Highlights | Houston Dash vs. Portland Thorns FC | May 17, 2024

[Applause] there it is kickoff and this matchup is officially underway after two and a half hours of anticipation the Houston Dash and Portland Thorns go toe to- toe here at Shell Energy stadium Portland applying some high pressure here they get the turnover opportunity in the area shot saved cleared away Jane Campell big stop excellent goalkeeping from the Houston goalkeeper there Campbell she does a good job of staying balc staying poised and just sticks her foot out sometimes you don't need your hand just stay balanced cut down the angle great job there from the goalkeeper he knew he was going to like her she has a lot of leadership qualities and also he said she's very engaged in terms of training really likes working with her Crossing into the box misses everyone shot just [Music] high as the whistle blows here just 18 years old coach Gail mentioned it seems like she's much older because she's been around the league for so young long she started so young youngest player to make an nwsl debut and there's a shot off the post clearance made just in time but my goodness Portland ready to strike again it's mtry she's doing a great job finding that space absorbing the coach Rob Gail about a lot of their goals have been coming one-timers and again just perfectly bends it around does everything but hit the back of the [Applause] Net Portland back in possession mtry breaks through goes down whistle [Applause] blows there's the official signal for a V review from head referee Rebecca Pagan there's definitely contact the question will come down to whether or not the referee thinks this is enough to ultimately call it a penalty kick but you do see the contact there on mol's back leg as she enters into the box and smart by mtry she feels that contact and she hits the ground that's what you should do as an attacker it looks like there was contact on that back foot it was incidental contact no penalty is the call wow play out in the first 35 minutes bman player who brings in a ton of experience a ton of winning experience as well which can make a huge difference Thorns fire a shot right into the hands of Jane Campbell unfortunately for Portland it didn't have a player on top of the penalty spot there to receive the end of that cross but again Becky doing a good job taking what the defense is giving her here's a huge opening on the left side shot denied Second Chance stifled by Campbell mention it sh Elby Hogan coming in this really her first full season taking on the starting rooll now here comes Smith in transition Smith with space lays it off Saved By Campbell second half officially underway at Shell Energy stadium on a late Friday night battle between the Portland Thorns and Houston Dash right around 10:45 local time due to a 2 and 1 half hour rain delay nil nil the score here after 45 in the books once again Jeff ATS Nell and kylin Mills here on the call on nwsl plus appreciate you being here Rebecca Pagan the head referee making the tough calls nice diagonal ball across oron fires off the post ball still up for grabs from Houston and it starts with ordonia this is the first time she's been in the Box in a 1V one situation and look at that first touch goes down Houston trying to recollect what an opportunity ball falls through olivieri gets some space now pretty tightly defended working is patteron shop blocked [Applause] [Music] ham header towards goal saved big save from Shelby Hogan balance that you have to have and there and there's a learning curve I remember when I was playing and I had a new coach come in here's a shot and it goes in the Portland Houston able to regain possession and clear it there there after Smith was threatening ball laid off down the right side Becky nice pass mol tre's shot goes through the Portland Thorns double the lead in the 68th minute thanks to a beautiful strike by Olivia [Applause] [Music] [Applause] mtry we talked about it at half molt is doing such a good job of making these runs from the Midfield spot and here she's able to get On The Backs side of Peterson who doesn't see the Run coming catches her sleeping well-timed run here finds that Gap in behind and just drives a hard shot across her body Jane Campbell will probably want that one back it beats her on the near post but when you're in a 1 V one sit one shy of tying the league record and with with each win from here on out setting a new club record as five wins already did that loette dis possessed here but earns a [Music] throw this one gets through Bachman into the area passes it off the shot saved Hogan there opportunity here for Houston their strength set pieces to pull one back ball on the ground Crossing in by Bachman headed High Smith running this one down with some space Smith to linahan linahan One V one fires low Campbell collects the second ball are really firing for this group right now well I can tell you the only team playing better technically than the Thorns based on their win streak is the Orlando Pride five not just five six game win [Music] streak while Portland is five Sinclair lays it off Smith Cuts right saved huge stop Campbell says no all Portland has to do here really is just possess big switch lots of space on the right side linan cuts middle linahan shoots a dangerous shot sent to away second ball saved by Campbell able to slide get the timing just right it looked like on the it looked like on it might have chipped over the goalkeeper But ultimately it fell into Hogan's hands thumbs up for interim head coach Rob Gil and the Portland Thorns they secure the two-nil victory in Houston their win streak improves 2 six