The Portland Thorns are in a rut. Three matches without a win has its potential salve on Sunday: a matchup with the struggling Chicago Red Stars.
The Oregonian/OregonLive has Three Points to watch for Portland vs. Chicago:
1. GET BACK GAME
The Thorns need a win now more than ever this season. Two consecutive 3-3 draws followed by their first loss of the year at Houston last week have them stuck in a difficult spot.
The vibes are decidedly uneasy, with a lot of philosophical discussion about who the Thorns want to be. Returning to the good vibes will be crucial for the most talented team in NWSL, as it will take more than talent to regain strong position in the league table and eventually repeat as champions.
2. CHICAG-OH NO
The Red Stars have struggled mightily since Mallory Swanson went down with a knee injury April 9. A 4-2 win over the Kansas City Current a week after the injury seems to be a fluke, as the Red Stars haven’t won since.
Chicago lost 5-2 against OL Reign, drew 1-1 with the Washington Spirit, lost 2-1 to Gotham, and most recently fell 3-0 to Racing Louisville. This match is a chance for Portland to strike while the iron is hot, and regain form against a team that hasn’t proven especially tough in recent weeks.
3. ROCKY STRETCH
The Thorns will be without midfielder Rocky Rodríguez until after the 2023 FIFA World Cup after she suffered a sprained MCL. She will be sidelined 6-8 weeks, hopefully able to return in time to help lead Costa Rica in World Cup competition.
In the interim, the Thorns will likely lean on Christine Sinclair once again, although she brings a different set of skills than Rodríguez, who is more of a box-to-box midfielder. How that impacts the Thorns’ success remains to be seen, as Rodríguez did score a goal before getting hurt and played well end-to-end.
Portland vs. Chicago kicks off at 2 p.m. Sunday at Providence Park with a live broadcast on Fox 12 Plus and streaming on Paramount+.
— Ryan Clarke, rclarke@oregonian.com, Twitter: @RyanTClarke
