PORTLAND THORNS FC GAME NOTES PORTLAND THORNS FC AT SEATTLE REIGN FC SATURDAY, AUG. 26, 2017, 1 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
REIGN FC
2017 NWSL RECORD: 10-5-4 (Home: 8-1-1; Away: 2-4-3)
VS.
10-5-4 (34pts)
7-6-6 (27pts)
MATCH INFORMATION Date: Saturday, Aug. 26, 2017 Kickoff: 1 p.m. (Pacific) Location: Memorial Stadium (Seattle, Wash.) Forecast: Sunny, 78 degrees Referee: Farhad Dadkho Assistant Referees: Alicia Messer, Maggie Short Fourth Official: Kelsey Harms Broadcast: nwslsoccer.com and go90.com Broadcast talent: Mike Watts (play-by-play), Matt Pedersen (analyst)
NWSL WEEK 18 SCHEDULE Saturday, Aug. 26
TIME (PT)
Orlando Pride vs. FC Kansas City Portland Thorns FC vs. Seattle Reign FC Chicago Red Stars vs. Washington Spirit Boston Breakers vs. Sky Blue FC
12:30 p.m. 1 p.m. 4 p.m. 4 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 20
TIME (PT)
North Carolina Courage vs. Houston Dash
5 p.m.
LAST MATCH RECAP Portland registered its fifth straight home win, setting a new single-season record for consecutive home wins, defeating the Houston Dash 2-0 on Aug.19 at Providence Park. Lindsey Horan tallied the game-winning goal, her fourth of the season, while Amandine Henry scored for a second straight game to help Thorns FC secure the win. Meghan Klingenberg registered her team-leading fifth assist of the year, while Nadia Nadim returned to action for the first time at Providence Park since rejoining the club after the 2017 EUROs and recorded the assist on Henry’s goal. Additionally, Portland recorded its eighth clean sheet of the campaign, establishing a new single-season record for shutouts.
SURGING FORWARD After a June 24 loss on the road against Washington, Portland has bounced back in convincing fashion over the last nine games with a record of 6-2-1. During that stretch, Hayley Raso and Christine Sinclair each have three goals, Lindsey Horan has two goals and two assists, while Amandine Henry and Emily Sonnett each have two goals, while Meghan Klingenberg has added three assists. A total of seven players have scored a goal for Portland during that stretch.
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 L 1-2 W 2-0 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 4,934 428 19,672 go90 Lifetime go90 Lifetime Lifetime
MATCH PREVIEW WIth just five matches remaining in the regular season, Portland Thorns FC travel to square off against Cascadia-rival Seattle Reign FC in the third meeting this season between the two sides on Aug. 26. Additionally, Saturday’s match is the first of three road matches for Portland in its last five regular-season contests. Portland is currently second in the NWSL standings with 34 points, trailing the first-place North Carolina Courage (39pts) by five points, while holding onto a five-point lead over the Chicago Red Stars and Orlando Pride (29pts) for third place. Thorns FC currently hold the tiebreaker with Chicago for playoff positioning.
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).