At last, real football returns. The Portland Thorns are back in town, albeit for a pre-season match. But it’s the Thorns, and it’s NWSL, and that is one of my favorite things in the world.
Final score was 1-0, Utah, but on a goal that would not have survived VAR in the regular season: there was a clear offsides in the build-up. The assistant lino on the far side (from me) had an awful night, and this was their worst mistake. Thankfully, it didn’t really matter.
The Thorns are going to have a tough season. Three key players are already out for the year – yes, knee injuries – and their best player, Sophia (Smith) Wilson decided now was the time to have a baby. They have a lot of talent remaining, but, as we saw tonight, no one who they can depend on to score. Paige Linnehan missed several easy chances, Liv Moultrie is trying too hard, and Reilyn Turner hit the post.
This could a long year, results-wise.
What I enjoyed tonight was the energy of the team. There was no lack of effort. They busted their asses from first to final whistle. The game was entertaining, and, if your team is going to lose a lot – and I’m afraid the Thorns are – you want them to try and to make it fun.
That said, there are some great players on this team. Hina Sugita was the best player on the field tonight, and Sam Coffey, our new captain, played every minute. We had a number of new players on the field, most significantly Sam Hiatt in defense. (Is this the first women’s football team to feature two Sams?) It’s possible that after they’ve played together for a time, this team will become stronger. They may not win enough to make the post-season, but they could become a strong opponent to even the best teams.
On top of that, Portland fans are still the best in the league. It was a big turnout for a pre-season game on a cold night. The further the game went, the more the crowd was behind the team. The energy in the stands was worthy of this being a regular season game. Sports fans love teams struggling against the odds. With the injuries, Wilson’s absence, and the new players, a team busting its ass is sure to make the fans happy.
One thing I noticed: the pre-game warm-ups were a lot more focused on technical skills than in past years. They also seemed to be run at a higher pace. Pre-game has always been somewhat casual, but not tonight. From the warm-up exercises to the drills, everything was at a brisk clip. They then carried that into the game. It makes me think that head coach Rob Gale understands this team is going to have to depend on energy this year. But he also wants to develop the skills so that energy is put to good cause.
A fun game, a loss that doesn’t count, and a week until we go to Kansas City and probably get slaughtered. In two weeks, the hope opener against North Carolina. We’ll see what this team can become by then. If nothing else, building on what they did tonight will at least make them a team we can cheer for all game and all year, results notwithstanding.
And maybe the best moment of the night: in the 63rd minute, Bella Bixby returned to the field after being gone for over a year. We love Bella, and it was wonderful to have her back, even if she’s the backup now.
