Previewing Houston Dash vs Portland Thorns FC with Stumptown Footy
(image via Portland Thorns FC)
The Houston Dash are back at Shell Energy Stadium for a clash with Portland. We talked to our friend Phuoc Nguyen from Stumptown Footy to get some insight on the Thorns ahead of tonight’s match.
Bayou City Soccer (BCS): Portland comes into this match in good form, unbeaten in their last four. What has led to them playing well of late?
Stumptown Footy (SF): The Portland Thorns have one of the youngest rosters in the NWSL. At one point, they started the third-youngest XI of all time. Heading into the season with this roster, many did not know what to expect and probably, still do not. According to head coach, Rob Gale, the team has "exceeded" expectations in some ways.
Although they are on a four game unbeaten run, the inconsistency in the final third still remains the biggest question mark. Who will score without Morgan Weaver and Sophia Wilson? So far the answer has been Reilyn Turner and Jayden "JP" Perry, but they need more from their midfielders in that department. The scoring will definitely be committee approach this season.
The reason why they continue to get results has been their leadership. Sam Coffey and Mackenzie Arnold have done an excellent job making sure everyone is ready to go and feel a part of this new culture they're building without legends, Becky Sauerbrunn and Christine Sinclair.
On the pitch, they play with high-level intensity with and without the ball. Gale has also made way more adjustments and given more opportunities for players to grow and develop. This team still has many concerns moving forward especially in the final third and the decision-making, but that will come with more time and chemistry.
The future is bright in the Rose City.
BCS: Jayden Perry seems to have taken the league by storm. How has she fit into this Portland team and what does she bring to the Thorns lineup?
SF: JP plays with this fearless mentality that you rarely ever see with rookies. She doesn't play like a rookie, but rather a seasoned vet. Even when she gets beat in defense, Perry has the 'short memory' needed to move on and excel at CB. When she gets knocked down, she continues to get back up every single time.
Jayden Perry also just plays with this calm demeanor. She's the designated PK taker too, and has already tied up two matches in the last minutes. After being signed to a one-year contract in January, she just signed an extension through 2028. This club believes in her and soon everyone will too.
BCS: With Sophia Wilson out this season, who is picking up the goal scoring and offense for the Thorns?
SF: Rob Gale has said this needs to be done by everyone - a committee approach. He expects the midfielders to score more, and the young attackers to get better as the season goes along. Right now, it's Reilyn Turner who is tied with the team lead for goals, but watch out for Caiya Hanks on the wings. Hanks is the Thorns' most dangerous player and has the makings of a superstar.
BCS: Mackenzie Arnold is out so Bella Bixby will likely start in goal. Is this Bixby's starting job again after returning from maternity leave?
SF: First off, Bella Bixby's return to play has been remarkable. She has worked her tail off to come back and be ready for this season. Bixby is a hometown hero and would be a starter on most teams. As of now, Rob Gale has allowed both to get playing time, especially in congested weeks. However, Mackenzie "Macca" Arnold is his preferred starter. He has started her in each match when fully healthy and rested.
BCS: Portland's midfield of Sam Coffey and Hina Sugita seems to be the engine that drives this team. What makes them such a good partnership and for how the Thorns play?
SF: Yes, Sam Coffey and Hina Sugita are two of the best players on the team, but in the league. What they do can't be replicated by any player in the league. Coffey has been allowed to venture forward more in a double pivot, as Gale would like her to have some elements of 'college Coffey' when she played higher up. She is what makes everything work, from shielding the backline and setting the pace of play through midfield.
Sugita continues to be criminally underrated in the NWSL, and it's a shame. She is that good. Her work rate alone makes her elite, she can cover ground as good as anyone this league has seen. In this last game, late in the match, she played left back! That's not a typo, she played full back! Hina and Sam have unreal chemistry and it will continue to shine this season.
BCS: Are there any injury concerns and what do you expect for a lineup tonight?
SF: I am expecting tons of rotation tonight with the team at the start of three matches in eight days. Isa Obaze, even though not listed on the injury report, should be limited. If that's the case, I do expect either Torpey or Mckenzie to step in at FB.
Portland Thorns will likely go with a young frontline today and save their preferred starters for the CONCACAF W Champions Cup next week. I expect Payton Linnehan, Mimi Alidou, Pietra Tordin, and Caiya Hanks to play tons of minutes tonight. It would not surprise me one bit, if they all started.
They'll likely keep Coffey, Sugita, and Fleming or Moultrie in as well.
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We want to thank Phuoc for his time and wish our friends in Portland the best of luck tonight.
