Thorns FC resume NWSL play Sunday in opposition to touring league-leaders North Carolina Courage
Thorns FC resume regular-season motion at home this Sunday in welcoming none other than the North Carolina Courage – a club it truly is been going toe-to-toe with Portland in the standings all season, and take a seat presently in first place Secure your seat for the
Following the stop of the Challenge Cup institution stage, Portland now shifts recognition totally on the ordinary season and securing the nice feasible seed for the 2023 NWSL Playoffs. With just below two months closing inside the marketing campaign, the Thorns (second Place, 7-four-4, 25pts) look to reclaim the top spot in the standings this Sunday as they face the Courage (1st Place, eight-5-2, 26pts) in a war of the pinnacle-two groups inside the Watch it live on Paramount+
The golf equipment have met as soon as earlier than this season, in a thrilling 3-three draw in Raleigh, N.C. Lower back on May 6. Fueled via a Crystal Dunn brace and a late Olivia Moultrie banger from outdoor-the-box, Portland completed an impressive three comebacks to earn a tough-fought point on the street. If the primary healthy was any indication, count on Sunday’s matchup to have all the substances for a thriller.
Here are a few records to understand as the Thorns head into the very last stretch of the NWSL season and welcome the Courage:
21
Portland has seven closing fits in their 2023 NWSL schedule, with a ability of 21 points up for grabs with a view to stable pinnacle-seed. Sunday’s check towards the Courage is the first of 4 final domestic fits, with three on the road, together with the season finale on October 15. Additionally, five in their seven upcoming warring parties are presently above the playoff line, meaning each factor might be contested over the subsequent 13 weeks if you want to steady the best viable finish.
No. 1 & No. 1
There’s a cause both clubs are vying for the top seed come playoffs. The North Carolina Courage are the number one defense up to now this season, conceding a league-low thirteen dreams through 15 suits. Their pinnacle-protection might be placed to the test as they face the primary offense in the NWSL at Providence Park. With 34 desires scored, the Thorns lead the relaxation of the % by means of an outstanding 11 desires or extra.
58
Midfielder Olivia Moultrie has seen a surge in playing time after facing the Courage for the first time this season back in May. In the first five fits of the season, the 17-12 months-vintage changed into handiest seeing about sixteen mins of motion in step with recreation. In the ten matches considering that going through NC, Moultrie is now averaging 58 minutes per sport, and has six starts with two complete-ninety stints under her belt.
150
Thorns defender Meghan Klingenberg may want to reach a milestone in the NWSL on Sunday. With her subsequent look, Klingenberg may have participated in her one hundred and fiftieth everyday-season NWSL match over her 10 12 months career. With Portland, the defender has played in 130 everyday-season matches.