Photo courtesy of Gotham FC
In a thrilling clash at the top of the table, the Portland Thorns and NJ/NY Gotham FC showcased a captivating encounter on Friday night, attended by an impressive crowd of 21,743 fans. The match was marked by intensity and excitement, with both teams combining for a total of 27 shots.
Gotham FC struck first in the second minute when Midge Purce scored against her former team. Her well-placed volley, set up beautifully by Guro Reiten, sent Portland into a quick defensive scramble. However, the celebration for Gotham was dampened when defender Emily Sonnett suffered a knee injury shortly after, requiring her to be stretchered off the pitch.
The Thorns responded in kind during the 21st minute, drawing level thanks to rookie Renee Lyles. This remarkable goal, which marked Lyles’ first in professional football, came from an assist by forward Pietra Tordin—who continues to impress with her league-leading seventh assist of the season.
The second half began with Portland taking the lead in the 53rd minute through a deflected shot from Jessie Fleming, assisted by Lyles. However, Gotham’s Sam Kerr, with her 78th regular-season goal, equalized less than ten minutes later. This goal was particularly noteworthy as it marked Kerr’s first in the NWSL since October 20, 2019, and her first goal for Gotham FC since September 30, 2017.
As the match progressed, the Thorns faced a challenge when defender Jayden Perry received a red card for denying Kerr an obvious goal-scoring opportunity near midfield, leaving Portland with just ten players for the final 17 minutes.
Moments later, the home crowd erupted as Morgan Weaver made her long-awaited return to the pitch. This was her first appearance since the 2024 quarterfinals at Gotham FC on November 10, 2024, and her first at Providence Park since scoring in a 3-0 win over Angel City on November 1, 2024. Weaver’s presence invigorated the Thorns, as she contributed to several promising attacks even while the team was a man down.
Ultimately, the 2-2 draw extended Gotham FC’s unbeaten run to four matches, placing them at the top of the NWSL standings, just one point ahead of the Washington Spirit, who are set to play later this weekend. Meanwhile, the Thorns retained their unbeaten home streak for 2026, setting a new club record by remaining unbeaten at home in league play for 11 consecutive matches since September 2025, surpassing their previous record set last season.
