NWSL: San Diego Wave FC Stumbles on the Road in 2-0 Loss to Portland Thorns
- Staff Writer
- 13 minutes ago
- 2 min read
NATIONAL SOCCER NEWS: www.nationalsoccernetwork.com
PORTLAND, Ore. — San Diego Wave FC faced a challenging night at Providence Park on Wednesday, falling 2-0 to Portland Thorns FC in front of a nearly sold-out crowd of 19,806. Despite controlling the majority of possession and outshooting their rivals, the Wave were unable to find the clinical finish needed to overcome an early deficit.
Clinical Thorns Strike Early and Late
The home side wasted little time establishing a lead. In the 10th minute, Portland’s rising star Olivia Moultrie orchestrated the opener, playing a perfectly weighted ball wide into the box for Marie Müller. Müller connected with a first-time strike that curled beautifully into the far post, leaving Wave goalkeeper Freeman with no chance.
San Diego responded by dominating the ball for the remainder of the first half, finishing the match with 58% possession. However, breaking through the Portland backline proved difficult.
In the 64th minute, the Thorns doubled their advantage. Sophia Wilson, receiving a pass from Marie Alidou at the top of the box, turned sharply toward goal and unleashed a low-driven strike that found the corner of the net. The insurance goal effectively sealed the three points for Portland.
Statistical Standouts
The box score tells the story of a frustrating night for the Wave. San Diego doubled Portland’s offensive output in terms of total shots (11 to 5), but both teams finished with exactly three shots on target. Thorns goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold was perfect on the night, recording three saves to keep the clean sheet.
San Diego’s attack was led by Brazilian international Ludmila and young sensation Dudinha, but substitutions in the second half—including the introduction of Melanie Barcenas and Trinity Byars—couldn't break the stalemate.
Match Statistics
Category | Portland Thorns | San Diego Wave |
Score | 2 | 0 |
Possession | 42% | 58% |
Shots | 5 | 11 |
Shots on Target | 3 | 3 |
Corner Kicks | 4 | 5 |
Saves | 3 | 1 |
Looking Ahead: Kids Night at Snapdragon
San Diego Wave FC will look to bounce back as they return home to Snapdragon Stadium for a high-profile California clash.
Opponent: Bay FC
Date: Sunday, May 3, 2026
Kickoff: 4:00 p.m. PT
Broadcast: Victory+
The match will also feature the club's first-ever "Kids Night," a youth-focused match day where children will take over various roles in attendance and in-stadium engagement to help inspire the next generation of Wave FC fans.
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