily Sonnett scored for a second straight match, directing a header inside the right post off a pinpoint free kick played into the box by Meghan Klingenberg in the 55th minute. Portland jumped out to an early 2-0 lead with goals in the opening 10 minutes from Hayley Raso and Christine Sinclair before Chicago leveled the match with a pair of goals in the first half.
SURGING FORWARD After a June 24 loss on the road against Washington, Portland has bounced back in convincing fashion, gaining more points over the last seven games than any team in the league with a record of 5-1-1, claiming 16 of a possible 21 points. During that stretch, Hayley Raso and Christine Sinclair each have three goals, Emily Sonnett has two goals and assist, and Lindsey Horan has a goal and two assists.
DATE Sat., April 15 Sat., April 22 Sat., April 29 Sat., May 6 Sat., May 13 Fri., May 19 Sat., May 27 Sat., June 3 Sat., June 17 Sat., June 24 Wed., June 28 Sat., July 1 Sat., July 8 Sat., July 15 Sat., July 22 Sat., Aug. 5 Sat., Aug. 12 Wed., Aug. 16 Sat., Aug. 19 Sat., Aug. 26 Sat., Sept. 2 Sun., Sept. 10 Sat., Sept. 23 Sat., Sept. 30
OPPONENT ORLANDO PRIDE @NC Courage CHICAGO SEATTLE @FC Kansas City @Boston BOSTON @Sky Blue FC SKY BLUE FC @Washington FC KANSAS CITY @Seattle @Houston Dash NC COURAGE WASHINGTON HOUSTON DASH @Chicago @FC Kansas City HOUSTON DASH @Seattle WASHINGTON @Boston @Orlando CHICAGO
TIME/RESULT W 2-0 L 0-1 W 1-0 D 2-2 D 0-0 D 2-2 W 2-0 W 2-0 L 1-3 L 0-1 W 3-0 L 0-2 D 1-1 W 1-0 W 2-1 W 2-1 W 2-1 5 p.m. 7 p.m. 1 p.m. 12:30 p.m. 3 p.m. 12:30 p.m. 12:30 p.m.
BROADCAST/ATT. 16,145 6,298 14,471 16,160 1,796 3,321 18,637 2,418 16,736 4,319 16,199 4,270 3,869 16,804 18,478 18,243 4,934 go90 go90 go90 Lifetime go90 go90 Lifetime
MATCH PREVIEW Wrapping up a two-game road swing, Portland Thorns FC square off against FC Kansas City in a midweek match on Wednesday, Aug. 16. The match is the second of three in an eight-day span for Portland, which is in the midst of a stretch of five road games in seven matches. With their win on Saturday, Thorns FC are unbeaten in five, including a four-game winning streak. Entering Wednesday, Portland (31pts) is second in the NWSL standings. Thorns FC are two points ahead of third-place Chicago (29pts) and five points behind the league-leading North Carolina Courage (36pts) with seven games to go.
NO PLACE LIKE HOME Playing their home matches at downtown Portland’s iconic Providence Park, Thorns FC have led the league in attendance in each of their first four NWSL seasons. Globally, Thorns FC have the highest attendance of any women’s professional team in the world, averaging 16,945 fans in their fourth season in the league in 2016. Portland’s average home attendance in 2016 ranked better than 12 English Championship teams, 10 Ligue 1 teams, 7 Serie A clubs and 5 La Liga sides home attendance numbers during their 2015-16 season in addition to 10 NBA and 10 NHL teams. In four seasons, Portland has averaged better than 14,815 fans per game, including four matches of more than 20,000 fans as well as three sellouts (21,144).