It didn’t feel like it was Portland’s night. In all honesty, it hasn’t felt like that for a while. There was palpable resentment in the stands, in the press box, on the field and most likely in the Thorns and Timbers Front Office. A Front Office that touts the phrase “One Club” but has made it clear with its most recent press releases, which confirmed Gavin Wilkinson has not been put on a real administrative leave, that they don’t actually believe in “One Club”. This “half leave” also makes it feel like their investigation into Wilkinson will just be surface level.
The impact of the Front Office’s mismanagement and abuse were brought to the forefront throughout the game. In the sixth minute, everyone on the field (including the refs) gathered around the circle to create a visible sign of strength and support for the human’s who have been hurt by the league. It was also an acknowledgement of the harm silence does to the athletic community.
The Thorns started off strong, earning two corner kicks within six minutes, but once again they had no finish. On the other side, the Dash looked calm and in control, with Daly and Groom creating multiple opportunities against the Thorns. Daly would score her first of two goals off a penalty in the 18th for a handball in the box. Kristie Mewis would score the second for the Dash in the 23rd.
Directly following the goal, the Rose City Riveters did a 24th minute demonstration to specifically salute Sinead Farrelly (whose number was 24) and Mana Shim whose number was 6 (the sum of the digits 2+4). Both were Thorns players who were repeatedly denied justice from their Club and the NWSL. The tone of the stadium shifted to somber and angry, with fans holding their signs of solidarity (or middle fingers) towards the owners box.
It wasn’t until Thorns captain Christine Sinclair got Portland on the board in the 30th that the mood once again shifted. Her enthusiasm created an uproar that rippled through the stadium. After the half the Thorns once again made several good runs, but once again had no finish. Thorns forward, Sophia Smith, finally took on the Dash’s backline and was able to get Portland their second in the 57th.
While the Thorns looked more polished, their 26 shots on goal weren’t enough. Daly would score the game winner for Houston in the 79th. One of only 12 shots on goal for the Dash. This Sunday, the Thorns will head out to face Kansas City while Houston will head home to go up against the Courage.
Most of the Thorns, who were coached by Paul Riley between 2013 and 2015, wore jerseys saying “No More Silence” in warmups before the Portland Thorns’ 2-3 loss to the Houston Dash in Providence Park, Portland, Oregon, on October 6, 2021 (photo by Jeff Wong). 
In the sixth minute of the game, the players and refs held a circle in silence to commemorate the six years that passed before former Thorns coach Paul Riley’s conduct was revealed to the public, in the Portland Thorns 2-3 NWSL loss to the Houston Dash in Providence Park, Portland, Oregon, on October 6, 2021 (Photo by Jeff Wong). 
Houston’s Katie Naughton clears Portland’s corner kick in the Portland Thorns’ 2-3 loss to the Houston Dash in Providence Park, Portland, Oregon, on October 6, 2021 (photo by Jeff Wong). 
US Team Olympic stars Abby Dahlkemper (Houston) and Lynsey Horan (Portland) engage in a foot race to the ball in the Portland Thorns’ 2-3 loss to the Houston Dash in Providence Park, Portland, Oregon, on October 6, 2021 (photo by Jeff Wong). 
Houston’s Bri Visalli works against the Portland double team of Morgan Weaver and Natalia Kuikka in the Portland Thorns’ 2-3 loss to the Houston Dash in Providence Park, Portland, Oregon, on October 6, 2021 (photo by Jeff Wong). 
Portland’s goalie Bella Bixby goes horizontal for the save in the Portland Thorns’ 2-3 loss to the Houston Dash in Providence Park, Portland, Oregon, on October 6, 2021 (photo by Jeff Wong). 
Portland’s Sophia Smith looks for clearance against Houston’s Haley Hanson in the Portland Thorns’ 2-3 loss to the Houston Dash in Providence Park, Portland, Oregon, on October 6, 2021 (photo by Jeff Wong). 
Portland’s Megan Klingenberg tries to wrestle the ball from Houston’s Shea Groom in the Portland Thorns’ 2-3 loss to the Houston Dash in Providence Park, Portland, Oregon, on October 6, 2021 (photo by Jeff Wong). 
Houston’s Olympic star Kristie Mewis and Portland’s Rocky Rodriguez battle for possession in the Portland Thorns’ 2-3 loss to the Houston Dash in Providence Park, Portland, Oregon, on October 6, 2021 (photo by Jeff Wong). 
