Match Recap: Seattle Reign FC Beats Portland 2-0 in Front of Fourth Largest Crowd in Club History

In front of a lively crowd of 14,793 at Lumen Field, Seattle Reign FC defeated their biggest rivals Portland Thorns FC 2-0 backed by goals from Ryanne Brown and Maddie Mercado.

Though the visitors started the match on the front earning early corners back-to-back, the Reign quickly gained their footing and settled into the match. Cassie Miller showed quality early on, providing a strong platform for Seattle to build their attack. 

Sam Meza stunned Portland with a picturesque tackle to win possession of the ball for the Reign in the sixth minute of the match, setting Mercado up to swing a cross to the back post, where Maddie Dahlien was just short of connecting with it. 

Two minutes later, the Reign took the lead in the match as Brown netted her first regular season goal. The defender got on the end of a long ball from Ainsley McCammon and took just one touch before launching it into the back of the net. 

Miller was soon called on to make back-to-back saves to keep the Reign in the lead, but she was up to the challenge as close range attempts from Olivia Moultrie and Pietra Tordin ended up safely in her hands. 

Sally Menti led Seattle in a high press, challenging Mackenzie Arnold in goal but ultimately sent the ball out for a goal kick with a warning sign to the Thorns. The midfielder once again earned opportunity by pressing Portland in the 38th minute, skill on full display as she juggled a touch before firing a shot off.

In the 44th minute of the match, the Reign doubled their lead as Dahlien played a pass to the feet of Meza outside the box and the midfielder wasted no time swinging a cross to the back post, where Mercado headed home her third goal of the season. 

As the second half began, it was clear that the final 45 minutes would be a back-and-forth battle, bringing the fire that every Cascadia Rivalry match guarantees.  

The 56th minute brought the first yellow card of the match, issued to Meza in the midfield. The tempo remained high as both teams desperately fought to claim regional bragging rights. 

Mia Fishel made an incredible goal line save to keep the Reign’s clean sheet intact before making a difference on the other end of the pitch as she had a chance to shoot in the box, but Arnold was up to the task as she blocked the shot that was headed across the face of goal. 

To close out the match, Miller made three more saves, breaking her own single-match save record en route to securing a Cascadia Rivalry clean sheet.

UP NEXT: Seattle Reign FC embarks on a three-match road stretch beginning in New York as the team faces Gotham FC on July 18. 

KEY TAKEAWAYS: 

CLEAN SHEET CASSIE: Cassie Miller earned her first clean sheet for Reign FC, displaying her calm veteran presence. She made a total of nine saves in the match to keep the Thorns off the board. 

FIRST GOAL: Defender Ryanne Brown netted her first regular season goal to give the Reign the lead just eight minutes into the match. She is the sixth Reign player to score their first regular season goal against the Thorns. 

MERCADO MAGIC: Maddie Mercado recorded her third goal of the season, now taking her place as Reign FC’s lone top-goalscorer this season.

McCAMMON AND MEZA STRIKE AGAIN: Ainsley McCammon and Sam Meza both recorded their second assists of the season in the match.