Two Portland Thorns FC players — Natali Kuikka and Rocky Rodriguez — made starts for their respective national teams on Tuesday. Kuikka started for the Finnish national team while Rodriguez got the nod for the Costa Rican squad.
Kuikka played 90 minutes for the Boreal Owls in their last EURO Qualification match. Finland dismantled Cyprus 5-0 in a match that saw Finland top Group E. Finland was coming off two 90+ minute winners against Scotland and Portugal, respectively, to secure qualification for the EUROS for the first time since 2013.
The Boreal Owls made Cyprus pay early.