PORTLAND THORNS FC GAME NOTES PORTLAND THORNS FC AT CHICAGO RED STARS SATURDAY, APRIL 20, 2019 VP Communications: Chris Metz - (503) 553-5433, cmetz@timbers.com Director, Media Relations - Thorns FC: Katie Simons - (503) 553-5539, ksimons@timbers.com Manager, Media Relations - Kevin Acevedo - (503) 553-5512, kacevedo@timbers.com Manager, Media Relations - Mauricio Villarreal - (503) 553-5529, mvillarreal@timbers.com
THORNS FC
RED STARS
2019 SCHEDULE 2019 NWSL RECORD: 1-0-0 (Home: 0-0-0; Away: 1-0-0)
VS.
1-0-0 (3pts)
0-0-1 (1pts)
MATCH INFORMATION Date: Saturday, April 20 Kickoff: 12:30 p.m. (Pacific) Location: SeatGeek Stadium (Bridgeview, ill.) Forecast: Partly cloudy, 53 degrees Referee: Karent Abt Assistant Referees: Deleana Quan, Kaili Terry Fourth Official: Kyle Hannon Broadcast: Yahoo! Sports (United States) and nwslsoccer.com (International)
NWSL WEEK 2 SCHEDULE Wednesday, April 17
TIME (PT)
Orlando Pride vs. North Carolina Courage
4 p.m.
Saturday, April 20
TIME (PT)
Portland Thorns FC vs. Chicago Red Stars Houston Dash vs. Sky Blue FC Washington Spirit vs. Utah Royals FC
12:30 p.m. 3 p.m. 6 p.m.
Sunday, April 21
TIME (PT)
Orlando Pride vs. Reign FC
7 p.m.
2018 IN REVIEW Portland earned its fifth NWSL postseason berth in six seasons and hosted an NWSL semifinal match for a third consecutive season. For a third straight season, Thorns FC recorded 12 or more wins during the regular season and equaled the club’s best road record, posting a mark of 6-3-3 away from home. As a team, Portland scored a club-best 40 goals. Notably, Thorns FC became the first team in league history to reach three NWSL Championship matches. Individually, Lindsey Horan was named NWSL MVP and also selected to the NWSL Best XI along with Adrianna Franch, Tobin Heath and Emily Sonnett, while Emily Menges and Christine Sinclair were Second XI selections.
VS. CHICAGO Thorns FC lead the all-time series against Chicago with a record of 8-1-8. On the road, Portland is 4-0-5 all-time against the Red Stars. Lindsey Horan has a goal or an assist (2g, 1a) in each of her last three road matches against Chicago. Additionally, Thorns FC are unbeaten in their last 14 matches (6-0-8) against the Red Stars. Individually, Christine Sinclair has 10 goals in 16 career matches against Chicago, including three goals in three matches in 2018.
DATE
OPPONENT
TIME/RESULT BROADCAST/ATT.
Sun., April 14
@Orlando Pride
2-0
Sat., April 20
@Chicago Red Stars 12:30 p.m.
Yahoo! Sports
Sat., April 28
@Sky Blue FC
3 p.m.
Yahoo! Sports
4:30 p.m.
Yahoo! Sports
7,189
Sat., May 11
@Orlando Pride
Sat., May 18
@Washington Spirit 4 p.m.
Yahoo! Sports
Sat., May 25
@Sky Blue FC
3 p.m.
Yahoo! Sports
Sat., June 2
CHICAGO RED STARS 3 p.m.
Yahoo! Sports
Sat., June 15
@NC Courage
4:45 p.m.
Fri., June 21
UTAH ROYALS FC
8 p.m.
Yahoo! Sports Yahoo! Sports
Sat., June 29
@Houston Dash
5:30 p.m.
Fri., July 5
REIGN FC
8 p.m.
Yahoo! Sports
Yahoo! Sports
Sun., July 14
ORLANDO PRIDE
12 noon
Yahoo! Sports
Fri., July 19
@Utah Royals FC
7 p.m.
Wed., July 24
HOUSTON DASH
7:30 p.m.
Yahoo! Sports
Sat., Aug. 3
SKY BLUE FC
8 p.m.
Yahoo! Sports
Wed., Aug. 7
@Reign FC
7 p.m.
Sun., Aug. 11
NC COURAGE
12 noon
Sat., Aug. 17
WASHINGTON SPIRIT 7:30 p.m.
Yahoo! Sports
Sun., Aug. 25
CHICAGO RED STARS 12 noon
Yahoo! Sports
Fri., Sept. 6
@Utah Royals FC
6:30 p.m.
Yahoo! Sports
Wed., Sept. 11
NC COURAGE
7:30 p.m.
Yahoo! Sports
Sat., Sept. 21
HOUSTON DASH
7:30 p.m.
Yahoo! Sports
Sun., Sept. 29
@Reign FC
1 p.m.
Sat., Oct. 12
WASHINGTON SPIRIT 7:30 p.m.
Yahoo! Sports
Yahoo! Sports Yahoo! Sports
Yahoo! Sports Yahoo! Sports
MATCH PREVIEW Thorns FC continue their road swing with a match against the Chicago Red Stars. Portland will play its first six games on the road due to completion work on the $85 million transformation of Providence Park, traveling more than 20,000 miles round trip during that span. Saturday’s match is the team’s only road match against Chicago during the regular season. Last season, Portland posted a record of 1-0-1 in two road matches against the Red Stars.
NO PLACE LIKE HOME Playing their home matches at downtown Portland’s iconic Providence Park, Thorns FC have led the league in attendance in each of their first six NWSL seasons. Globally, Thorns FC have the highest attendance of any women’s professional team in the world, averaging 16,959 fans in their sixth season in the league in 2018. On Sept. 22, 2018, Thorns FC recorded their sixth sellout in club history for the 2018 NWSL Championship game between Portland and the North Carolina Courage - the largest crowd for a U.S. women’s professional soccer championship match.