Thorns climb to top of NWSL table with goals from Marie Müller, Sophia Wilson

Both sides applied pressure heavily, particularly the Wave, who forced the Thorns to move the ball quickly across Providence Park’s already-slick artificial surface. Despite winning their last five consecutive matches, including a stunning 3-2 comeback at the Denver Summits on Saturday, the Wave struggled to capitalize on their chances. Of their 11 shots, three were on target, the same number of on-frame attempts as the Thorns.

In many ways, the match felt like the Thorns’ response to a conversation that began on March 25, when the two sides met for the first time this season. San Diego handed the Thorns their only loss of the season in that clash, beating them 3-1 at Snapdragon Stadium with goals from Dudinha, Lia Godfrey and Melanie Barcenas. On Wednesday, however, the Thorns managed to shut San Diego out, a feat made possible in part by Australian goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold’s three key saves.

Thorns manager Robert Vilahamn said Wednesday night that in their previous game, Arnold “had a struggle with her feet in the build-up. We were not so good in the build-up, and I was depressed as well, and we didn’t really find our way out.” The two had a conversation about that, he said, and “today she was much better and braver in the build-up with her feet and taking the right decision when to play short and when to take long.”

U.S. women’s national team head coach Emma Hayes was among the 19,806 in attendance in Portland and was seen holding Wilson’s daughter, Gianna, on camera before kickoff. It was Hayes’ third of a six-match NWSL road trip, which will culminate in Atlanta for the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the Arthur M. Blank U.S. Soccer National Training Center in Fayetteville, Ga.

“I love that there’s been a changing of order this season,” Hayes said of the NWSL table during a halftime interview with CBS. “I think San Diego have looked really strong. I watched them against Denver, and it was a great comeback, but equally, I think the Thorns have been outstanding. I think they were really well prepared by the time Robert came in, and I think this is a top matchup.”

On Sunday, the Wave will host Bay FC, while the Thorns play on the road against the Chicago Stars.

This article originally appeared in The Athletic.

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