Ben Bergerson | Freelance Writer
It was a good weekend for soccer in Portland.
On Oct. 14, the Thorns were victorious in their hunt for a second National Women’s Soccer League Championship win, with a 1-0 result over the North Carolina Courage.
In a very physical game where defense was crucial, the Thorns were up to the task. Goalkeeper Adrianna Franch and the center back pair Emily Menges and Emily Sonnett were threatened at several points during the match, but were able to come away with yet another clean sheet. They came into the match with a league leading 11 shutouts during the regular season.
The match proved to be catharsis for the Thorns, as they had lost in a critical semifinal match in 2016 to the Western New York Flash — now called the North Carolina Courage. When the final whistle blew, the team came streaking across the field to celebrate and Franch ran over to the traveling Rose City Riveters supporters to wave the Thorns crest.
While the women celebrated their victory, the men continued their fight for a second championship trophy, as well.
The Timbers romped to a 4-0 win over D.C. United on Oct. 15. Midfielder Diego Valeri, a strong contender for league MVP, notched another goal, this time from the penalty spot just before halftime.
Just five minutes after the play had resumed from halftime, defender Alvas Powell calmly dribbled up the corner of the 18-yard box and hit a long, sweeping ball that landed in the back of the net for the second goal of the game.
The Timbers continued to dominate the game, as midfielder Sebastian Blanco rounded out the score with two goals in the second half.
While the Timbers’s win guarantees their spot in the playoffs for the MLS cup, they will face a massively important last game this weekend at Providence Park. They will play the Western Conference leaders and Cascadian rivals, the Vancouver Whitecaps.
If the Timbers are able to pull off a win against the tough ‘Caps on Oct. 22, they will sit on top of the Western Conference standings, giving them a first round bye in the playoffs. It will also crown the Timbers with the Cascadia Cup for the first time since 2012.
Contact the author at bebergerson13@wou.edu
