The Portland Thorns secured a home semi-final draw in the NWSL playoffs by beating the Seattle Reign 3-1. The Thorns went down early to a Jess Fishlock wonder strike but recovered to have one of their best and most dominant performances of the season to get their first win against Seattle all year.
Midge Purce was preferred to Ana-Maria Crnogorcevic on the right wing for the only change from last week’s game away at the Washington Spirit. Neither Allie Long nor Megan Rapinoe, both recovering from injury, were risked by Seattle.
Before the teams really had a chance to feel each other out, Jess Fishlock, as she so often does against the Thorns, produced a moment of brilliance, spinning of Emily Menges and nestling a shot just inside Franch’s far post with Emily Sonnett in her face in the fourth minute.