FC KANSAS CITY LOSES WILD BATTLE IN PORTLAND

Rematch of Opening Night offers Highest Scoring Match of the Season

PORTLAND, Or (June 6, 2024) – In the second meeting between two of the top teams in the National Women’s Soccer League the Portland Thorns and FC Kansas City put on a display of top-notch soccer that resulted in the highest-scoring game in the league so far.  Kansas City got two goals from Lauren Cheney and Erika Tymrak scored her first professional goal, but ended up on the losing end of this match by the score of 4-3.  In front of 10,886 fans at JELD-WEN Stadium, Courtney Wetzel and Danielle Foxhoven each had a goal for Portland while Alex Morgan chipped in with two of her own.

In the first match of the season, these two teams played a defense-first style of game as they adjusted to their new teams and the new league.  Renae Cuellar scored the first goal in NWSL history and hoped to continue her goal scoring success tonight.  After spotting the Thorns two goals, Cuellar worked her way into scoring position several times.  In the 34th minute as she streaked towards goal she was tackled from behind.  Although KC’s Lauren Sesselmann was issued a red card last week for a seemingly less vicious tackle in the box, Portland’s Rachel Buehler was not even cautioned.  A Penalty Kick was called however and Lauren Cheney calmly stepped up and buried the ball in the left side of the goal.  The 2-1 score would stand for the rest of the half.

Coach Vlatko Andonovski shuffled his lineup for the second half.  Courtney Jones, who came in for the injured Cuellar in the 37^th minute, was joined in the FCKC attack by Lauren Cheney.  The ‘Blues’ attempt at taking the attack to Portland was initially thwarted by an Alex Morgan goal only three minutes into the half.  Shaking that off, Kansas City did not abandon their strategy, outshooting the Thorns in the second half 11-6 and 17-11 overall.  Leigh Ann Robinson was all over the field, making several runs from her defensive position and serving Cheney and Tymrak for goals.  Unfortunately Morgan recorded her second goal of the night between the two KC scores and preserved the Portland win.

FC Kansas City is right back in action on Sunday night at Seattle’s Starfire Stadium against the Reign.  Kick-off is scheduled for 7:00p.m. PT, 9:00p.m. CT.  Fans are invited to the Official Watch Party location for FC Kansas City, the Futbol Club of Kansas City.  The game will also be streamed live at FCKansasCity.com

Erika Tymrak:
On her first professional goal – “I let the pass go across my body and made one cut inside where I saw a lane.  I just took the shot and scored.”

On the final score – “It’s unfortunate that we scored three goals and lost, but I think there is a lot we can take from this game.  We proved to ourselves that we can fight to the end, no matter what.  Now we move on and prepare for Seattle on Sunday.”

Coach Vlatko Andonovski:
On the status of Renae Cuellar – “X-rays were negative and right now she has an ankle sprain.  She is tough and will want to go on Sunday (against Seattle) but we will have to see how everything shakes out over the next couple of days.”

On the loss – “Portland is a good team and they played well tonight.  I think our team stepped up though and played hard all the way to the end.  We need to take the good things from tonight and improve on the bad things for Seattle.”

NWSL Match Report
Match: FC Kansas City vs. Portland Thorns FC
Date: June 6, 2024
Venue: JELD-WEN, Portland, Oregon
Kickoff: 9:30p.m. PT (11:30pm ET)
Attendance: 10,886
Weather: 70 degrees, Partly Cloudy

Lineups:
FCKC: 18-Barnhart GK, 13-Robinson D, 6-Buczkowski D, 4-Sauerbrunn D, 9-Mathias D, 17-Farrelly M, 12-Cheney M, 19-Mewis M, 11-Scott M, 15-Tymrak M, 10-Cuellar F (8-Jones 37’)
Head Coach: Vlatko Andonovski

PTFC: LeBlanc, Dougherty, Williamson, Buehler, Marshall, Wetzel, Edwards, Shim (Foxhoven 46’), Long (Avant 84’), Sinclair (c), Morgan