Thorns down Reign 2-0 to move back atop the NWSL standings
Hina Sugita and Morgan Weaver each scored in the first half and the Portland Thorns hung on for a 2-0 victory over rival OL Reign on Saturday night to move back atop the National Women’s Soccer League standings.
In the 30th, Portland sent a free kick into the box. It deflected off the Reign’s Jordyn Huitema and Sugita snuck in behind to tap in the deflected ball.
A corner kick bounced around and found Weaver open on the back post five minutes later, and she scooped in her seventh goal of the season before a sellout crowd at Portland’s Providence Park.
OL Reign’s Jess Fishlock marked 15,000 NWSL minutes during the match, becoming the second player to reach that milestone with the same club.
The win put the Thorns (9-5-5) back at the top of the NWSL, while the Reign fell to 8-8-3.
GOTHAM 2, SPIRIT 0
In her first start are joining the club last month, Spain’s Esther González scored two goals in five minutes to lead Gotham to victory over the Washington Spirit at Red Bull Arena.
González pounced on a loose ball in the box in the 65th to score her first.
The Women’s World Cup champion doubled Gotham’s lead in the 70th minute, collecting a pass from Lynn Williams in the box and sliding her shot into the right corner.
The result puts Gotham in third place (8-5-6), while Washington remains in sixth place (6-5-8).
CURRENT 2, WAVE 1
Debinha and Kristen Hamilton scored to give the Kansas City Current a road win over the San Diego Wave on the road.
Debinha struck from distance in just the third minute followed by Hamilton in the 22nd. Kate Del Fava whipped in a cross that Hamilton finished with her first touch.
The Wave appeared to twice win penalty kicks, but the referee overruled both calls after video review.
Sierra Enge pulled the Wave closer in the 50th minute but San Diego (9-7-3) couldn’t find an equalizer despite a late-game push.
Current (7-11-1) goalkeeper Adrianna Franch made five saves.
___
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer