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[by Elan-Paolo DeCarlo]
In the final match of a four-game, cross-country road trip, the Washington Spirit were defeated by the Portland Thorns 2-0 Sunday afternoon. On a rainy, dreary day in the Pacific Northwest, the Thorns were in complete attack mode, tallying 22 shots, 9 of which were on goal. In front of 10,056 fans at Providence Park, the Spirit fell to 6-6-1 and the defending champion Thorns improved to 5-4-2.
The Thorns got off to a fast start. They opened the scoring in the 11th minute, building their attack from the back. Goalkeeper Michelle Betos’ punt was settled just past the halfway line by midfielder Angie Kerr. Kerr settled the ball in the center circle, where she found midfielder Amber Brooks with a quick pass. Brooks sent the ball through with one touch to forward Jessica McDonald, who was making a sharp, quick run behind Washington’s defense. McDonald dribbled into the penalty box, finishing from close range. The goal was her team-leading sixth of the season.
The Spirit held the Thorns to 1-0 for the next 67 minutes. The onslaught the Thorns brought on Sunday should have made for a more lopsided final score had it not been for their lack of finishing. In the 78th minute, the Thorns broke through to deliver the final goal of the day when midfielder Veronica Boquette received the ball at the top of the box from Brooks, beating her defender and tucking the ball inside the left post for her first career NWSL goal.
The Spirit had a difficult day on offense. They only mustered one shot on net, which came in the first half. This was the second-straight time the Spirit were shut out, previously losing to the Boston Breakers earlier in the week. With their next match coming in 6 days and at home, the Spirit have time to figure out their offensive woes.
The Spirit are in action next on Saturday June 21 at 6:30pm ET. It will be a rematch against the Portland Thorns, but this time it will be at the Maryland SoccerPlex.
