Thorns top Chicago for first win of season

BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. — The Portland Thorns spoiled the Chicago Red Stars home opener on Saturday night with two goals from Christine Sinclair in a 3-2 victory on a windy, cold night at Toyota Park.

The game opened up early for Portland (1-1-0) with midfielder Lindsey Horan getting a strike off of an out-swinging corner kick from Meghan Klingenberg. Horan timed the service perfectly and got her team on the board in the 9th minute. Horan’s goal was her first of the year for Portland.

Tied at 1-1 in the 40th minute, Sinclair ran onto a through ball and Red Stars’ goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher came out to make a sliding save.

Naeher, in an attempt to kick the ball away from an incoming Sinclair, was unable to get a piece of the ball which left Sinclair in full stride and she put it into the back of the net for the 2-1 lead before the break.

In the 64th minute Danielle Colaprico was called for a handball in the box and issued a yellow card. Sinclair stepped up to take the penalty kick for the Thorns and got her second goal of the game to put the Thorns up 3-1.

Alyssa Mautz had both goals for Chicago, the second coming in the 67th minute.

The Thorns were without head coach Mark Parsons following an announcement on Friday that he was suspended for two games following misconduct on March 24.

While Portland is in the process of appealing the decision, Parsons missed Saturday night’s match in Chicago. If the appeal process remains unsuccessful, he will miss his team’s home opener against Orlando on April 15.