Can the Royals continue their momentum from last weekend and get their first ever win over the Thorns? Projected starting XI: Smith Bowen Corsie Sauerbrunn Moros Scott Gunny Gorry Press A-Rod Matheson I would like to see Johnson get another start, whether it's at CB with Sauerbrunn or RB in place of Bowen, but she played well enough against SkyBlue that I think she deserves more time. Portland will be missing the services of Meghan Klingenberg for this game, as she was slapped with a one game suspension for violent conduct in the Thorns' recent loss to Seattle.
I don't love the front three of Matheson/Press/ARod. I want something different, I'm just not sure what. Does anyone know the timetable on O'Hara? Would love to have her out there with Press.
End of July at the earliest for O'Hara. If Utah is still in the playoff hunt by August, she'll probably be a sub option when she does come back.
Press must be feeling a bit of deja vu right now being down against Portland. She never got a win over them while with Chicago.
The early goal conceded has clearly rattled the players. They are looking frantic and rushing things. Someone needs to step up and calm everyone down.
Well, that half sucked. Sloppy passing, nonexistent defending, frantic play from everyone wearing gold.... it's like aliens kidnapped the Royals and replaced them with sucky doppelgangers. And Harvey seemed unable to make any on-field adjustments to stop the bleeding. Something has to change for the second half or this game could quickly get out of hand.
I wish I could say I was shocked that D-Math didn't get a red for her hideous challenge on Purce, but the refs are seemingly allergic to sending players off this year. We're 2/3 of the way through the season and not one has been issued, despite several fouls that were worthy of a straight red or a second yellow.
The crosses to no one need to stop. And WTF was that, Press? That was a golden chance and you send it to Row X?
Better second half defensively, minus the blown offside trap. Why couldn't they play like this in the first half?
That was not fun to watch. Worst performance of the season for the Royals by a country mile. Take this game and throw it in the trash where it belongs. No one is getting a pass today, not even the usually dependable Sauerbrunn.