Portland Thorns beat Kansas Metropolis Present to win NWSL title

Sophia Smith opened the scoring early and the Portland Thorns by no means seemed again in a 2-0 win over the Kansas Metropolis Present to win the 2022 Nationwide Girls’s Soccer League title.

League MVP Smith struck in fourth minute and was in on the play that led to Portland’s second courtesy of an personal purpose by the Present’s Addisyn Merrick shortly after half-time within the NWSL Championship match at Audi Area in Washington, D.C.

– Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, MLS, extra (U.S.)

The win makes it a NWSL document third title for the Thorns, who gained the league’s inaugural championship recreation in 2013 and lifted the trophy once more in 2017.

The Present had a pricey turnover earlier than Smith went down the sector, maneuvered round goalkeeper Adrianna Franch and deftly scored within the fourth minute.

Smith practically had one other purpose within the twenty seventh minute, however her shot went simply huge and is simply the second MVP recipient to attain within the championship recreation, becoming a member of Lynn Williams for North Carolina in 2016. At 22, she’s additionally the youngest participant to attain in a league remaining.

Moments after the Merrick personal purpose, Morgan Weaver had a shot from distance however Franch received a hand on it earlier than it hit the crossbar and caromed away.

The NWSL was rocked this month by the Yates report that confirmed systemic abuse and misconduct, spanning a number of groups, coaches and victims, with the Portland Thorns one of many groups on the heart of the investigation.

Audi Area was practically bought out for the sport — which was broadcast in primetime on community tv for the primary time — with some followers holding up an indication that learn: “Assist The Gamers.”

Portland had a first-round bye within the playoffs and beat the San Diego Wave 2-1 within the semifinals to advance to the championship recreation.

Smith, the No. 1 choose within the 2020 NWSL draft and a member of the USA nationwide staff, scored 15 objectives for the Thorns over the course of the common season and playoffs and was additionally named MVP of the Championship recreation.

The Present started play in 2021 as an growth staff, with lots of its gamers coming over from the defunct Utah Royals. Final season they completed in final place within the league.

The Washington Spirit gained final 12 months’s NWSL championship.

Data from the Related Press was used on this story.