The Chicago Red Stars and Portland Thorns battled to a 1-1 draw on Sunday evening at Toyota Park in Chicago. With the draw, the Portland Thorns are still unbeaten this 2016 NWSL season, while the Chicago Red Stars extended their unbeaten streak to 7 games.
On her 33rd birthday, Christine Sinclair put Portland on the board early in the 24th minute. Chicago’s Samantha Johnson sent a bad back pass Alyssa Naeher’s way, and Sinclair was able to block Naeher’s clearance to put the ball in the back of the net. It was Sinclair’s first goal of the 2016 NWSL season.
Christen Press equalized in the 61st minute for Chicago. Casey Short’s cross was brought down by Alyssa Mautz on the edge of Portland’s penalty area, where it fell to Press, who volleyed it on goal. Thorns keeper Adrianna Franch got her hands on it, but was not able to keep the ball out as it went off of the crossbar and bounced in.
Though both teams pressed for a winner in the final minutes of the match, neither could find the back of the net.
Next up for the Red Stars is a home game next Saturday, June 18 against the visiting Boston Breakers, while the Thorns will travel to Western New York to play the Flash on Friday, June 17.
