PORTLAND THORNS FC GAME NOTES PORTLAND THORNS FC AT FC KANSAS CITY SATURDAY, MAY 13, 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
FC KANSAS CITY
2017 NWSL RECORD: 2-1-1 (Home: 2-0-1; Away: 0-1-0)
VS.
2-1-1 (7pts)
1-2-1 (4pts)
MATCH INFORMATION Date: Saturday, May 13, 2017 Kickoff: 1 p.m. (Pacific) Location: Children’s Mercy Victory Field (Kansas City, Mo.) Forecast: Sunny, 78 degrees Referee: Karen Abt Assistant Referees: Amanda Ross, Ben Pilgrim Fourth Official: Emily Fletcher Broadcast: go90.com (United States), NWSLSoccer.com (international) Broadcast talent: Matt Pedersen (play-by-play), Matt Stubbington (analyst)
NWSL WEEK 5 SCHEDULE Saturday, May 13
TIME (PT)
Sky Blue FC vs. Houston Dash Washington Spirit vs. Seattle Reign FC Portland Thorns FC vs. FC Kansas City
1 p.m. 1 p.m. 1 p.m.
Sunday, May 14
TIME (PT)
North Carolina Courage vs. Orlando Pride Boston Breakers vs. Chicago Red Stars
2 p.m. 3 p.m.
ROAD WARRIORS Portland opened the season with three of its first four games at home and will now play four of its next six games on the road. Thorns FC have found success on the road, earning at least a point in eight of their last 11 road games. Additionally, Portland has only conceded multiple goals in a road match twice since the beginning of 2016, while also scoring at least one goal in eight of its 11 previous road contests. Individually, Long has tallied three goals in her last three road games for Thorns FC, including a brace in the regular-season finale against Sky Blue FC on Sept. 25, 2016.
LAST MATCH RECAP Battling back from a one-goal defifcit twice, Thorns FC earned a 2-2 draw against Seattle Reign FC on May 6 at Providence Park. Seattle opened the scoring less than a minute into the match, but a well-placed cross from Hayley Raso yielded an own goal as Jessica Fishlock redirected the ball into her own net in the 37th minute. Reign FC reclaimed the lead two minutes later, but Portland controlled the second half possession (61.8 %) and outshot Seattle 8-3 as Allie Long scored the game-tying goal in the 82nd minute.
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 Fri., 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 2-0 D 2-2 1 p.m. 4 p.m. 7 p.m. 4 p.m. 7 p.m. 4 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 5:30 p.m. 1 p.m. 7 p.m. 1 p.m. 5 p.m. 5 p.m. 7 p.m. 1 p.m. 1 p.m. 3 p.m. 2 p.m. 1 p.m.
BROADCAST/ATT. 16,145 6,298 14,471 16,160 go90 go90 go90 go90 go90 go90 go90 go90 go90 Lifetime go90 Lifetime go90 go90 go90 Lifetime go90 go90 go90 Lifetime
MATCH PREVIEW After playing three of its first four games at home, Thorns FC travels for backto-back road matches, visiting FC Kansas City for one of two away matches during the 2017 season against the FC Kansas City on Saturday. FC Kansas City was the only team Portland did not register a win against in 2016. In addition, Thorns FC is looking for its first win on the road against FC Kansas City. Both team’s feature strong defensive units as each team is tied for the secondfewest goals conceded (3) in the league through the first four games.
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).