Two of the best teams in the NWSL, Portland Thorns and San Diego Wave Futbol Club played to a 1-1 draw in front of 18,130 fans in a lower bowl sellout at Snapdragon Stadium.
“A point is something we have to be pretty pleased with, every point matters in this league (especially) against a top top side with the attack that they’ve got,” head coach Casey Stoney said.
The first half offensively for the Wave did not go great as they only managed to put two shots on goal and maintained 43% possession. In contrast, the Wave defense was bolstered by another great performance from goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan that kept Portland’s strong attack to no goals throughout regulation time.
Two substitutes made an important impact on the game in the second half. First, before a Wave corner kick Stoney sent on Taylor Kornieck in the 54th minute to provide physicality in the box. Kornieck drew multiple fouls and got shown a yellow card.
“I did everything, worked hard, to get back as fast as possible, and this is my favorite place to be,” Kornieck said. “I’m just so happy that I can return and get a lot of minutes today. I love this city.”
Later, Jaedyn Shaw came on providing much-needed life to the offense in the 74th minute.
Jaedyn Shaw sent a long ball passed the Thorns' back line for the quick Sofia Jakobsson who managed to rush past defenders and put a shot on goal that deflected off the goalkeeper that she could send back in to take the 1-0 lead in the 86th minute of the match.
Stoney knew they could cause problems for Portland if they got behind their back line and highlighted Shaw’s effort saying, “Jaedyn’s (Shaw) vision and ability to pick a pass that breaks a back line is some of the best I’ve seen in the game, and I’ve been in the game a long time.”
The Thorns responded within the next five minutes with a goal of their own. It came thanks to a corner kick set piece where the ball went just past the crowded center of the box for Reyna Reyes. Reyes headed it toward the opposite post perfectly into the goal. Alex Morgan tried to stop it before it went, but could not reach the ball in time.
The Wave play once more this month at home on May 31, when they face OL Reign, another top team in the NWSL in the Challenge Cup. Then they have a quick turnaround going on the road to play first-place Gotham FC on June 4.