In the first of two derby matches at Lumen Field in Seattle, the OL Reign edged out the Portland Thorns, winning 2-1.
The game started with a lot of energy, which included a yellow within the first two minutes of play, but the Reign struck first in the 16th minute. OL mid Jess Fishlock sent a ball forward to Megan Rapinoe, who dribbled through several Portland defenders before putting it in the lower left, just past Thorns keeper Bella Bixby. Rapinoe would score again in the 40th when a handball in the box was called on Kuikka, leading Rapinoe to step up for the penalty kick and put the Reign up 2-0.
Portland was able to pull one back in the final seconds of first half stoppage after Reign defender Kristen McNabb drew the yellow for taking down Thorns forward Sophia Smith. After a partial clearance from OL on the free kick, Thorn mid Angela Salem would use her first touch to volley it past OL keeper Sarah Bouhaddi. That would turn out to be the lone Portland goal of the match.
Another notable of the night was that while Washingtonians have gained the unfortunate reputation of being unsupportive of their NWSL team, with some of the top players in the world having to play to empty stadiums (even pre-pandemic), that may be changing. On Sunday, Seattle soccer fans broke the NWSL attendance record, drawing over 27,000 fans, which is a huge leap from the 5,000 fans a match they typically draw. If you’re wondering, Portland averages around 15,000 fans per game. A fun fact that Thorns coach Mark Parsons made sure to hint at in his post game conference.
The Thorns stay top of the table, with the rest of the pack coming up quickly. The Courage hold second, only four points behind Portland, and the Reign stand in third, just seven points back. Next up, the Reign will head to Houston to face the Dash this Wednesday while the Thorns will head home to face the Washington Spirit on Saturday.
*All pictures by Dante’y Buitureida
Megan Rapinoe (15 OL Reign) first goal during the National Womens Soccer League game between OL Reign v Portland Thorns at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington. 
Megan Rapinoe (15 OL Reign) celebration during the National Womens Soccer League game between OL Reign v Portland Thorns at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington. 
Megan Rapinoe (15 OL Reign) and Eugénie Le Sommer (9 OL Reign) celebrating during the National Womens Soccer League game between OL Reign v Portland Thorns at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington. 
Megan Rapinoe (15 OL Reign) celebrating her goal during the National Womens Soccer League game between OL Reign v Portland Thorns at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington. 
Jessica Fishlock (10 OL Reign) and OL Reign celebrating during the National Womens Soccer League game between OL Reign v Portland Thorns at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington. 
Jessica Fishlock (10 OL Reign) bicycle attempt on goal during the National Womens Soccer League game between OL Reign v Portland Thorns at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington. 
Megan Rapinoe (15 OL Reign) penalty goal during the National Womens Soccer League game between OL Reign v Portland Thorns at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington. 
Megan Rapinoe (15 OL Reign) and team celebrating during the National Womens Soccer League game between OL Reign v Portland Thorns at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington. 
Megan Rapinoe (15 OL Reign) celebrating her penalty during the National Womens Soccer League game between OL Reign v Portland Thorns at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington. 
OL Reign celebrating during the National Womens Soccer League game between OL Reign v Portland Thorns at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington. 
Kristen McNabb (19 OL Reign) against Lindsey Horan (10 Portland Thorns) during the National Womens Soccer League game between OL Reign v Portland Thorns at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington. 
Angela Salem (36 Portland Thorns) goal during the National Womens Soccer League game between OL Reign v Portland Thorns at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington. 
Thorns celebrating Angela Salem (36 Portland Thorns) goal during the National Womens Soccer League game between OL Reign v Portland Thorns at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington. 
Alana Cook (4 OL Reign) against Sophia Smith (9 Portland Thorns) during the National Womens Soccer League game between OL Reign v Portland Thorns at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington. 
Fans during the National Womens Soccer League game between OL Reign v Portland Thorns at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington. 
Lindsey Horan (10 Portland Thorns) against Eugénie Le Sommer (9 OL Reign) during the National Womens Soccer League game between OL Reign v Portland Thorns at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington. 
Lindsey Horan (10 Portland Thorns) during the National Womens Soccer League game between OL Reign v Portland Thorns at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington. 
Megan Rapinoe (15 OL Reign) and Jessica Fishlock (10 OL Reign) afterthe National Womens Soccer League game between OL Reign v Portland Thorns at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington. 
Laura Harvy (Head Coach OL Reign) and Lauren Barnes (3 OL Reign) after the National Womens Soccer League game between OL Reign v Portland Thorns at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington. 
Laura Harvy (Head Coach OL Reign) celebrating with fans after the National Womens Soccer League game between OL Reign v Portland Thorns at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington. 
Lauren Barnes (3 OL Reign) and Jessica Fishlock (10 OL Reign) celebrating with roses after the National Womens Soccer League game between OL Reign v Portland Thorns at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington. 
Jessica Fishlock (10 OL Reign) celebrating after the National Womens Soccer League game between OL Reign v Portland Thorns at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington. 
Lauren Barnes (3 OL Reign) and Jessica Fishlock (10 OL Reign) celebrating with roses after the National Womens Soccer League game between OL Reign v Portland Thorns at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington. 
Bethany Balcer (24 OL Reign) celebrating ontop of roses after the National Womens Soccer League game between OL Reign v Portland Thorns at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington. 
Ravaged roses after the National Womens Soccer League game between OL Reign v Portland Thorns at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington. 
Fans during the National Womens Soccer League game between OL Reign v Portland Thorns at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington. 
Shirley Cruz (28 OL Reign) signing autographs after the National Womens Soccer League game between OL Reign v Portland Thorns at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington.
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