Portland Thorns Run Over Kansas City Current 4–1 In NWSL’s Match of the Week

It was a beautiful day from Kansas as the KC Current attempted to avenge last season’s final loss to Portland. It was a loss that clearly stung the organization, the refrain of

“They did not take losing the final well”

Resonated all offseason long.

The Current were facing an uphill battle though, while the injury list is finally starting to thin out, week one saw the club without eight potential starters — including offseason prize, Debinha. A tough loss in week one to a — clearly — rebuilding North Carolina Courage and some off field turmoil as allegations of improper treatment of draft pick Mykiaa Minniss during the preseason.

NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman was on hand at half time and spoke about it directly:

“I talked to Chris and Angie Long early this morning, and we want to get to the bottom of what happened and understand that this was not properly handled.”

Matt Potter would also comment on the situation after the match:

“It’s part of the whole thing that we are trying to embrace and move forward. I trust in people to do their jobs and figure out how we can be better and do right for the players going forward”

Meanwhile, the Thorns hit the ground running in week one with a 4–0 trouncing of Orlando City where their front three contributed to every goal

Portland saw their first real attempt forward result in a brilliantly taken Sam Coffee corner — Crystal Dunn settles it and slips past AD Franch at the near post. Portland’s pressure shows why they’ve been such a buzzsaw to start the season, the Current spent the first ten minutes of this matchup compressed in their own end with the only real breakout coming from Chardonnay Curran taking on multiple defenders and switching the play to the right side.

Portland would keep up the pressure, much of their success comes from targeting KC’s left side through Sam Coffee and Crystal Dunn with Sophia Smith being taken down in the box in the 18th minute. Smith picks out the far corner and beats AD Franch who had the right read…