PORTLAND THORNS FC GAME NOTES PORTLAND THORNS FC AT SEATTLE REIGN FC SATURDAY, AUG. 27, 2016, 2 P.M. (PT) VP Communications: Chris Metz - (503) 553-5433, cmetz@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
2016 SCHEDULE
REIGN FC
2016 NWSL RECORD: 8-2-5 (Home: 5-1-1; Away: 3-1-4)
VS.
8-2-5 (29pts)
5-5-5 (20pts)
MATCH INFORMATION Date: Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016 Kickoff: 2 p.m. (Pacific) Location: Memorial Stadium (Seattle, Wash.) Forecast: Partly cloudy, 77 degrees Referee: Rosendo Martinez Assistant Referees: Alicia Messer, Francisco Bermudez Fourth Official: Levi Rippy Webstream: www.thornsfc.com
NWSL WEEK 16 SCHEDULE Friday, Aug. 26
TIME (PT)
Washington Spirit at Orlando Pride
4:30 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 27
TIME (PT)
Portland Thorns FC at Seattle Reign FC Houston Dash at Western NY Flash Chicago Red Stars at Sky Blue FC
2 p.m. 4 p.m. 4 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 28
TIME (PT)
Boston Breakers at FC Kansas City
4 p.m.
LAST MATCH RECAP Portland headed into the break winning five of its last seven matches, registering a 1-0 win against Seattle Reign on July 30 at Providence Park. The match was the second of two meetings between the two clubs at Providence Park during the regular season and the third of four meetings between the two clubs this season. Forward Nadia Nadim scored the lone goal in the match as she got on the end of a ball served into the box by midfielder Mana Shim. Nadim leaped up between two defenders and delivered a well-placed header inside the right post for the game-winning goal in the 74th minute.
NWSL STANDINGS With just five games remaining for Portland in the regular season, the race for playoffs spots is tight. Thorns FC sit in second place on 29 points, just three points behind Washington (32pts), while holding onto a three-point advantage over Western New York (26pts) and four points on Chicago (25 pts). In terms of tiebreakers - head-to-head- Portland holds that tiebreaker against both Chicago and Washington.
DATE Sun., April 17 Sat., April 23 Sun., May 1 Sat., May 7 Sat., May 14 Sat., May 21 Sun., May 29 Sun., June 12 Fri., June 17 Wed., June 22 Sun., June 26 Sat., July 2 Sat., July 9 Sat., July 16 Sat., July 30 Sat., Aug. 27 Sun., Sept. 4 Wed., Sept. 7 Sun., Sept. 11 Sun., Sept. 25
OPPONENT TIME/RESULT ORLANDO PRIDE W 2-1 @FC Kansas City D 1-1 @Boston Breakers W 1-0 @Washington Spirit D 0-0 @Seattle Reign FC D 1-1 WASHINGTON W 4-1 SEATTLE REIGN FC D 0-0 @Chicago D 1-1 @Western NY W 2-0 CHICAGO W 2-0 @Orlando Pride W 2-1 SKY BLUE FC W 2-1 FC KANSAS CITY L 1-2 @Houston Dash L 0-3 SEATTLE REIGN FC W 1-0 @Seattle Reign FC 2 p.m. BOSTON 4 p.m. HOUSTON DASH 7 p.m. WESTERN NY 6:30 p.m. @Sky Blue FC 4 p.m.
BROADCAST/ATT. 16,073 2,033 3,698 4,333 4,631 15,823 18,114 3,131 2,235 16,931 7,143 14,287 16,942 5,661 19,231 ThornsFC.com ThornsFC.com ThornsFC.com FOX Sports 1 ThornsFC.com
*dates and times subject to change
MATCH DAY PREVIEW Following a 25-day league-wide break, Portland Thorns FC return to action, visiting Seattle Reign FC for the fourth and final match between the two teams this season. With five games remaining on the schedule, Portland currently sits in second place in the NWSL standings. Thorns FC are three points out of first place and hold a three-point edge over third place Western New York and are four points ahead of the Chicago Red Stars. Saturday’s match is the second consecutive meeting between the two clubs. Thorns FC have claimed at least one point in the three previous meetings against Reign FC, while posting a pair of shutouts.
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 three NWSL seasons. Globally, Thorns FC have the highest attendance of any women’s professional team in the world, averaging 15,639 fans in their third season in the league in 2015. Portland has produced record crowds in each season, including Thorns FC’s first sellout of 21,144 fans against Seattle Reign FC on July 22, 2015. Portland equaled that mark for a second time on Aug. 30 against the Washington Spirit. In its first three seasons, Thorns FC have averaged better than 14,038 fans per game.