The Thorns will face FC Kansas City at home tomorrow night, in the second match of a grueling three-game week. Portland gutted out an uninspiring 0-0 draw the last time these two teams met, in May, and with both squads still struggling to find the back of the net reliably, this match looks likely to be a slog in a similar mold.
With the addition of Ashleigh Sykes, and the removal of Dagny Brynjarsdottir and Mana Shim from the injury list, Portland has—gasp!—the tiniest bit of leeway in terms of lineup this week. Mark Parsons seems to have switched from the 4-3-3 formation he deployed earlier in the season to a 4-2-3-1 with Allie Long and Amandine Henry in the defensive midfield double-pivot, and Lindsey Horan ahead of them as a central attacking midfielder.