FC Kansas City moves into third place with 3-0 victory over Portland Thorns FC

FC Kansas City got its payback Wednesday night.

The Blues, motivated by the memory of letting two points slip away in a road game in June against Portland Thorns FC, stayed patient through a slow start for a satisfying 3-0 victory in front of 2,982 fans at Swope Soccer Village. It was the team’s second straight shutout and sixth result in seven games.

The Blues were seeking revenge for a game in which it had taken the lead in the 94th minute but were forced to settle for a draw in the final seconds of stoppage time by Portland goalkeeper Michelle Betos’ first career goal. It came on a header with just 10 seconds remaining on the clock.

“Last game we played so well and for Betos to come in and get that amazing header was a little discouraging,” Blues midfielder Mandy Laddish said. “A nice solid win felt really good and we’re really happy about it.”

FC Kansas City came better prepared this time around with 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup champion Becky Sauerbrunn on the backline and fellow national-teamers Amy Rodriguez and Heather O’Reilly leading the offense.

Less than a minute into the game, Rodriguez was already on the attack. She charged down the left side of the field with a defender on her hip and then stopped and sent a cross to the right. It was cleared, ending one of the team’s best opportunities of the night.

The team stayed aggressive through the rest of the first half, working around a handful of offsides calls for seven shots, but went into the locker room in a scoreless tie.

Laddish, a Lee’s Summit native, broke the stalemate in the 61st minute, chipping a shot into the top right of the goal over an outstretched Betos. It was her first goal of the season, and she was assisted by Leigh Ann Robinson.

Rodriguez added some cushion with a goal in the 63rd minute, which she fired into the right side of the goal again off an assist from O’Reilly. It was her second goal in eight games with the team this season.

Laddish assisted on the final goal, heading a cross from O’Reilly to Erika Tymrak in the 76th minute. Tymrak took the ball down from chest height and tapped it into the goal.

It was only the team’s seventh multigoal game of the season, but FC Kansas City has outscored opponents 7-0 in its last two games. FC Kansas City, the defending NWSL champion, has allowed only 18 goals in 17 games.

The victory also helped FC Kansas City, 7-6-4, take over third place in the NWSL standings, passing the Washington Spirit based on goal differential. The top four teams advance to the playoffs.

The Blues’ final U.S. Women’s National team player, Lauren Holiday, missed her second straight match because of left sacral iliac instability. She did not warm up but sat dressed out on the sideline.

Portland suffered a scare in the 30th minute when midfielder Sinead Farrelly was hit in the face with a ball. She stayed on the field for several minutes before being ushered off for concussion testing. She did not return to the game and remained in the locker room after halftime.

FC Kansas City 3

Thorns 0

PORTLAND FC: Michelle Betos, Kat Williamson, Clare Polkinghorne, Emily Menges, Kaylyn Kyle (Ayo Anonma, 70th), McCall Zerboni, Allie Long, Tobin Heath, Sinead Farrelly (Kendall Johnson, 32nd), Jodie Taylor, Christine Sinclair, Meleana Shim (Lianne Sanderson, 45th).

FC KANSAS CITY: Nicole Barnhart, Becky Sauerbrunn, Leigh Ann Robinson, Rebecca Moros, Amy LePeilbet, Erica Tymrak (Liz Bogus, 80th), Heather O’Reilly (Francis Silva, 78th), Mandy Laddish, Jen Buczkowski, Yael Averbuch, Amy Rodriguez (Sarah Hagen, 84th).

GOAL SCORING

Portland FC: None. FC Kansas City: 1, Laddish (Robinson), 60th minute; 2, Rodriguez (O'Reilly), 62nd minute; 3, Tymrak (Laddish), 76th minute.

CAUTIONS

Portland FC: Menges (reckless foul), 70th.

FC Kansas City: None.

RED CARDS

Portland FC: None.

FC Kansas City: None.

OFFICIALS

Referee: x.

Assistant referee: x.

Assistant referee: x.

4th official: x.

Announced attendance: 2, 982.

This story was originally published August 12, 2015 at 9:25 PM with the headline "FC Kansas City moves into third place with 3-0 victory over Portland Thorns FC."