Portland Thorns defeat Santa FE to keep pace in Group B in W Champions Cup | OneFootball

PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland Thorns won 2-1 against Santa Fe FC in Group B of the 2024/25 Concacaf W Champions Cup on Tuesday at Providence Park in Portland, Oregon.

The three-time NWSL champions got an early chance from the penalty spot in the 9’ after Santa Fe defender Maria Murillo committed a foul in the box on Payton Linnehan.

Isabella D'Aquila converted the spot kick past goalkeeper Yenith Bailey in the 10’, giving the visitors the first goal of the match.

Bailey made a stellar save in the 45 '+1’, stopping a shot from Mallie McKenzie and sending the ball over the crossbar.

Santa Fe FC pushed to even things from a free kick in the 51’, but the attempt from Miluska Guevera went just wide.

Payton Linnehan doubled the Portland advantage in the 64’, recovering the ball in the midfield to get past the Santa Fe defense hit the right netting.

The champions of Panama cut the deficit in the 82’ as Nuria Marquez took advantage of a defensive mistake, recovering the ball in the box and sending it into the net.

The Portland Thorns earned their second win in Group B and sit third in the group. The Thorns will visit Vancouver Whitecaps FC on October 15 at BC Place in Vancouver, Canada.

Santa Fe concluded its group stage campaign and exits the tournament as the fifth placed team in Group B.