Houston’s Bri Visalli blocks out Portland’s Natalia Kuikka in the Portland Thorns’ 2-3 loss to the Houston Dash in Providence Park, Portland, Oregon, on October 6, 2021 (photo by Jeff Wong). 
Houston’s Haley Hanson slides to block PortlandMorgan Weaver’s cross in the Portland Thorns’ 2-3 loss to the Houston Dash in Providence Park, Portland, Oregon, on October 6, 2021 (photo by Jeff Wong). 
Houston’s Katie Naughton is first to the goal kick in the Portland Thorns’ 2-3 loss to the Houston Dash in Providence Park, Portland, Oregon, on October 6, 2021 (photo by Jeff Wong). 
Houston’s Gabby Seiler struggles to contain Portland’s Olympic star Lynsey Horan in the Portland Thorns’ 2-3 loss to the Houston Dash in Providence Park, Portland, Oregon, on October 6, 2021 (photo by Jeff Wong). 
Portland’s Sophia Smith gets the better of Houston’s Katie Naughton in the Portland Thorns’ 2-3 loss to the Houston Dash in Providence Park, Portland, Oregon, on October 6, 2021 (photo by Jeff Wong). 
Portland’s Sophia Smith nutmegs Houston’s goalie Jane Campbell and scores an equalizing goal in the Portland Thorns’ 2-3 loss to the Houston Dash in Providence Park, Portland, Oregon, on October 6, 2021 (photo by Jeff Wong). 
Portland’s Morgan Weaver, Lynsey Horan, and Sophia Smith celebrate Smith’s nutmeg goal in front of Houston’s goalie, Jane Campbell, in the Portland Thorns’ 2-3 loss to the Houston Dash in Providence Park, Portland, Oregon, on October 6, 2021 (photo by Jeff Wong). 
Portland’s Crystal Dunn beats Houston’s Sophie Schmidt to the ball in the Portland Thorns’ 2-3 loss to the Houston Dash in Providence Park, Portland, Oregon, on October 6, 2021 (photo by Jeff Wong). 
US Team stars Kristie Mewis (Dash) and Crystal Dunn (Thorns) battle above the box in the Portland Thorns’ 2-3 loss to the Houston Dash in Providence Park, Portland, Oregon, on October 6, 2021 (photo by Jeff Wong). 
Portland’s Rocky Rodgriguez brings down the high ball in the Portland Thorns’ 2-3 loss to the Houston Dash in Providence Park, Portland, Oregon, on October 6, 2021 (photo by Jeff Wong). 
Portland’s Sophia Smith finds clearance and shoots for the goal again but misses in the Portland Thorns’ 2-3 loss to the Houston Dash in Providence Park, Portland, Oregon, on October 6, 2021 (photo by Jeff Wong). 
Houston’s Rachel Daly, the captain of the English Olympic Team, clinches the win for Houston with this header in the Portland Thorns’ 2-3 loss to the Houston Dash in Providence Park, Portland, Oregon, on October 6, 2021 (photo by Jeff Wong). 
The Thorns’ Yazmeen Ryan and the Dash’s Alyssha Chapman compete for possession in the Portland Thorns’ 2-3 loss to the Houston Dash in Providence Park, Portland, Oregon, on October 6, 2021 (photo by Jeff Wong). 
The Thorns’ Yazmeen Ryan wins the battle for possession with the Dash’s Alyssha Chapman in the Portland Thorns’ 2-3 loss to the Houston Dash in Providence Park, Portland, Oregon, on October 6, 2021 (photo by Jeff Wong). 
Portland’s Rocky Rodriguez wards off Houston’s Haley Hanson in the Portland Thorns’ 2-3 loss to the Houston Dash in Providence Park, Portland, Oregon, on October 6, 2021 (photo by Jeff Wong). 
Alyssha Chapman gets the worst of a no foul collision with Olympic Gold Medalist Christine Sinclair in the Portland Thorns’ 2-3 loss to the Houston Dash in Providence Park, Portland, Oregon, on October 6, 2021 (photo by Jeff Wong). 
Olympic stars Linsey Horan of the Thorns (US) and Rachel Daly of the Dash (England) compete for a goal kick in the closing minutes of the Thorns’ 2-3 loss to the Dash in the NWSL match in Providence Park, Portland, Oregon on October 6, 2021 (Photo by Jeff Wong)
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