Thorns FC Capture 2022 NWSL Championship with 2-0 Victory over Kansas City Current at Audi Field
October 30, 2022 – National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) – Portland Thorns FC News Release
WASHINGTON D.C. – Portland Thorns FC made history on Saturday night by capturing the 2022 NWSL Championship with a 2-0 victory over the Kansas City Current at Audi Field, earning their league-best third title. Sophia Smith opened the scoring for Portland in the fourth minute of the match to help Portland to tonight’s victory and secured the Championship match MVP award.
Thorns Make History
With tonight’s victory, Portland captured its third league title – the most by any club in NWSL history (2013, 2017, 2022). Thorns FC also became the first team in league history to qualify for four NWSL Championship games (2013, 2017, 2018, 2022) and has advanced to the final more than any team in league history. Tonight’s match marked Portland’s first appearance in the NWSL Championship game since 2018 and their first win in the final since 2017. Notably, Thorns FC have won all three of their titles on the road. Head coach Rhian Wilkinson became the second female head coach to win a final in the league, the other being Cindy Parlow Cone (Portland in 2013). Additionally, Karina LeBlanc is the first to win a NWSL title as both general manager and player (starting keeper for Portland in 2013).
Sophia Smith: The MVP
Smith gave Portland the lead with a goal in just four minutes into the game. The goal was her 15th in the season and first in the postseason. The 22-year-old forward become the youngest player to score a goal in an NWSL Championship. The goal was also the second quickest in an NWSL Championship. This week, Smith was named the 2022 NWSL Most Valuable Player and earned a spot in the 2022 NWSL Best XI. She became the second Thorns FC player to be named MVP after Lindsey Horan in 2018. Additionally, Smith became the first player in the league to win the NWSL MVP award and score in a NWSL Championship in the same season. Smith also earned the 2022 Championship MVP award tonight, becoming the first player to earn both league and championship MVP in the same season.
Thorns FC Numbers
Bella Bixby, Natalia Kuikka, Kelli Hubly, Sam Coffey, Rocky Rodríguez, Hina Sugita, Olivia Moultrie, Morgan Weaver, Sophia Smith, Yazmeen Ryan and Janine Beckie made their NWSL Championship debut tonight. S. Smith became the youngest player to score in a NWSL Championship match at 22 years old. Christine Sinclair became the NWSL’s all-time leader in playoff minutes with 1,022 minutes as well as playoff appearances (12). Dunn, Sauerbrunn and Sinclair have won three Championship league titles each. Emily Menges, Meghan Klingenberg and Tegan McGrady all secured their second NWSL Championship.
Playoffs Notables
With their result tonight, Portland registered its seventh playoff win in club history, which is the most by any team in NWSL postseason history. Crystal Dunn registered her fifth career NWSL playoff goal in the semifinal on Oct. 23 against San Diego Wave FC, which ranks as second most in league history and first amongst active NWSL players (Amy Rodriguez – 6). Olivia Moultrie became the youngest player in league history to make a NWSL Championship appearance at 17 years, one month and 12 days old. It was her first playoff appearance.
Against the Current
Tonight’s match was the first meeting between Portland and Kansas City in the postseason. In seven meetings across all competitions, Thorns FC are unbeaten against Kansas City with a record of 5-0-2, outscoring them 11-2. Portland has registered five shutouts in that span against the Current. This season, Thorns FC earned a 3-0 win at home and a 1-1 draw on the road against KC. Individually in the season series, Christine Sinclair, Sophia Smith, Morgan Weaver and Rocky Rodriguez each scored goals.
Goal-Scoring Plays
POR – Sophia Smith, 4th minute: Sophia Smith stole the ball from Kansas City defender Elizabeth Ball, who attempted to pass the ball back to Kansas City goalkeeper Adrianna Franch. Smith dribbled and cut through Franch in a one-vs-one battle, slotting in the goal with a left-footed shot.
POR – Addisyn Merrick (own goal), 56th minute: Yazmeen Ryan dribbled through the right wing before crossing the ball into the middle of the 18-yard box, where Kansas City defender Addisyn Merrick attempted to clear the ball but was forced into scoring an own goal.
