Unrelenting Wave

San Diego Wave 3 – 1 Portland Thorns

Whatever is happening on the San Diego training ground, it’s paying off. The Wave played a disciplined, relentless, smothering style against Portland all night, giving the visitors little time to think about what they were doing, while at the same time exploiting space and creating chance after chance. If it wasn’t for Messner in the Thorns goal, this score would have been far less flattering to Portland.

The Wave led through excellent team play and individual brilliance. They press high and hard and smothered the midfield, marking Jesse Fleming into near oblivion. This generated many turnovers, and the Thorns left huge amounts of space in which the sublime Dudinha could operate. Paired with Ludmila cutting in from the wing, the Brazillians created havoc for the Thorns backline throughout the first half. I Can’t imagine what will happen when Adriana Leon returns to this side after her foot heals.

Portland’s only goal came off a mistake in the first half. The Thorns threatened several times, notably through set pieces which were delivered with perfection by Olivia Moultrie but the story of the match was that they couldn’t finish their chances. Even a half time substitution which saw Sophia Wilson come into the game couldn’t spark much. The Wave simply didn’t afford them the space or time on the ball.

The last 15 minutes of the game opened up more, but it was Portland that paid the price, giving up a third goal that sealed the game. A terrific coaching battle, and although the Thorns held their own they gave up their first goals of the season after 180 minutes of clean sheets, and now the tactics board beckons.