Highlights | Bay FC vs Portland Thorns FC | May 1, 2024

shepher in the Midfield she's making her nwsl debut and then up top keep your eye on ctios she will have a bit more of a free role to drop deep that will outow kunji for Rob Gail side 4-33 formation and also some changes five after the two-nil win at Chicago last week well and despite the rotation for them they do get some experience [Music] of and we are underway BFC on the ball to start wearing their dark gray hits having a bit more of a lower block being compact between the lines and seeing if they can really frustrate this Portland team that's coming in with a lot of momentum so growing into this game as a team and then looking to see if they can build into the attack that way as we're going to see Sophia Smith tried to get in between the lines and danger Smith she slips It Forward shot and that ball is in Payton linan in her first pro start finds the back of the net for Portland Thorns well that didn't take long well you mentioned it coming into this game Al that this is sometimes chaotic at this hour and that's exactly right this is a dream start for the Portland Thorns because it's just too easy from a bay FC perspective defensively look at the position that Sophia Smith takes up just drops a little bit deep in between the lines I was just mentioning that that Portland to build out invite the pressure in the players to come forward that opens up the space in behind that's when you can get kangi you can get princess breaking out in behind so it's going to be about picking those moments and I'll keep referring back to Dorian Bailey but with her experience in the Midfield she's going to be key matd Morrow making a nice step to win the ball she tries to play through to princess who's dispossessed Morrow finds herself back on the ball she's had a couple of giveaways early to start it's her first start and there was another one ball played through to Sophia Smith Smith in on goal still Smith heavy touch Smith does what she does best slots that one home and sends Portland out in front 2 nil the Thorns off to a hot start in San Jose well you mentioned it's just easy giveaways in the back and the lines are so stretched when in possession but also defensively so when this ball is turned over it's just easy access to be able to find right there's a turnover look at the distance between Jin Bey and mingz it's just so easy for Sophia Smith to be able to get into and then that final touch as soon as PR is coming out she's caught in no times because then you can start to get more players in those wide areas and build with numbers her playing a center forward she is going to have to drop back mson does a nice job to win it for Bay got Portland Pinn back sianos in shot straight to the keeper Kuni and speaking of execution Christine passwork for this Portland Thorn's team Becky in the Box turns Under Pressure Becky gets a shot off and just over the [Applause] [Music] bar Becky saw her name in lights now here com BFC up the left hand side ball SLI through to Kuni Kuni Cuts past the defender Kuni slots it [Applause] home B FC have pulled one back and kuni's got her second goal of the season and it's a fantastic response from the front runner kudin anji just recognizing where the space is the attempt at the other end and then look at this run just sees a bit of space between Reyes and SAU Brun substitution at halftime t b coming in for Dorian Bailey for Bay FC and for Portland Mueller will check into the match in place of [Music] klingenberg here come BFC again Kuni hits a side netting stanos sends it in back post Kuni is there and it goes just wide her in possession game too many giveaways results in a another foul on that far side for her and then allows for Portland to be in these positions going forward Olivia mtry cutting out of pressure forc backwards nice little give and go and the shot attempt goes straight into the arms of the keeper and here comes kumagi she's got space Kuni getting inside the Box another cut Kuni across goal Dana casianos at the back post and we are all level at PayPal Park Becky Stu Brun who made the mistake there on that equalizing goal set up by Kun namji here come B again princess plays it across diving and kuni's there to clean it up no she's not out of bounds chaos in the Box kunan anji calling for a handball dispossessed can hear the chance to keep going Bay FC Come Away With It Anderson forced backwards quick passes still Anderson on the ball helping switch fields and now here comes Tess B driving ding forward still bod bod shot flipped by Hogan ball still alive Kun andagi can't get on the end of it and the whistle is blown well an important time in the season as well knowing that you have these games in quick succession but then also you have to utilize these players with the amount of travel the length of the Season you have to be able to use your bench and know that you can rely on these players and that's why we're seeing Jamie Shepard get important minutes tonight and it it gives albertin Montoya a good idea of what these players are capable of sorry Al no you're good here comes Sophia Smith Portland now on the front foot Smith gets a shot off flicked and it's in sopia Smith has got a brace and she's got Portland back in front well you asked me moments ago what Portland needs to do to keep the momentum continue to find themselves in this game at least get a go- ahead goal and it's about finding Sophia Smith is the answer getting her in the ball getting her on the ball getting her in tight spaces she doesn't need a ton of a space to be able to operate just unleashes this there's a two sharles finds myadams keeps it moving forward bod still Bodie bod again shot low into the arms of Hogan again I'll be curious as this season goes on for Maya dams Here Comes Diaz and the Thorns shot saved at the near post by Bay and we've got a player down on the ground Morgan Weaver slow to get up no doubt is this team entertaining they're exciting the players that they have in the attack can cause so many problems there is the final whistle Portland 3 Bay FC 2