The Portland Thorns and Utah Royals split the points in a game defined by both brilliant skill and extremely physical play from their stars. The Royals’ full complement of US internationals returned to their starting lineup, while Adrianna Franch and Lindsey Horan returned for the Thorns, with Tobin Heath and Emily Sonnett on the bench.
The Thorns could have had two chances to score within the first five minutes: Hayley Raso and Midge Purce combined to pick the ball off of Rachel Corsie in the third minute before tripping over each other, and not long after Ellie Carpenter fired the ball off Becky Sauerbrunn’s arm which the referee adjudged to be in a natural position by her side.