FC Kansas City Battles Portland to a Draw

KANSAS CITY (May 13, 2024) – Two of the best defenses battled to a draw under the early summer Kansas City heat, as neither FC Kansas City nor the Portland Thorns could score a goal. Kansas City remains undefeated at home with the tie.
 
So far this season, both FC Kansas City and the Portland Thorns have earned a tough defensive reputation. Each team had only given up three goals all season.
 
Kansas City opened the game attacking from their outside backs trying to find any opening in the Portland back line. Portland chose to attack straight up the middle with Lindsey Horan and Christine Sinclair. Neither side was able to break through for significant chances early with nearly half of the play being in the middle third of the field.
 
As the game wore on and the sun got hotter, the play on the field got more physical. Blues fans held their breath when Shea Groom collided with a couple players in the 43rd minute and went to the ground clutching at her side. She has been playing with a custom-fitted flak jacket since injuring her ribs in the second week of the season. The forward was able to return to the field shortly after that and showed no fear as she continued to attack the ball.
                                                
Both teams saw more chances in the second half, with FC Kansas City outshooting the Thorns 7-4 in the last 45 minutes. Kansas City’s best chance happened in the 65th minute when Erika Tymrak forced an errant pass from the Thorns defender and Sydney Leroux jumped on the ball in open space. Portland goalkeeper Adrianna Franch was able to get a foot on Leroux’s shot and deflected the one-on-one opportunity away from the goal.
 
The 0-0 result gives Kansas City 5 points on the season with a 1-2-2 record. The team will travel to Washington, D.C. next to take on the Washington Spirit. Game time on Saturday, May 12th is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. CT and the match will be streamed live on go90, available on the iOS and Android platforms.
 
NWSL Match Report
Match: FC Kansas City vs Portland Thorns
Date: May 13, 2024
Venue: Swope Soccer Village
Kickoff: 3:00 p.m. CT
Attendance: 1,796
Weather: 81, sunny
 
Discipline
FCKC: 74’ Moros (Yellow Card)

Scoring Summary                    

Goals                                     1          2          F

FC Kansas City (1-2-2)          0          0          0

Portland Thorns (2-1-2)          0          0          0

Lineups:
FC Kansas City: Barnhart, Gibbons, Averbuch, Sauerbrunn ©, Taylor, Moros, LaBonta, Ratcliffe (Tymrak 63’), Newfield (Bowen 72’), Groom (Kelly 82’), Leroux

Substitutes Not Used: Flynn, Reed, Parkhill, Scott

Portland Thorns: Franch, Klingenberg, Menges, Sonnett, Boureille, Long (Cox 90’ +3), Horan, Henry, Nadim (Weber 63’), Sinclair, Raso

Substitutes Not Used: Johnson, Eckerstrom

FC Kansas City's next home match is May 27th at 7pm and tickets can be purchased here.