Sky Blue FC (0-9-2, 2 points) will return to National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) action on Wednesday, traveling to play Portland Thorns FC (5-4-4, 19 points) at Providence Park in Portland, Ore. The match-up gets underway at 10:30 p.m. ET, and fans can watch the action live via Go90 and NWSLsoccer.com (international).
“We have played really well in large parts over the past few matches,” said Denise Reddy, Sky Blue FC head coach. “We have consistently increased our chances, but now we must capitalize on those opportunities. As a team, we have been focused on improving our execution throughout all parts of the field, and doing it for the full 90 minutes.”
Sky Blue FC was off this past weekend and returns to action for the first since battling the Orlando Pride on June 16 at Orlando City Stadium. In that match, the New Jersey club fell behind 1-0 in the 3rd minute before Imani Dorsey picked off a defender in the midfield and attacked the goal in the 16th minute. While an initial shot by Dorsey was saved by Pride netminder Ashlyn Harris, Savannah McCaskill was there to bury the rebound and level the game up at one apiece. Orlando regained the lead in the 31st minute, but Sky Blue FC was once again able to equalize when Madison Tiernan put away a rebounded shot by Katie Johnson just six minutes later. Unfortunately for the visiting side, the Pride eventually claimed a 3-2 result when Rachel Hill scored an Alex Morgan feed in the 83rd minute.
Portland enters this midweek pairing on a two-game unbeaten streak, most recently defeating the Houston Dash last Friday night at BBVA Compass Stadium, 3-1. New Jersey native Tobin Heath and Ana Crnogorcevic supplied first-half goals in the contest, while Christine Sinclair put the game on ice in the 83rd minute.
Historically, the overall series with Thorns FC is 6-5-2 in favor of Sky Blue FC, with the New Jersey club also holding a 4-3-0 advantage at Providence Park.
Sky Blue FC will be without a few key players this weekend due to injury. Missing from action will be forward Katie Johnson (right knee tendinitis) and defenders Jen Hoy (right knee sprain), Amandine Pierre-Louis (right ankle sprain) and Rebekah Stott (back strain).
Following a road match with Utah Royals FC on Saturday, Sky Blue FC will return home to Yurcak Field on July 7 to host the Chicago Red Stars. Tickets for that match, which will be Kids Club Night, are available now online or by calling 888-SBFC-TIX (888-723-2849).
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