Buoyed by a goal and an assist from rookie Izzy D’Aquila, and a world-class finish at the death by Morgan Weaver, the Portland Thorns beat Angel City FC 3-2 on Wednesday in the group stage of the 2023 NWSL Challenge Cup.
The Thorns got going on the attack early on a cool spring night at Providence Park, with Michele Vasconcelos and Christine Sinclair combining for a nice run into the box in the seventh minute. In the ninth, Vasconcelos fired one near-post that hit the side netting.
Adriana Leon had a wide-open chance in the center of the field in the 11th minute for the Thorns, but her shot went high. In the 16th, Olivia Moultrie — a force all over the field throughout the match for Portland — played a ball in to D’Aquila, but the defense got there in time to prevent a shot attempt.
Portland finally broke through in the 23rd minute after a flurry of strong runs to start the match. A perfect cross to the middle by D’Aquila found the head of Vasconcelos, who beat the charging goalkeeper to the ball and bounced it home.
D’Aquila’s first professional goal contribution put the Thorns up 1-0. And she wasn’t done.
Rookie phenom Alyssa Thompson proved troublesome on the other end for Angel City, pressuring Thorns defenders and making things difficult with her blistering speed and technique. She capitalized on a Thorns giveaway in the 38th minute, putting a powerful shot just over the crossbar.
Portland came out of the halftime break and doubled its lead in short order. D’Aquila scored her first professional goal in the 46th minute, smacking one in with the side of her foot on a perfect feed by Moultrie on the set piece.
But Angel City would have a pair of responses, playing deeper in the Thorns’ half until they eventually capitalized.
In the 61st minute, Angel City pulled one back on a goal by Clarisse Le Bihan to make it 2-1.
Portland nearly retook its two-goal lead on the other end, as a shot by D’Aquila in the 63rd minute bounced off the underside of the crossbar.
In the 65th, the second of two herculean saves by Portland goalkeeper Shelby Hogan was deemed a penalty by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR). Hogan dove for the ball and, because she kicked it away at the last second, landed on Thompson’s legs.
Claire Emslie finished off the penalty kick in the 66th minute to tie the match 2-2.
Portland brought on Weaver for Michele Vasconcelos in the 69th minute, boosting its cooled-off attack with a fearsome starting winger.
Weaver scooted one to Moultrie in the 77th minute, and although Moultrie had it served to her on a platter, she put it just wide of goal — much to her frustration, as she’d been indispensable for Portland from the first whistle.
The Thorns brought on Sophia Smith in the 80th minute for D’Aquila, and she immediately made a dangerous run into the box. But she wasn’t able to catch up with a Weaver cross.
Angel City threatened in the 84th, as Katie Johnson’s powerful shot sailed just high of goal.
Portland scored the winner in stoppage time, a stunner from Weaver on the assist by Sinclair. Weaver positioned herself perfectly in the box and, when the ball came in, smacked it in the net at a sideways angle.
Weaver’s creative and thrilling finish gave Portland (1-1-0, 3 points) a crucial win as they sit in second place in the Challenge Cup Group B standings behind OL Reign (2-0-1, 7 points).
Next up: The Thorns return to regular-season play with a road match at OL Reign. Kickoff is scheduled for 5 p.m. Saturday with a live broadcast on CBS Sports Network.
— Ryan Clarke, rclarke@oregonian.com, Twitter: @RyanTClarke