Bay FC vs. Portland Thorns FC | NWSL Highlights | ESPN FC
NWSL highlights: Bay FC and Portland Thorns draw 2-2 as playoff race tightens
ESPN FC presents NWSL highlights as Bay FC host Portland Thorns. Morgan Weaver scores on her birthday, Kennedy Fuller puts Bay ahead, and Kai Hanks equalizes in a 2-2 draw. The commentary focuses on Bay FC's sloppy giveaway and Portland's defensive mistakes, while noting Portland stays seventh on 44 points.
- Bay FC will be very disappointed not to deal with that delivery, because their defenders were turning their backs — Rayan Turner did well to get the first contact under difficult technique, but Bay's defensive reaction was not strong enough
- Bay FC's giveaway was really poor and unacceptable in that buildup moment — Hanks chased it down, Weaver finished calmly, but Bay gave the ball away far too easily
- Portland did everything but finish on that chance, and the teammates' support for Turner after the miss will make her want to try again — Weaver's ball and Turner's awareness were good; she just could not control the shot
- That contact should have been a foul, and it would be a foul all day even outside the box, so the initial penalty call was understandable — You cannot go through a player like that, and the ball was kept alive in a dangerous area
- Portland conceded because they were probably still thinking about the overturned penalty, and Bay's goal came against the run of play — Lemur did well to go around Arnold and pick out Conte, who finished with great composure
- Turner was excellent today, and on that run the defender either had to let her go or bring her down — Her first touch was so good, she took the ball across Conte and forced the foul and yellow card
- Morgan Weaver was likely on a minute restriction, because you would not take a player like her off in a must-win game otherwise — Portland are in a must-win situation with a tight table and only two weeks left in the regular season
- In the NWSL anyone can beat anyone, so league position does not guarantee a playoff result — Last year eighth-seeded Gotham FC went to Kansas City and won
- Nobody saw Kennedy Fuller's goal coming, but she has the quality to produce that kind of finish, and Portland's defensive movement was really poor — The defender was dragged out and dived in, and Fuller used a deceptive touch and nutmeg before bending the ball in
- Kai Hanks' equalizer was a good finish, but Silkowitz may have been unsighted and could not see where the ball was going — There was not much power or pace on the shot, and the goalkeeper seemed blindsided
Check out highlights from ESPN Women’s Sports Sundays as Bay FC and Portland Thorns FC play to a 2-2 draw. ✔️ Subscribe to ESPN Unlimited: https://plus.espn.com/ ESPN ESPNFC
Transcript
Welcome to ESPN's coverage of the NWSL presented by Ally, part of Women's Sports Sundays presented by Lily. It is a beautiful day in the Bay Area as Bay hosts the potentially playoffbound Portland Thorns. Now, just two games remain in the NWSL regular season after today's matches. And our playoff picture, well, it is starting to come into focus. The top three teams have already clinched a playoff spot with both Gotham and San Diego knowing they will host a home quarterfinal. The back in black kit for the Thorns on the road. Let's love the game. We only have a few matches left in the NWSL regular season. And the Portland Thorns currently in the top eight and trying to stay there by Bay FC plan for Pride. They are already eliminated from the playoffs. Getting on the attack quickly but called offside. Who's been a steadying presence in the middle of the field has played every minute for the Thorns this season. Heads over to take the corner. Puts it in the box. Header was there and it is into the gloves of Silkowitz. Railen Turner good target in the air. It >> was a really difficult technique. Does really well to get the first line of contact. BFC will be really disappointed to not get out to that. You can see they're just kind of turning their back. >> Hanks on the attack now. It falls forward. Still a LOT OF NUMBERS. WEAVER. Happy birthday, Morgan Weaver. And a gift for the Thorns early in San Jose. >> What a goal. What a move. It was almost like as soon as it fell to Morgan Weaver, she knew it was in the back of the net. The composure to be able to use the instep there to bend it in. What a birthday treat. A and she deserves that. Anyone that has the opportunity to speak to Morgan Weave will know. Top person, but this is a really, really poor giveaway in this moment in their buildup play from BFC. Can't give away the ball there. Fair play to Hags for actually chasing it down. They do really well in this moment. Nice in that moment. And it's a lovely finish. But really poor from BFC giving away the ball far too easily. >> Good touch and an opening now for Dorian Bailey who got the start today in place of Claire Hutton the US midfielder who has started every match this season for Bay until today if they're in a flatback for >> a good flick on here. Weaver the beneficiary has Turner in the middle. Turner gets her shot off but not on goal. everything but the finish there for the Thorns. >> Yeah, you can see exactly what they were trying to do in this moment. It was a lovely ball and also the options. I spoke about it on the goal, but the options there are for this Portland Thorns team. Now, we speak about people stepping up in the absence of Sevilla Wilson, but look at this. You know exactly what she was doing. The ball from Weaver just kind of was under hit a little bit, but she does so well well here. Turner had the awareness to be able to turn in that moment. Just couldn't quite catch hold of it. But as soon as she misses that chance, what I loved is her teammates got around her. You know, they're high-fiving her for getting in that moment, which will mean she'll want to do it again. >> Crowd trying to get behind this bay attack now. Unleashes a shot above the crossbar, but a little bit of life is what you like to see. Yeah, the first real glimpse we've really been able to see of Kennedy Fuller being able to get on the ball, pulling out wide, usually occupying those central areas. does really well here to get the shot off. It's a decent strike and that's the type of areas that you want these types of players to be able to be in. Really