⚽ Washington Spirit vs Portland Thorns ⚽ | 🏆 NWSL (09/07/2024) 🎮 EAFC

[Applause] a warm welcome to you and thanks for joining us for another game live on eatv I'm guy Moby and I'll be joined for commentary by Sue Smith the former England forward and with the atmosphere building up nicely what a match this promises to be Sue what are we going to get from this one thanks Guy well I can't wait for this one both sets of fans are certainly up for it I'm sure that that'll give the players a real boost they'll be hoping to start the game at a fast tempo [Applause] and with that the first half is underway this is the lineup for the visitors it's a 451 or you could say a 4231 this does offer plenty of threat going forward with the three behind the central Striker we may see the wide midfielders cut in and the full back to push on while the defense is still protected from the two holding having a look and that's nice and easy for the goalkeeper and the danger is cleared [Applause] good ball in behind B nicely and in to Edge ahead and it's a pretty good Save By The Keeper [Applause] [Applause] over it comes oh fantastic effort made great contact but the keeper more than equal to it behind for a corner pressure still on [Applause] [Applause] [Applause] they decide against playing it in pulls it back Sullivan still a chance off the keeper the goalkeeper ready for it really good stop could be a chance to break here fantastic looking ball good work to recover possession [Applause] Kelly Hubley Janine Becky coffee moving forward under no real pressure but hasn't managed to force any sort of save well it's close but the keeper got cross quickly maybe just needed a bit more composure in front of goal to finish off the [Applause] chance and they've got it back now Smith still all square can they make this pressure count for the lead now and it's a good diving save although one you'd expect to be made well still nothing to split the two sides maybe that will change with this corner [Applause] corner kick played in it's away but it's not finished yet sug need to get tighter here the chance yet to appear put into the middle and cleared well away from goal Smith and the pass is incomplete nicely won ulim matasar a free kick awarded here the refs viewed that as a foul [Applause] not so much given away as cleverly [Applause] won s to put them ahead oh that's not properly away [Applause] Li matasar Sullivan and the keeper happy to see that sail comfortably Over the Bar goal kick [Applause] they're not getting close enough here delivered towards the back stick oh what a goal that is truly special that's a quite incredible hit well let's take a look at this again the cross is great it's difficult to defend that it's all about can someone get on the end of it but the keeper has to do better in my opinion I think she anticipated the shot to go across goal and then she just couldn't shift their feet in time it's a poor goal to concede [Music] [Music] and that whistle brings the first half to a close [Applause] [Music] [Applause] and it's a pretty good Save By The [Applause] Keeper and we're off for the second half [Applause] and able to Come Away With The [Applause] Ball moving forward well and that's where it ends Smith oh that was hit hard and it's gone over the top [Applause] [Applause] [Applause] Trinity [Applause] Rodman [Applause] Sullivan a move of real promise [Applause] now well the effort never really looked like troubling the goalkeeper at all poor attempt in the end [Applause] coffee Janine Becky goes on past the defender Smith delivered into the box oh it looked as though the header was goal bound that's a really good stop it's a corner and possibly the chance to go further in [Applause] [Applause] front it's been delivered well the Danger's still [Applause] there Ling andberg now can someone attack this and there's another one valuable breathing space for them now well take a look at this again and the delivery is spot on it's right into the danger area and it's intelligent movement and a strong connection to take it past the goalkeeper it's a good finish [Applause] that so it's 2-0 as the ball gets rolling [Applause] again and the ref has played Advantage [Applause] here Ashley Hatch and they've got it back now sugita Smith and this could be and the keeper more than equal to it [Applause] and the ball comes in they got the corner away now this might be [Applause] promising a terrific tackle the chance has [Applause] gone and not getting close enough here [Applause] coffee sugita Smith but hasn't managed to force any sort of save well it's close but the keeper got across quickly maybe just needed a bit more composure in front of goal to finish off the chance Ashley Hatch Sullivan Sullivan hatch the crowd encouraging her to take it on [Applause] went for it but not a lot going for it it's a Miss of some margin suita [Applause] Smith what a chance here off the crossbar a turnaround in possession excellent positioning oh against the bar the defensive job done for now salivan hatch real opportunity oh that's brilliant dedication to the cause well that brings the match to a close a frustrating day for the fans in attendance and it's three points dropped yeah they never really got going for me they looked nervy in possession there was two too many errors at the back and they've been punished it's a disappointed performance for sure [Applause] [Applause] and it's a pretty good Save By The Keeper oh fantastic effort made great contact but the keeper more than equal to [Applause] it Sullivan and the keeper happy to see that sail comfortably Over the Bar goal [Applause] kick oh what a goal that is truly special that's a quite incredible hit