Match Recap: Western New York Flash 3, Portland Thorns 2

The Portland Thorns closed out the 2015 NWSL season with a 3-2 loss on the road against the Western New York Flash Friday night. Portland nearly staged a second-straight comeback, but time ran out before the Thorns could steal an equalizer. The Flash scored three goals in the first thirty minutes before Jodie Taylor tallied her third of the season just before halftime, while Allie Long scored in second half stoppage time to give the Thorns hope of a draw.

Halimatu Ayinde opened the scoring in the sixth minute, before Jasmyne Spencer doubled the lead just two minutes later. Samantha Mewis made it 3-0 in the 24th minute, five minutes before Portland started the comeback through Taylor. Alex Morgan broke into the box on the left side, but elected to send a low pass across the box to Taylor who finished first time to make it 3-1.

Portland came out dominant at the beginning of the second half, but was unable to capitalize on a defense that had conceded seven goals in its last four games. The Thorns held out hope until the final whistle, though Long’s tap-in from a Mana Shim blocked shot came too late to find another. The goal marked Long’s third in three games against the Flash this season.

With the result, the Flash keep the Thorns from sweeping the series this season. Portland had won the two previous matches this year by a combined scoreline of 3-0.