MATCHDAY INFO:
NORTH CAROLINA COURAGE AT PORTLAND THORNS FC
PROVIDENCE PARK
KICKOFF: WEDNESDAY, MAY 30 AT 10:30 PM ET
BROADCAST: go90 APP, go90.COM, NWSLSOCCER.COM
LIVE UPDATES: @THENCCOURAGE #PORvNC
Match Preview:
The North Carolina Courage (8W-0L-2D) travel to play Portland Thorns FC for the second time this season, and for the first time at Providence Park on Wednesday, May 30 at 10:30 pm ET. The match will be the team’s third road game in a row in 12 days.
In their last match, the NC Courage defeated the Orlando Pride 4-3 in the league’s highest scoring game of 2018 at the time. A Jessica McDonald brace and a goal from Debinha and Samantha Mewis combined to give the visitors their eighth win and tenth game unbeaten this season. After the win, the Courage remain in first place with 26 total points.
Portland is coming off of a 2-0 victory over Utah Royals FC on Friday, May 25. With the win, Thorns head coach Mark Parsons earned his 50th career NWSL win. Goals from Lindsey Horan and Christine Sinclair locked in their shutout win over the Royals. The duo has combined for 10 of the Thorns 14 goals this season.
Wednesday’s game will be another 2017 NWSL Championship rematch, with the first occurring on March 24, 2018.
Series History:
Since relocating to Cary, the Courage are 2W-2L-0D against Portland.
April 23, 2017, Cary, N.C. – 1-0 W (Debinha, 81’)
July 14, 2017, Portland, Ore.- 1-0 L (Raso, 70’)
NWSL Championship: October 14, 2017, Orlando, Fl.- 1-0 L (Horan, 50’)
March 24, 2018- Cary, N.C.- 1-0 W (Debinha, 70’)
Fact to Know:
No more than one goal has been scored in any game between the two teams, and all four goals have been scored in the second half.
Duos to Watch:
North Carolina Courage – Jessica McDonald and Crystal Dunn
It has not taken long for Crystal Dunn and Jessica McDonald to become acquainted with one another. The former UNC Tar Heels have eight goals and five assists between them, leading the NC Courage in what has been an undefeated season thus far.
McDonald has assisted three of Dunn’s goals in the first 10 games of the season. One of these assists came in the NC Courage’s 2-1 win over Sky Blue FC and was nominated for NWSL goal of the week. McDonald is tied with seven other players who lead the league with three assists. Jaelene Hinkle and Denise O’Sullivan of the Courage are also names at the top of this list. Dunn and McDonald sit tied for third place in the NWSL standings with their four goals each. Their eight combined goals come in six different games, five of which the Courage won and one that ended in a draw.
Portland Thorns- Lindsey Horan and Christine Sinclair
Christine Sinclair leads the league with six goals in two games, two of which were PKs. Lindsey Horan is not far behind her teammate with four goals on the season. The two have a combined 10 goals equaling the number of games Portland has played so far this season. Sinclair and Horan provide the spark for Portland’s offense. The two players feed off of each other, also doing their part in distributing the ball. Sinclair is tied for first in the NWSL with three assists.
Horan has one assist on the season to none other than Sinclair. The two teammates constantly create opportunities for each other. In their game against Chicago on April 1st, Horan had one goal and Sinclair had two goals, leading Portland to a 3-2 victory. The two Thorns led their team to a 2-1 win against Orlando with a goal and assist each on April 15th. The two players once again contributed a goal each in Portland’s 2-0 win over Utah on May 26th.
Of the six games that either Sinclair or Horan have scored in this season, Portland has won four times. The Thorns did not score in their first game against the NC Courage.
Coming Up Next:
The team then makes their final journey to Houston to play the Dash on Sunday, June 3 at 6:30 pm ET. The Courage will return home in their following match to host Utah Royals FC at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday, June 16.
