Smith Brace Defeats Red Stars

Chicago Red Stars 0-2 Portland Thorns

BRIDGEVIEW, IL—Saturday was to be a showdown between two teams with outstanding strikers. One of them got the ball a great deal and scored twice. The other did not. Sophia Smith bagged a brace as the Portland Thorns defeated the Chicago Red Stars, 2-0, at SeatGeek Stadium. It is the second successive home loss for the Red Stars.

Smith opened the scoring in the tenth minute. Despite being marked by Taylor Malham, Smith made space for herself to shoot and beat Alyssa Naeher far post. This was after yet another goal-line clearance by the Red Stars three minutes earlier, this time by Natalia Kuikka on Reyna Reyes. 

Smith would strike again in the 26th minute. Christine Sinclair made a run into the box with four defenders marking, but Sinclair found Smith who beat Naeher far post yet again. 

The Red Stars would make attempts to get back into the game. Julia Bianchi had a headed shot go off the post before halftime. Mallory Swanson, who was kept quite by the Portland defense had a free kick late in second half stoppage time, but was parried over by Sheby Hogan. 

Admittedly, one could not stop Sophia Smith, one could only hope to contain her on this night.

“She’s one of the best right here in the world,” said Red Stars head coach Lorne Donaldson. “I mean, anybody can be stopped, but if you give her a space and and time, most likely, she’s gonna she’s gonna finish it. That’s her that’s her job, and she does it very well. She’s just a great player, and you gotta respect that.”

This was the first in what will be three games in eight days for the Red Stars with the next coming at home against Washington Spirit on Wednesday night. Kickoff is at 7pm on Marquee Sports Network and NWSL+.

SCORING SUMMARY:
POR-Sophia Smith (Sugita) 10
POR-Sophia Smith (Sinclair) 26

BOOKING SUMMARY:
CHI-Sam Staab (caution, tactical foul) 63
POR-Sophia Smith (caution, delaying a restart) 71
POR-Reyna Reyes (caution, reckless tackle) 83
POR-Isabella Obaze (caution, tactical foul) 90+8

CHICAGO RED STARS (4-3-3):  #1-Alyssa Naeher; #23-Tatumn Milazzo (#11-Chardonnay Curran 57), #3-Sam Staab, #12-Natalia Kuikka, #32-Taylor Malham; #4-Cari Roccaro, #5-Julia Bianchi (#13-Lelanni Nesbeth 57); #55-Penelope Hocking (#26-Nadia Gomes 65); #9-Mallory Swanson, #24-Jenna Bike (#30-Camryn Biegalski 77), #34-Ally Schlegel (#10-Shea Groom 77)

Subs not used:  #19-Mackenzie Wood, #41-Hannah Anderson, #20-Bea Franklin, #33-Ally Cook

PORTLAND THORNS (3-5-2):  #18-Shelby Hogan; #2-Reyna Reyes, #4-Becky Sauerbrunn, #5-Isabella Obaze; #23-Marie Muller (#25-Megan Klingenberg 61), #8-Hina Sugita, #21-Jessie Fleming (#13-Olivia Moultrie 61), #17-Sam Coffey, #22-Morgan Weaver (#15-Payton Linnehan 73); #9-Sophia Smith (#19-Ana Dias 87), #12-Christine Sinclair (#16-Janine Beckie 46)

Subs not used:  #99-Emily Alvarado, #20-Kelli Hubly, #39-Meaghan Nally, #54-Olivia Wade-Katoa, #15-Payton Linnehan 

TOTAL SHOTS:  CHI 16-13 POR
SHOTS ON GOAL:  CHI 10-12 POR
FOULS:  CHI 11-10 POR
OFFSIDES:  CHI 2-3 POR
CORNER KICKS:  CHI 7-2 POR
SAVES:  CHI 6-3 POR

Referee:  Thomas Snyder
Assistant Referees:  Art Arustamyan, Fermin Sanchea
Fourth Official:  Peter Bernardy
VAR:  Anya Voight
AVAR:  Tom Felice
Weather:  Partly Cloudy and 76º
Attendance:  4,544
Woman of the Match:  Sophia Smith (POR)