The Portland Thorns got back on track with a 4-0 win over Chicago on Sunday, but a pivotal match on the road at the San Diego Wave awaits. Both teams seek to prove themselves near the top of the NWSL standings, with plenty of star talent on the field for both sides.
The Oregonian/OregonLive has Three Points to watch for Portland vs. San Diego:
1. CRYSTAL CLEAR
Crystal Dunn is tied for the NWSL lead in goals with five this season and has been a steady and often lethal presence in the midfield for the Thorns. Among the three other players tied with Dunn atop the golden boot race? Wave forward Alex Morgan.
Both players figure heavily into their teams’ plans ahead of Friday’s match, and the golden boot race could get even more interesting as they face each other.
2. EVERY POINT COUNTS
The Wave (5-3-0, 15 points) and Thorns (4-1-3, 15 points) are tied for second in the NWSL table behind Gotham FC (5-2-1, 16 points). A win could propel either team back to the top of the shield race, adding to the drama between two budding rivals.
Should the two squads end up tied in points at the end of the season, Portland is in the driver’s seat with a league-best plus-12 goal differential as the tiebreaker. San Diego has the second-best differential in the league, but it’s only plus-5.
3. HEAVYWEIGHT BOUT
The Thorns and Wave are two of the NWSL’s best for a reason: They have a stable of stars across multiple positions. Alex Morgan vs. Sophia Smith. Sam Coffey vs. Taylor Kornieck. Naomi Girma vs. Becky Sauerbrunn (out on Friday due to a foot injury).
Smith vs. Girma will be an intriguing matchup in its own right, pitting two close friends and former teammates at Stanford against each other once again. The duo have had some exciting battles in the past, and expect plenty of one-on-one play between them on Friday.
Portland at San Diego kicks off at 7 p.m. Friday at Snapdragon Stadium. A live stream is available on Paramount+.
— Ryan Clarke, rclarke@oregonian.com, Twitter: @RyanTClarke
