Izzy D’Aquila scored on a penalty early in the first half and Payton Linnehan added a key insurance goal in the second half as the Portland Thorns hung on to down Santa Fe of Panama 2-1 in the group stage of the Concacaf W Champions Cup.
The Thorns largely dominated play in front of 8,386 fans at Providence Park despite fielding a second-choice lineup, but let several prime opportunities to build a significant advantage slip away. Leading only 1-0 well into the second half against the last-place team in its five-team group, Portland finally put the game away when Linnehan outraced a Santa Fe defender to a loose ball and finished on a breakaway in the 64th minute.
D’Aquila’s goal from the spot came after Linnehan was chopped down in the penalty area in the 10th minute.
An unforced giveaway on a free kick by Portland goalkeeper Shelby Hogan in the 82nd minute allowed Santa Fe’s Nuria Marquez to score into the vacated net to make for a nervous finish for the Thorns.
Portland improved to 2-1 in group play with one game remaining on Oct. 15 against the Vancouver Whitecaps at BC Place. The top two of the five clubs will advance to the semifinals of the tournament next May. The winner of the competition will play in the first FIFA Women’s Club World Cup in 2026.
San Diego leads the group with nine points while the Thorns and Club America of Mexico have six each. But America holds a seven-goal lead in the goal differential tiebreaker, meaning the Thorns need to earn at least a draw in Vancouver and hope that San Diego beats America the following day.
The Thorns started a second-choice lineup against Santa Fe, which came into the game at 0-3 in the group while being outscored 9-1. While Portland was still clearly the superior side, the Thorns let the visitors — who were playing only for pride — hang around late. Santa Fe attempted only one shot in the opening half, but had 10 after intermission, including a shot by Hannah Lee that Hogan had to leap to nudge over the crossbar in the 62nd minute.
The Thorns fired 13 of their 19 shots in the first half, many of them high-quality chances, but could not find the net in the run of play thanks to a combination of poor finishing and the play of Santa Fe goalkeeper Yenith Bailey. D’Aquila hit the post from near the penalty spot in the 5th minute, then was denied by a lunging Bailey on a seemingly open chance 15 minutes later. Linnehan failed to cash in two enticing chances in the first half as well.
Bailey made several difficult saves, including a leaping deflection on a long shot by Marissa Sheva in the first half and a sliding kick save on Thorns substitute Christine Sinclair in the 75th minute.
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Many Thorns starters rested Wednesday or came on as second-half substitutes as the team prepares for the home stretch in NWSL play. Portland is in seventh place in the league, three points ahead of Racing Louisville for the final playoff spot.
Next up: The Thorns have four league games remaining, starting with a home match against Utah at 7 p.m. on Saturday.
-- Scott Sepich for The Oregonian/OregonLive
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