:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/49223643/Thorns_OSU_CM11.0.0.jpg)
Portland Thorns FC conceded two late goals to fall 2-1 to the Houston Dash Saturday night in their final preseason match in front of 5,024 fans at Providence Park. Janine Beckie provided a goal and an assist for Houston after Dagny Brynjarsdottir gave Portland a 1-0 lead in the second half. Kealia Ohai scored the winner for Houston in the final minutes.
Brynjarsdottir tallied her first goal for Portland, tapping into an open net after Shade Pratt's initial shot was blocked by Dash goalkeeper Bianca Henninger. The goal marked the first in the Rose City for the Iceland international, who will leave for international duty following the match.
Houston tied the match minutes later as Beckie picked up the ball midway between the 18-yard box and the halfway line. Dribbling between several Thorns defenders, the second-half substitute took her shot early from distance which managed to beat Franch into the lower left corner.
Beckie then turned provider in the dying minutes, slipping behind Portland's defense on the right flank to cut back to a wide-open Ohai. After being caught offside numerous times in the match, Ohai measured a powerful shot into the net to secure the 2-1 win.
Adrianna Franch became the third Thorns goalkeeper to save a penalty kick from a Houston player in the 28th minute. After bringing down Ohai on the edge of the box, Franch dove to her left to save Amber Brooks shot and keep the scores locked at 0-0, which would hold into halftime. Former goalkeeper Nadine Angerer, now the Thorns goalkeeping coach, saved a Dash penalty kick in 2014, while Michelle Betos saved a Houston penalty last season.
The Dash featured two former Thorns in their starting lineup with Brooks captaining the side and defender Rebecca Moros playing her first match after joining Houston earlier this week. Portland was still without five U.S. internationals who are preparing for friendlies in the coming days, while Nadia Nadim also went out on international duty following Wednesday night's match against OSU, in which she scored a hat-trick.
A game riddled with offsides, the two teams combined for 16 offside calls in the match with Houston leading the way with 11. Portland edged the Dash in shots 12-11 and held a lead in corner kicks 6-3. Henninger made five saves to Franch's two.
UPDATES TO FOLLOW...