good attempt from Kennedy Fuller. Cristiano Jarelli is somebody that leads by example off the field as well and she'll no doubt probably come into this game, but they need more. >> Now Jaredelli, the Italian legend, if you will, on the bench and available for Bay in this match today. Nice dot. Very composed on the ball. Nice dot. You can see that Hanks takes a shot right at Silowitz. Good areas though. And I spoke about Hanks and Morgan Weaver being able to mix it up. Both of them can't go. One of them needs to drop in, but I think right now Thorns are really giving them these opportunities. Hanks is doing a really good job at inverting and coming in off the wing. Not >> wide open now. Chance to serve this across and into the box. Maybe more. Nobody's stopping. in Portland. Still not out of danger. Referee points to the spot. The Thorns have conceded a penalty kick. I thought she was going to pull it back. You see options available on the edge. Does so well here. Puts it in that danger area. And in this moment here, you cannot you can't you can't go through a player like that. Especially in I mean, if it's outside the box, that's a foul all day long. Batty does a really good job at keeping it active, keeping it alive. After review, THERE IS NO FOUL committed by Portland 25. Final decision, no penalty. >> And the thorns really seem to pick up some momentum right after that goal. Another birthday girl, by the way, Rayan Turner, it is also her birthday today. Had a good chance for the Thorns. But Bay is built into this. And now it's given away to Lima. Is there a little karma? YES, THERE IS. BFC gets their goal after all. And then the ball goes back here and Lemur just anticipates this so well. I mean, she could have gone down there, sees the option. Great composure in front of goal from Conti and I feel like they conceded that based upon the fact that they was probably still thinking about that penalty opportunity. Lemur does so well here to go around Arnold in that moment and then to pick out Conte. This is great play. You don't miss those from there. What a gift that is. Great finish and I would say against the run of play. She's looking toward Turner. Hanks streaming up through the middle of the field and Turner has had a rough go of it today. She asked for the yellow card and she gets it. >> Yeah, she's been excellent Turner. Really good touch. You have in that moment cuz her touch was so good. She takes it across Conte in this moment. You either have to let her go or bring her down. And really good play from Turner. >> Yeah, he's told us several times he just really had to hit the ground running. >> Bay threatening again. And Vilah did not feel he really nice back in the NWSL. An NWSL champion with Gotham in 2023. Lima collected, turns and shoots. has it in the box. Lima will touch it back toward Bailey. Shay Harvey, the player in for Weaver. Nice volley AND A SHOT. THAT WAS gorgeous from Kennedy Fuller. What a strike. Great technique. Oh, that would have been a beautiful goal. It's a good save in the end. Lovely take. Great first touch. But yeah, to answer your question about Morgan Weaver up, clearly she's on a minute restriction because you don't take a player like that off in a game like this because this is a must-win game for the Portland Thorns, it is, you know, it's not like if they don't win this game, as tight a table as it is and just a few matches remaining, just two weeks left in the regular season after today. All leading up to decision day on November 1st. Anyone can beat anyone, but genuinely we saw that last year. Gotham FC eighth went to Kansas City current and won. Coldest day of my life. No doubt. >> Yeah, it was, >> you know, showing her the ropes and I think that's admirable. >> Müller to Turner. Turner took some contact as she was just trying to gain control of the ball in the box. >> Yeah, Turner has certainly been in amongst it. Proper battle out there today. took a slight deflection on that. Wasn't the greatest of first touch. >> Fuller gets her FOOT ONTO THE BALL AND PUTS IT IN the back of the net. A beauty from Kennedy Fuller. And Bay FC has put themselves in the lead. >> What a goal. What a finish. Nobody saw this one coming. This is the type of player that can do these types of things. Love the celebration as well. Have to put on a show for their fans. It's another really, really poor defensive movement. Kzada just gets dragged out in that moment. Just bites in there. You can see she has her head in her hands. Mistakes do happen. It's a lovely little deceptive touch from Kennedy Fuller and just uses the incept. I love that nutmeg as well. Look at that. The deception and the composure to bend it. What a beautiful goal. Delight for Kennedy Fuller. Hasn't had much of the ball today, but when she has, those are the things she can do. Lima up into the fray. Bbar from distance will not challenge Arnold much. foul and a card on that last play. >> It's interesting as well cuz Raina Reyes is usually that player that Mento's got off the field. >> It feels predictable for Bay defending what Portland has been bringing. Kaia Hanks maybe trying to change that here. Gets it through right at the penalty spot. Hanks takes it again and does she find it? She does. squeaking into the near corner. Kaia Hanks evens it up for Portland. >> Really good press initially. Excellent play. Kai Hanks actually starts the play and it falls really nicely to her. It's a good finish, but I just feel like Silkowitz could not see where the ball was going. Maybe got blindsided cuz there's not much power and pace on that >> for either of these teams to find a late winner. Toron gets herself turned toward goal. HAD THE SHOT she wanted. Big save there from Silowitz. >> Really good effort from Petra Toran. She creates this out of nothing. Good press initially from De'vor and she shifts it onto her left foot. Catches it really well, but it's a manipulation of the ball to have that separation. Silkovitz had it covered. A good play from Cordon. The momentum has swung toward both teams in this match, but now expecting that final whistle any moment. >> Two teams likely to just split the point in this one. And that will be your final score. 22. Will it be enough for the Portland Thorns down the stretch? They get a single point out of this one. They remain in seventh place on 44 points.