Portland Thorns 4–1 Houston Dash

By Alonso Contreras

Thorns Dominate Early, Survive Second-Half Scare to Dispatch Dash

Portland Thorns delivered a commanding first-half performance and held off a more spirited Houston Dash in the second to secure a comprehensive 4–1 victory. With clinical attacking play, a penalty conversion, and an unfortunate own goal by Houston’s Sam Hiatt, the Thorns set the tone early and never looked back despite late bumps and bruises.

First Half: Ruthless Thorns Explode for Three

Portland wasted no time asserting their dominance. Right from the opening whistle, Payton Linnehan looked sharp, testing Dash goalkeeper N. Jacobs in the 1st minute with a low drive. A flurry of early Thorns chances followed — M. Alidou and P. Tordin both unleashed dangerous shots within the first 10 minutes, with Dash’s A. Smith forced into consecutive saves to keep the scoreline level.

The pressure finally paid off in the 25th minute, when Pietra Tordin opened the scoring with a calm finish inside the box following a well-timed run behind the defense. Just four minutes later, Payton Linnehan doubled the lead with a brilliant individual effort, driving at the backline and finishing coolly to make it 2–0 in the 29th minute.

Houston struggled to find their footing, and even their best opportunities — including a long-range effort from B. Olivieri and a close-range strike by D. Sheehan — were met with strong saves by the Thorns' backline and goalkeeper Bixby.

Just before halftime, Portland put the match seemingly out of reach. A foul by C. Westphal in the box handed the Thorns a golden opportunity, and Sam Coffey made no mistake from the spot in the 45+7th minute, sending the keeper the wrong way to make it 3–0.

Second Half: Dash Pull One Back, But Own Goal Seals It

Houston attempted a revival early in the second half. After a flurry of substitutions at the hour mark — including Alozie, Duljan, and Nielsen — the Dash came to life. In the 53rd minute, Caiya Hanks pulled one back for the visitors with a powerful finish, capitalizing on a miscommunication in the Thorns' defense. It looked like a potential momentum swing, and Portland momentarily appeared on edge.

But disaster struck for Houston in the 74th minute. Under pressure from a Portland cross, Sam Hiatt inadvertently diverted the ball into her own net while attempting to clear — the own goal effectively killing off any hopes of a comeback and restoring Portland’s three-goal cushion.

Houston’s B. Olivieri tried to rally the team with a fierce shot in the 79th minute, but it was comfortably saved by S. Hiatt. However, moments later, Portland suffered another setback as M. Alidou went down injured in the 83rd minute, marring an otherwise dominant performance.

The final minutes saw a series of fouls from both teams, a reflection of the match's rising intensity and frustration, particularly from the Dash, whose aggression earned them multiple whistles in stoppage time.

Player of the Match: Payton Linnehan (Portland Thorns)

Linnehan was electric from the start — scoring, creating chances, and applying constant pressure. Her goal and early attacking surge helped Portland dictate the rhythm.

Key Stats:

• Goals:

  • Portland Thorns: Tordin (25'), Linnehan (29'), Coffey (45+7' PEN), Hiatt (74' OG)

  • Houston Dash: Hanks (53')

• Shots on Target:

  • Portland Thorns: 9

  • Houston Dash: 6

• Saves:

  • Dash: A. Smith, K. Lind, N. Jacobs — 5 combined

  • Thorns: B. Bixby, S. Coffey — 4 combined

• Yellow Cards:

  • Thorns: P. Tordin (57’)

• Substitutions:

  • Portland: Fleming, Hanks, Westphal, Bright on for Linnehan, Sugita, Coffey

  • Houston: Alozie, Duljan, Nielsen, Puntigam, van Zanten, Graham on around 60–71’

• Injuries:

  • Thorns: M. Alidou (83’), B. Bixby (60’)

Conclusion:

Portland Thorns rediscovered their attacking identity with a first-half blitz that proved too much for Houston Dash to overcome. Despite a spirited second-half response, Dash were ultimately undone by their own defensive lapses and an unfortunate own goal. With the win, the Thorns bolster their standing in the NWSL table, while Houston is left to reflect on a game that slipped away early and ended with frustration.