Originally published on July 24, 2014
The Washington Spirit battled back after conceding an early goal to Portland Thorns FC to earn a 1-1 draw last night.
The Thorns took control of the match early as left back Steph Catley sent in a well placed ball over the top to forward Alex Morgan just inside the Spirit penalty box. Goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris came off her line to close down Morgan, but Morgan flicked the ball perfectly over Harris to find the back of the net in the 7th minute, giving Portland a 1-0 lead. Morgan now has five goals this season following her late debut due to injury.
Both sides had good chances during the half as the Thorns continued to put on balls over the top to Morgan, and the Spirit attempted to slip passes through the Thorns back line. However, Morgan wasn’t able to capitalize on any of those opportunities. Following the early goal, Harris was impressive and made several challenging saves including a couple at close range. Meanwhile, the Spirit were playing well offensively, if not a bit off as forwards Lisa DeVanna and Jodie Taylor couldn’t quite get on the end of passes sent forward from midfield.
The Thorns held their 1-0 lead going into halftime.
The tempo to start the second half was very similar to the first with dangerous offensive attacks from the Thorns being led by Alex Morgan. Meanwhile, the Spirit attack was stymied by poor passes in the final third, often scooped up harmlessly by goalkeeper Nadine Angerer.
The Spirit finally equalized in the 68th minute when Diana Matheson found a seam in midfield and passed the ball to Taylor who was running toward goal. Taylor charged into the box, dribbled around Angerer, and slotted her shot at a nearly impossible angle between two defenders and into the goal. Taylor is now tied as the leading goal scorer in the NWSL with 11 goals.
Following the game, Spirit head coach Mark Parsons provided some insight on how he was able to contain one of the most creative and dynamic players in the league. “We decided we couldn’t just assign a man to her [Vero] because she has too much quality,” explained Parsons. “We decided tactically to congest and compact the area. If they were going to have any success it was going to be on the outside because we didn’t want her to have the ball. ”
Parsons also remarked that the Spirit back line looked much more cohesive. “Defensively, we didn’t look like we were on the same page at Sky Blue,” he said. “They kept finding overloads and pockets of space. Tonight, I don’t think there was as much space for them.”
Ashlyn Harris spoke to her decision making during the game including the series of events that lead to Morgan’s goal. “To me it was a great ball and she [Morgan] dealt with it well,” said Harris. “I wouldn’t go so far as to say it didn’t work for me. I had world class saves tonight and that game could have been much different. So the way I see it is that I made a decision, which may have not worked out in my favor, but I f*****g got the job done.”
Harris also elaborated on some of the defensive struggles the Spirit has experienced recently.
“When you get so many balls played over the top and your back line isn’t doing their job, at some point you have to come out and relieve the pressure. There are times when I come out and intercept passes and there are times where I won’t. There will be times when it is really sketchy and harry, but until our backline figures it out, is in sync and we figure it out and we don’t create that big of a gap where people can just constantly toe poke and run after us, we are going to be put under pressure. That is something we are trying to figure out now, but we don’t have the legs. This is coming off a long week and a half of travel. We are all doing the best we can at this point.”
The draw doesn’t do much for either side as both attempt to secure one of the final two playoff spots. The Thorns and Spirit both face tough competitors as the play their final four games of the season.
Portland Thorns FC (8-6-6) currently sits third in the league and will face Seattle Reign FC on the road next Sunday July 27th at 7 PM Eastern. The Washington Spirit (8-8-4) remains fourth in the league. The Spirit will have a well earned rest before playing FC Kansas City next Wednesday at 7 PM.