The Kansas City Blues hosted the Portland Thorns in a late-night match following a two-hour kick-off delay caused by lightning. While the Thorns, took the lead late in the first half, the Blues came back to score two unanswered goals in the second half, taking all three points.
While Kansas City had the better chances early in the first half with Sydney Leroux shooting just wide left in the 17th minute and then Lo’eau LaBonta shooting just wide right moments later, the Thorns took the lead in the 44th minute.
After Christine Sinclair was tripped in the penalty area by Becca Moros, who attempted to tackle the ball, the Thorns were awarded a penalty kick. Amandine Henry stepped up to take it, converting from the spot with a low, left-sided shot that sent goalkeeper Nicole Barnhart the opposite way.
#KCvPOR: PORTLAND GOAL
Christine Sinclair is taken down in the box, Thorns get a penalty kick, Amandine Henry scores! pic.twitter.com/aYKpoMTWwA— The Equalizer (@EqualizerSoccer) August 17, 2017
Just two minutes into the second half, the Thorns nearly doubled their lead when Barnhart played a short ball to Becky Sauerbrunn in the box. As Thorns attackers closed in on her, Sauerbrunn made a last-second effort to get the ball out of danger. However, the ball deflected off of a Thorns player, and fell to Dagny Brynjarsdottir, who took a shot, but was denied by Barnhart.
The Blues finally got back in the game when Yael Averbuch scored on a free kick in the 65th minute, bending the ball into the lower right corner of the goal.
#KCvPOR: KANSAS CITY GOAL
Yael Averbuch ties it up with a free kick! | 1-1 pic.twitter.com/wtp6B4ddTj— The Equalizer (@EqualizerSoccer) August 17, 2017
Just four minutes later, the Blues took the lead when Brittany Ratcliffe managed to serve a cross into the box with a defender in front of her. Leroux finished the service with a header.
#KCvPOR: KANSAS CITY GOAL
Just like that, the Blues take the lead. Leroux with the goal. | 2-1 pic.twitter.com/e6tMKs53DW— The Equalizer (@EqualizerSoccer) August 17, 2017
The Blues continued to push for more to no avail, but held onto their one-goal lead through the remainder of the match for a 2-1 victory at home.
