PORTLAND THORNS FC GAME NOTES PORTLAND THORNS FC VS. BOSTON BREAKERS SATURDAY, MAY 27, 2017, 7 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
BREAKERS
2017 NWSL RECORD: 2-1-3 (Home: 2-0-1; Away: 0-1-2)
VS.
2-1-3 (9pts)
2-2-2 (8pts)
MATCH INFORMATION Date: Saturday, May 27, 2017 Kickoff: 7 p.m. (Pacific) Location: Providence Park (Portland, Ore.) Forecast: Sunny, 86 degrees Referee: Katja Koroleva Assistant Referees: Chris Elliot, Alicia Messer Fourth Official: Jason Perlewitz Broadcast: go90.com and NWSLSoccer.com Broadcast talent: Matt Pedersen (play-by-play), Morgan Church (analyst)
NWSL WEEK 7 SCHEDULE Wednesday, May 24
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 D 0-0 D 2-2 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 1,796 3,321 go90 go90 go90 go90 go90 go90 go90 Lifetime go90 Lifetime go90 go90 go90 Lifetime go90 go90 go90 Lifetime
Sky Blue FC 0, North Carolina Courage 2 Saturday, May 27
TIME (PT)
Seattle Reign FC vs. Houston Dash North Carolina Courage vs. Chicago Red Stars Orlando Pride vs. Sky Blue FC Washington Spirit vs. FC Kansas City Boston Breakers vs. Portland Thorns FC
1 p.m. 1 p.m. 4 p.m. 5 p.m. 7 p.m.
HOME SWEET HOME Thorns FC have suffered just two defeats in their last 17 matches at Providence Park, dating back to July 2015. Portland is 27-11-8 all-time at Providence Park in the regular season. Thorns FC have recorded the second-most home wins (27) in league history and have posted a .674 winning percentage since 2013, which is the second-best home-winning percentage. Since the start of 2016, Portland has won 10 of its 13 home regular-season matches. A win or a draw would tie the club record for Portland’s longest unbeaten streak at home at eight games. This season, Thorns FC are tied for the second-most points per game (2.3) at home and the second-fewest goals conceded per home game (0.67).
LAST MATCH RECAP Battling back from a two-goal deficit in the second half, Thorns FC earned a 2-2 draw on the road, receiving a brace from forward Nadia Nadim. Boston opened the score in the 38th minute and added a second goal in the 48th minute, but Portland pulled a goal back when Nadim converted from the spot in the 57th minute. Pushing for the equalizer, Nadim collected a second-half brace, finishing from close range after receiving a pass from Hayley Raso in the 83rd minute.
MATCH PREVIEW Portland enters Saturday’s match with Boston, riding a seven-game home unbeaten streak in regular-season play (6-0-1). The match is the second in a nine-day span between Thorns FC and the Breakers this season, and the only meeting between the two sides during the regular season at Providence Park. Nadia Nadim has been in form against Boston, tallying five goals in her last two matches against the Breakers, including a hat-trick in the last meeting between the two sides at Providence Park - a 5-1 win on Sept. 4, 2016. In three home matches in 2017, Thorns FC have conceded just two goals, while posting two 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 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).