Sinclair scores as Thorns down Red Stars in high-scoring affair
Michelle Cooper scored the fastest goal in league history for the Kansas City Current
The Chicago Red Stars tried to spark a comeback with late goals from Ella Stevens and Allison Schlegel, but the Portland Thorns held on for the win at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, Illinois.
Portland had 17 shots at halftime but were held scoreless until the 43rd minute. That's when Sophia Smith spun around her defender and dribbled to the top of the box, shooting into the left corner for her third straight goal and seventh this season.
Immediately after, Thorns goalkeeper Bella Bixby crashed into Arin Wright in the box. After Wright was stretchered off with her knee wrapped, Stevens buried the penalty to make it 2-1.
Christine Sinclair of Burnaby, B.C. gave the Thorns a cushion just three minutes later, bringing down Crystal Dunn's cross and calmly sliding her shot into the right corner, but rookie Schlegel responded again for Chicago, heading in a corner kick in the 82nd.
WATCH | Sinclair scores classic winner for Portland:
Chicago (3-8-1) continued to push for an equalizer, including a shot from St-Charles-Borommée, QC, native, Bianca St. Georges that bounced off the post, but the match would end 3-2.
Portland (6-2-4) has now scored in 19 straight road matches.
Cooper's record breaking strike not enough for Current
Michelle Cooper scored the fastest goal in league history for the Kansas City Current, but the Washington Spirit came from two goals down to win 3-2 on the road in the National Women's Soccer League on Sunday.
RECORD BREAKER!!!<br><br>Michelle Cooper scores the fastest goal in NWSL history, just 23 seconds after the opening whistle. 🤯 <a href="https://t.co/iEVZWosZdG">pic.twitter.com/iEVZWosZdG</a>
—@NWSLDebinha doubled the lead in the 23rd minute, sliding a penalty kick into the lower left corner after the Spirit were called for a handball in the box.
Rookie Paige Metayer leveled the score in the 82nd minute, heading in a corner kick.
The game-winner came in the 88th minute. Tara McKeown, who was converted from forward to center back this year, ran onto Dorian Bailey's cross into the box and scored with her first touch from close range.
Kansas City (3-9-0) had eight shots on target, but goalkeeper Aubrey Kingsbury made six saves to keep the Spirit in the match.
Racing Louisville shutout Gotham
Savannah DeMelo scored her fifth goal of the season as Racing Louisville shutout Gotham at Lynn Family Stadium in Kentucky. Thembi Kgatlana scored the second goal, her first for Louisville.
DeMelo has been involved in eight goals in all NWSL competitions since the beginning of May, two more than any other player in the league during this time.
At the start of the second half, Kgatlana sprinted forward to get open for a pass from Kirsten Davis in the box. Her shot was partially blocked by goalkeeper Abby Smith, but the momentum pushed it into the goal.
Kelley O'Hara had a header go off the post for Gotham in the 60th minute, and Racing Louisville (3-3-6) goalkeeper Katie Lund made seven saves to earn a shutout.
Gotham (5-4-3) midfielder McCall Zerboni became the second player to appear in 200 matches. OL Reign defender Lauren Barnes hit the milestone a week earlier.
