Portland Thorns hand Gotham first road loss since October 2024

The Portland Thorns handed Gotham FC their first away loss of the season in a commanding 4-1 win in an eventful Tuesday night matchup at Providence Park. What started as a tightly contested affair unraveled for Gotham in the second half, as Portland came alive with three unanswered goals to close out the match.

Gotham were unable to match Portland's pace in the second despite a resilient first-half performance. It was Portland's first home win of the season, snapping Gotham’s 10-match away unbeaten streak dating back to last season. 

Portland drew first blood, taking the lead just six minutes into the game with a decisive strike by midfielder Mimi Alidou. Gotham's defense was caught flat-footed as Bruninha went head to head with 20-year-old Portland rookie Caiya Hanks, who cut inside the backline to deliver a cross to Alidou to score.

Less than a minute later, Gotham evened the score with a tap-in by Esther González for her sixth goal of the season. Gotham forward Gabi Portilho bypassed Portland midfielder Jessie Fleming, threading a shot past three defenders to an unmanned González, who drifted in on the back shoulders of Portland's defense to slot the ball past Portland goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold. With that, González extended her scoring streak to three consecutive games.

"Esther is very talented," said Gotham defender Nealy Martin. "She finds the back of the net for us, but she always also holds up the ball and does her job defensively. It's been great the past three games to see her in form."

If it seemed like the match was destined for a draw, Portland had other ideas, striking quickly to take control in the second half. The Thorns looked like a brand new team as they emerged on the pitch, increasing attacking pressure while capitalizing on gaps in Gotham's backline.

Their persistence paid off in the 61st minute as Portland captain Sam Coffey made a long run downfield to hold off Martin. Coffey's well-executed cross found Hanks in a pocket of space, and she managed to score over goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger for her first NWSL goal and the team's first time scoring multiple goals this season.

Gotham’s woes continued after Reale and Alidou knocked into each in the 71st minute, and a penalty was immediately granted to the Thorns. Portland rookie Jayden Perry stepped up to take it, easily putting it past Berger's left side for her first goal of the season.

"That second half, to be honest, was a bit of a blur," said Gotham defender Jess Carter. "In terms of our squad, I think that we were more than capable of going in and getting a win today with the personnel that we had. I think we just didn't hold ourselves to the highest standard in the second half, and that showed."

Gotham appeared at a loss as the second half dragged on. Portland forward Deyna Castellanos scored off a blocked shot in the 80th minute following a barrage of attempts by Portland's offense to notch a ball in the net.

With captain Tierna Davidson out for the rest of the season and several players limited by minute restrictions, Head Coach Juan Carlos Amorós has made various adjustments in the lineup over the past few matches to approach the second half with a different pace. Last night's match was no different.

"Of course, we don't have the same depth that we normally do, but the squad that we have available with us is more than good enough to go and win games," said Carter. "I think we showed that in the first half. I think we controlled most of the first half."

Gotham looked good in the first half, maintaining 64% possession with a solid defensive transition that held against the Thorns' offensive charge. Despite a number of unforced errors on Portland's end, Gotham were unable to capitalize on some key opportunities. Emily Sonnett failed to convert a close-range shot following a slew of attempts by several Gotham players to score. A cross by forward Sarah Schupansky in the 47th minute saw Martin and González attempt to put one past Arnold, but Sonnett was in prime position to strike one into the back of the net.

Defensive errors marred the second half. Despite Gotham holding possession for 61% of the match, Portland took advantage of the little time they had with the ball to manipulate the space between defenders. It's one of the first times Gotham has allowed an opposing team's wingers to easily isolate themselves around their backline this season.

"It's not normal that we are exposed or that we have less shots than the opposition," said Amorós. "But this is football, and Portland is a fantastic team. Today, especially in that final half an hour, they were better than us."

Gotham next face the Washington Spirit this Saturday in Washington, DC at 1pm ET.

Official Highlights | Portland Thons 4 – 1 Gotham FC