Notes:
With tonight’s victory, Portland captured its third NWSL title – the most by any club in league history (2013, 2017, 2022).
Thorns FC became the first team in league history to qualify for four NWSL Championship games (2013, 2017, 2018, 2022).
Portland has played three of its four previous NWSL championships on the road, winning all three of them.
Thorns FC have a league-best seven playoff wins.
Sophia Smith scored the game-winning goal in today’s match and her first in playoffs.
Smith became the first player to earn league and championship game MVP in the same season.
Smith tallied a team-leading 15 goals in the 2022 campaign.
Smith became the youngest player to score in a NWSL Championship match.
Smith’s goal was the second fastest goal in NWSL Championship history at 3:59 minutes.
Smith became the second player in the league to win the NWSL MVP award and score in a NWSL Championship in the same season.
Christine Sinclair featured in her 13th career (12 starts) NWSL playoff game tonight, setting a new league record for postseason appearances.
Sinclair became the NWSL’s all-time leader in playoff minutes with 1,022 minutes, surpassing Abby Erceg (975).
Sinclair became the oldest played to ever play in a NWSL Championship (39 years old) followed by Becky Sauerbrunn (37).
Dunn, Sauerbrunn and Sinclair have won three league titles each. Menges, Klingenberg and Tegan McGrady have each won two league titles.
Bella Bixby, Natalia Kuikka, Kelli Hubly, Sam Coffey, Rocky Rodríguez, Hina Sugita, Olivia Moultrie, Morgan Weaver, Sophia Smith, Yazmeen Ryan and Janine Beckie made their NWSL Championship debut tonight.
Olivia Moultrie became the youngest player in league history to make a NWSL Championship appearance at 17 years, one month and 12 days old. It was her first playoff appearance.
Bella Bixby recorded her league leading 10th clean sheet in the 2022 campaign and first in a playoff match.
Tonight’s match was the first meeting between Portland and the Current in the postseason.
In seven meetings across all competitions, Thorns FC are unbeaten against KC with a record of 5-0-2, outscoring them 11-2.
With tonight’s win, head coach Rhian Wilkinson became the second female head coach to win a final since Cindy Parlow Cone (Portland in 2013).
Karina LeBlanc became the first to win a NWSL title as both general manager and player (starting keeper for Portland in 2013).
It is the first NWSL final to air in network primetime in league history.
Portland Thorns FC vs. KC Current – 2022 NWSL Championship
Oct. 29, 2022 – Audi Field (Washington D.C.)
Goals by Half 1 2 FT
Portland Thorns FC 1 1 2
Kansas City Current 0 0 0
Scoring Summary:
POR: Smith, 4
POR: Merrick (own goal), 56
Misconduct Summary:
None
Lineups:
POR: GK Bixby, D Kuikka, D Hubly, D Sauerbrunn, D Klingenberg, M Coffey, M Rodriguez (Sugita, 63), M Sinclair (Dunn, 73), F Ryan (Moultrie, 93), F Weaver (Beckie, 63), F S. Smith
Substitutes Not Used: GK A. Smith, D McGrady, D Menges, D Nally, M Porter
TOTAL SHOTS: 18 (Smith, 6); SHOTS ON GOAL: 6 (Weaver, 2); FOULS: 8 (Rodriguez, 3); OFFSIDES: 3; CORNER KICKS: 4; SAVES: 0
KC: GK Franch, D Loera, D Edmonds, D Merrick (Bennett, 64), D Ball, M Scott © (Rodriguez, 75), M Mace, M Del Fava, M LaBonta, F Kizer, F Hamilton
Substitutes Not Used: GK Schneider, GK Miller, D Leach, M Logarzo, M McCain, M Winebrenner, F Curran
TOTAL SHOTS: 9 (Loera, 4); SHOTS ON GOAL: 0 (0); FOULS: 10 (Loera, 5); OFFSIDES: 0; CORNER KICKS: 2; SAVES: 5
Referee: Natalie Simon
Assistant Referees: Kali Smith, Alicia Messer
Fourth Official: Danielle Chesky
Weather: Clear, 53 degrees
Attendance: 17,624
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