Sky Blue FC vs. Portland Thorns FC: Match Preview

Sky Blue FC vs. Portland Thorns FC

Providence Park; Portland, Oregon

June 27, 2018

10:30 p.m. ET

Watch: go90 or NWSLsoccer.com

Sky Blue FC (0-9-2, 2 points) returns to National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) action on Wednesday for a midweek match-up against Portland Thorns FC (5-4-4, 19 points) at Providence Park in Portland, Ore. The contest kicks off at 10:30 p.m. ET and fans can watch the action via go90 or on NWSLsoccer.com.

Sky Blue FC is still looking for its first victory of the season. The New Jersey club’s winless streak of 11 games is now equal to the 2013 Seattle Reign FC’s record of the longest winless start to a season. Sky Blue’s two points in the standings is also tied with the 2013 Reign for the fewest points heading into Game 12.

The New Jersey side was off this past weekend and returns to match play since facing the Pride on June 16 in Orlando. In that match, Sky Blue FC fell behind 1-0 in the 3rd minute before recent signing Imani Dorsey picked off a defender in the midfield and penetrated to goal in the 16th minute. Dorsey’s shot was initially saved by Pride goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris, but Savannah McCaskill was there to bury the rebound and tie 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. The Pride eventually claimed a 3-2 result when Rachel Hill scored off an Alex Morgan feed in the 83rd minute of play.

Portland enters Wednesday night’s contest on a two-game unbeaten streak, most recently defeating the Houston Dash 3-1 last Friday night at BBVA Compass Stadium. New Jersey native Tobin Heath and Ana Crnogorcevic supplied first-half goals in the contest, while Christine Sinclair sealed the game in the 83rd minute.

Historically, Sky Blue FC holds the advantage in this series with an overall record of 6-5-2 against the Thorns. Sky Blue also holds a 4-3-0 advantage at Providence Park. The last time the New Jersey squad played in Providence Park was June 17, 2017, and Sky Blue earned a 3-1 victory.

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).

INJURY REPORT

Portland Thorns FC

OUT: Caitlin Foord (right lis franc repair), Meg Morris (left hip pain – SEI)

QUESTIONABLE: Midge Purce (right ankle sprain)

Sky Blue FC

OUT: Jen Hoy (right knee sprain), Katie Johnson (right knee tendinitis), Amandine Pierre-Louis (right ankle sprain), Rebekah Stott (back strain)