It felt like the Thorns were missing the vinegar in a middle school science experiment. Every run, every build up, seemed to fizzle at the end. Houston on the other hand took advantage of each opportunity, constantly pushing at Portland’s back line. Rachel Daly would start the scoring off at the end of first half stoppage. Making a run down the left, Daly scrambled Portland’s defense, bringing the ball center and then beautifully slotting it inside the left edge of the goal. The second Houston goal would come from Sophie Schmidt. In a quick give-and-go inside the box, Schmidt sent a rocket under the upper crossbar in the 66th. Both goals were perfectly placed just outside the reach of Portland keep, Bella Bixby.