NWSL roundup: Thorns score early, often to thrash Dash

Four players found the back of the net in the first 54 minutes of the match as the visiting Portland Thorns thumped the Houston Dash 4-1 on Friday night.

Pietra Tordin and Payton Linnehan scored in the 26th and 30th minutes before Sam Coffey buried a penalty kick in the lower-right corner of the net eight minutes into first-half stoppage time. For Tordin, it was her first professional goal. Caiya Hanks added her second goal of the season not long after halftime.

The outburst helped the Thorns (4-2-4, 16 points) stretch their unbeaten streak to five games (three wins, two draws). Bella Bixby saved two shots for Portland.

The only thing preventing a shutout was Sam Hiatt's own goal in the 75th minute. Abby Smith recorded three saves for the Dash (3-5-1, 10 points).

Current 1, Pride 0

Temwa Chawinga scored an impressive goal on the run and visiting Kansas City held on to defeat Orlando.

In a battle of the top two teams in the standings entering the night, Chawinga helped the Current (7-2-0, 21 points) maintain the No. 1 spot. In the 52nd minute, she chased down a long pass over the top and one-timed it into the net from close range for her fifth goal of the year.

Current goalkeeper Lorena made four saves to earn the shutout. Anna Moorhouse stopped four shots for the Pride (5-3-1, 16 points), who couldn't capitalize on seven corner kicks.

Wave 1, Gotham 0

Kimmi Ascanio scored the only goal of the game as San Diego ran its unbeaten streak to five matches with a win over host Gotham in Harrison, N.J.

The 17-year-old Ascanio scored in the 30th minute -- her third goal in the last four matches -- when she put a perfect shot past goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger following an assist from Perle Morroni.

Kailen Sheridan made two saves to secure the clean sheet for San Diego (5-2-2, 17 points). Berger had one save for NJ/NY (3-4-3, 12 points).

--Field Level Media