Strong first half propels Thorns past Spirit

The Portland Thorns took care of business on Saturday night, defeating the visiting Washington Spirit 2-1 thanks to a pair of first-half goals.

Portland (4-3-1, 13 points) came into the match trailing the Spirit (5-3-0, 15 points) by five points in the standings, but it didn't look like the lower-ranked team on Saturday. Less than five minutes into the match, the Thorns moved ahead on a goal from Sam Coffey.

After receiving the ball down the left wing, Portland forward Sophia Smith passed it to Hina Sugita in the box. Sugita pushed the ball to the top of the 18-yard box, where Coffey unleashed a first-time shot into the bottom right corner of the net to give her team the lead in the fourth minute.

The strike was Coffey's second goal of the 2024 season.

The Thorns doubled their lead less than 20 minutes later off a set piece. After a Portland free kick was played deep into the box and headed into open space by defender Isabella Obaze, Christine Sinclair poked the ball past Washington goalkeeper for her 64th career NWSL goal.

Sinclair has the third-most goals in NWSL history, trailing NJ/NY Gotham's Lynn Williams (65 goals) and Sam Kerr (77).

The Spirit scored their lone goal of the match in the 86th minute after a cross by Trinity Rodman found the head of Lena Silano and then the back of the net. It was Silano's first career NWSL goal in two seasons with Washington.

--Field Level Media