Match Recap: Utah Royals vs Portland Thorns (April 11 | Match Week 4, NWSL)
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
Venue: America First Field
Final Score: Utah Royals 0 – 1 Portland Thorns
Two teams still searching for their first win of the season clashed in Utah under challenging circumstances. Both sides have been plagued by injuries, and neither has been able to field their ideal starting eleven. For Utah, star striker Mina Tanaka was out due to injury, while Portland welcomed back veteran goalkeeper Bella Bixby after maternity leave. Australian international Mackenzie Arnold was unavailable for the Thorns.
First Half: Portland Finds the Breakthrough
The first half saw Portland take the initiative early. In the 13th minute, Hina Sugita intercepted a pass near midfield and immediately drove forward, linking up with Castellanos in a sharp combination. Sugita then made a smart one-touch pass inside the box to set up Turner for the match’s only goal. The sequence was a prime example of Portland's improved chemistry and quick decision-making.
Sugita looked sharp throughout the first half, unfazed by any fatigue from recent international duty. Alongside Moultrie, who was constantly finding pockets of space centrally, the pair formed the creative core of Portland's offense.
Portland avoided building from the back and instead relied heavily on long balls from Bixby, effectively bypassing Utah’s press. These long passes weren’t just clearances—they were strategic, with players well-positioned to win second balls. Bixby also stood out with her intelligence and leadership, often directing midfield positioning before restarting play.
In contrast, Utah struggled to connect in midfield. Despite some bright moments from Sentnor, who was the only player consistently showing intent in the final third, the Royals lacked coordinated movement around the ball. When they regained possession deep, few players made themselves available for outlet passes, resulting in disjointed transitions.
Bixby, Portland’s returning goalkeeper, also stood out with sharp distribution and vocal command, organizing her backline and helping bypass Utah’s pressing with smart goal kicks and feeds.
Second Half: Utah Responds, but Lacks Precision
Utah made two halftime substitutions in an attempt to change the game: replacing their ineffective Mikayla Cluff and striker Aisha Solozarno with the more physical presence of Ream and Midfielder Foederer.
The changes sparked some life. Early in the second half, Utah generated rapid counterattacks and began using the left wing more effectively, particularly through St-Georges, who was far more involved than in the first half.
Utah's front-line pressing improved significantly, leading to forced errors from Portland’s center backs. Around the 65th minute, a perfect pass from St-Georges set up a huge chance for Mozingo, but she couldn't keep her shot on target.
Moments later, Sentnor also missed a promising opportunity.
Despite Portland’s inability to consistently threaten Utah's box in the second half, their positional rotations and wide switches allowed them to relieve pressure and stretch the Royals’ defensive shape. Castellanos, who has struggled in previous matches, showed improvement as the lone striker—offering more intelligent runs and better hold-up play.
Still, Utah failed to make their attacking momentum count. Even when pushing players into the final third, they lacked width. Both wingers repeatedly drifted inside, clogging the middle and making it easy for Portland to close down lanes. Their inability to generate clean looks on goal ultimately cost them a result.
Takeaways from the Match
Portland Thorns, on the other hand, delivered their best performance of the season so far. With Hina Sugita and Moultrie leading the attack and strong coordination in midfield, they managed to control the game effectively. Goalkeeper Bella Bixby not only made key saves but also impressed with her smart distribution.
Utah Royals showed glimpses of promise, especially in the second half where their pressing game improved and they created several chances through wide play, particularly via St-Georges. However, their inability to finish those chances—despite being in dangerous positions—proved costly. The absence of Mina Tanaka was clearly felt, especially in front of goal where a clinical edge was missing.
Both teams are still finding their rhythm this season, but Portland appears to be clicking into gear faster. As for Utah, the effort was there—now they just need the finishing touch.What they truly lacked was the ability to convert their created chances into goals.
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