The match between the Portland Thorns and North Carolina Courage was another battle between titans of the NWSL, in an intense rivalry that stretches back for almost a decade.  Both teams have won two NWSL championships, with three of those championships won in finals matches between them.  Their first showdown was the 2013 finals, when the team we now call the Courage was called the Western New York Flash.  The second showdown was in 2017, after the Flash moved to North Carolina and the Thorns beat the Courage for the championship in Orlando, Florida. The Courage, however, took the championship back from the Thorns in 2018, and then in 2019, the Courage spanked the Thorns in Portland’s most humiliating home game loss ever: a 6-0 shellacking that left a crowd of more than 20,000 Thorns fans slack-jawed.  The Courage, that year, set the NWSL records for most games won and most goals scored against opponents, leaving no doubt about who had become the NWSL’s best team.  

Besides revenge for that 2019 spanking, the June 26, 2021 match that took place in North Carolina, represented an opportunity for the Thorns to change history: the Thorns had never beaten the Courage on the Courage’s home field.  Portland fans surely believed this could be the year that changed. This season, the Courage had already lost two games and endured a draw against other teams.  Part of the Courage’s newfound mortality sprung from the loss of key talent.  One of the world’s best midfielders, US Team favorite Crystal Dunn, was wooed from the Courage to the Thorns.  The Courage also lost US Team backfielder Abby Dahlkemper to European play.  Besides Dunn, Portland acquired US Team Captain Becky Sauerbrunn last season to beef up its backfield.  These two superlative acquisitions, in combination with the continuing growth of the Thorns’ brace of young forwards, led to the Thorns handily winning the 2021 Challenge Cup.  Many believed that the Thorns would be the 2021 team to beat, so surely the time was ripe for the Thorns to exact a little revenge and beat the Courage on their own field. 

The prudent, however, will never underestimate the depth of the Courage.  The Courage lost Dunn and Dahlkemper, but they still sport one of the most talented rosters in the world.  They have a world class backfield with Abby Erceg (a member of the New Zealand Olympic Team) and Merritt Mathias.  They have a world class midfield with players like Denise Sullivan (twice declared MVP by her own teammates) and US Team star Sam Mewis.  The Courage’s front line of Lynn Williams, Debinha, and Jessica MacDonald, is arguably the most formidable front line in the NWSL.  Lynn Williams came into the June 26 match leading the NWSL with the most career goals scored (52) and the most career assists (26).  World Cup team member Jessica MacDonald has the third most career NWSL goals (49).  Brazilian forward Debinha is deemed by many to be the second-best player her country has ever produced, bested only by the legendary Marta. The steep hill of beating the Courage on their home field was made steeper still by the decision of Thorns Coach Mark Parsons to spot the Courage two starters:  US Team midfielder Lindsey Horan and budding star forward Sophia Smith did not travel to North Carolina for the June 26 match. 

Still, the Thorns had a promising start, dominating possession and shots on goal in the early minutes.  Portland midfielder Natalia Kuikka put two solid shots on frame from distance at minutes 3 and 6, but Courage goalie Casey Murphy saved both.  Dunn attempted two goals from distance at minutes 4 and 11, and Sinclair and Weaver attempted two shots at minutes 21 and 25.    

As the game progressed though, the Courage front and midfield found their legs, and the offensive momentum shifted.  Viewers were reminded why the Courage were the most formidable team in NWSL history before the pandemic.  Williams and MacDonald found each other with fearsome crosses in the Thorns’ box at minutes 22, 23, 34, and 40.  The Thorns defensive core of Franch, Sauerbrunn, and Menges were skilled enough to ward those attempts off.  Debinha evaded defenders and manufactured her own shot at minute 39, and once again in the second half, at minute 69.  Mathias and Mewis added to the offensive pressure with long balls at minutes 17 and 23.   This is how the Courage beat you—they attack suddenly, surgically, and relentlessly from all over the field.  By the end of the first half, the Thorns held only a small advantage with possession and were running even with shots on goal.

The Portland dam broke open during the second half, with Lynn Williams scoring two goals at minutes 56 and 65.  Both were off passes from Carson Pickett.  The first was off a well-placed Pickett corner kick that was tipped slightly by Megan Klingenberg before being tapped in by Williams.  The second was a Williams header off a well-placed Pickett cross.  We are left puzzled, again, why Lynn Williams has still not been selected for a US World Cup or Olympic Team.  Her status this year as a mere Olympic alternate can only be attributed to a slow start in the 2021 season, and the United States’ embarrassment of riches with forwards.    

Prior to this game, the Thorns had set a new club record by keeping their opponents scoreless in three consecutive games and over 310 consecutive minutes over four games.  The additional 56 minutes of opponent zilch in this match stretched the Thorns record to over 370 minutes.  But Portland’s fierce defensive triangle of Franch, Sauerbrunn, and Menges could not sustain itself against the Courage’s sudden and diverse attacks.  The Thorns needed to score, but as often has been the struggle for the Thorns this season, good defensive and midfield play would not be converted to goals.  Numerous Thorns balls were kicked down field or into the Courage box with no one there to receive them.  Beating the Courage on the Courage’s home field will have to wait for another day, because Williams’ two goals held and the Thorns absorbed their third regular season loss with a score of  0-2.  .

Play between the teams was aggressive and physical but not mean or gratuitous.  Referee Natalie Simons largely let the players battle it out, calling very few fouls and writing up only one yellow card on Thorns Yazmeen Ryan at minute 77 for an enthusiastic tackle.   There were a few complaints by players about uncalled fouls, but the liberality was dished out evenly.  

Next up the Thorns play away against Racing Louisville on July 3rd at 4:30 PST, which can be streamed live on Paramount+.