Despite another valiant effort from San Diego Wave FC goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan and a sold-out crowd cheering on at Torero Stadium, San Diego fell in a nail-biter to NWSL Challenge Cup defending champion Portland Thorns 1-0 on Saturday, March 26.
“We just wanted to give them something to cheer about but they really got behind the team and every time we attacked you could hear the volume in the stadium erupt,” said Wave head coach Casey Stoney. The home team had the first scoring chance in the 4th minute when midfielder Taylor Kornieck shot a ball from outside the box that went just over the crossbar and the outstretched arm of goalkeeper Abby Smith.
Portland would take advantage on the next possession when midfielder Natalia Kuikka found forward Sophia Smith streaking inside the box and placed a perfect pass that Smith tapped into the back of the net. It was the first goal of the tournament for Smith who played alongside Wave players Tegan McGrady and Naomi Girma at Stanford back in 2018.
San Diego would regroup and create a scoring chance in the 19th minute when Kornieck found forward Alex Morgan make a run toward goal that forced the Portland goalkeeper to leave her line and deflect the shot for a corner. Morgan would get another chance just two minutes later on a shot inside the box that was saved.
The Thorns would react in their following possession once again courtesy of Kuikka and Sophia Smith but this time Sheridan would be up to the task punching the ball out of bounds. “We know we’re a team that’s growing and that we have only been together for eight weeks and tonight was a good performance but it’s definitely not good enough,” said Sheridan.
Portland would create one more chance to end the first half when forward Christine Sinclair found Smith yet again with Sheridan blocking the point blank shot with her body and keep the score at 1-0 at halftime.
The second half was a more evenly played 45 minutes with San Diego’s best chance to tie the game coming in the 81st minute when a ball deflected by the defense found the foot of forward Jodie Taylor but her shot went just wide.
“I’m absolutely disappointed for them because they deserve more at the end of the game,” Stoney added. San Diego Wave now has to regroup and get ready for their next game, which is a rematch with Angel City on Saturday, April 2 at Torero Stadium.
