Portland Thorns FC HubPortland Thorns FC opened their fall series with a 3-0 win over Utah Royals. Sophia Smith, the No. 1 overall pick, scored in her Portland debut.
What happened?
The Thorns secured their win with goals from Simone Charley, Sophia Smith, and Lindsey Horan. Charley danced around two defenders before beating Royals goalkeeper Abby Smith in the 35th minute.
Why it matters for Portland Thorns FC
The win marks the Thorns' first game at Providence Park since last October. The NWSL suspended the season on March 12 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
What comes next?
The Thorns were scheduled to open the series at home against OL Reign on Sept. 12, but smoky conditions in Portland forced the game to be rescheduled for Sept. 30.
| Date | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|
| September 20, 2020 | Utah Royals | 3-0 |
The Royals placed head coach Craig Harrington and assistant coach Louis Lancaster on a leave of absence before the match. Assistant Amy LePeilbet was named interim head coach.
Sophia Smith, who played for Stanford, scored on a header in the 72nd minute. She was unable to play in the Challenge Cup due to injury.
Lindsey Horan added a goal that rebounded off Abby Smith in the 81st minute.
The Royals and the Major League Soccer club Real Salt Lake have been embroiled in scandal in recent weeks. Owner Dell Loy Hanson made controversial remarks following RSL's decision not to play a match in the wake of the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
Players for the Royals issued a statement before the match, acknowledging the past wrongdoings of the organization and choosing to move forward in a new direction.
