Cary, NC (April 22, 2017)– The North Carolina Courage (2W-0L-0T; 6 pts) played to an impressive 1-0 win in their inaugural home opener on Saturday night against the Portland Thorns (1W-1L-0T; 3 pts) at Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park. Debinha scored the club’s first home goal in history in the 81st minute with a running header after she found Jessica McDonald’s cross.
After both teams settled in, the NC Courage had their first opportunity in the 7thminute, as they earned a free kick, which McDonald took from the right wing.
Though McDonald was unable to convert, the Courage got another quality chance nine minutes later, as McCall Zerboni, who scored the Courage’s first ever goal last weekend against the Washington Spirit, had a powerful shot from a distance that veered wide.
The Courage continued to apply pressure, as McDonald had another opportunity in the 19th minute with a header from the left side of the six-yard box that missed just left.
In the 30th minute, the Courage were just inches away, as Debinha nearly netted a goal off a bicycle kick, following a cross from Lynn Williams and a shot from Makenzy Doniak, creating chaos in the box.
Williams was causing trouble, as she had consecutive chances in the 39th and 42ndminutes, with one shot going high and wide, and the other forcing Thorns goalkeeper Adrianna Franch to make a save.
Though halftime came and the match remained scoreless, the Courage outshot the Thorns 9-2. Additionally, the Courage held about 60 percent of possession in the first half.
After returning from halftime, the Courage were incredibly close to netting their first goal at Sahlen’s Stadium in the 55th minute. Sam Mewis forced Franch to make a save, however, the ball dribbled out of her hands and a charging Williams nearly slipped the ball past the keeper, but the play was called offside.
It was Williams again in the 59th minute, as the forward made a run with a through ball, but her shot went slightly wide.
Another opportunity for North Carolina came in the 74th minute, as a Portland hand ball in the box resulted in a penalty kick that was taken by Sam Mewis, but Franch was able to smother the ball.
Finally, the Courage were rewarded for their persistence, as Debinha scored the team’s first goal at Sahlen’s Stadium in the 81st minute. The Brazilian midfielder found a cross from McDonald, and with a running header, slotted the ball past Franch.
Overall, the Courage outshot the Thorns 14-2 and picked up all three points from the home win that kept them currently unbeaten in the regular season.
Notes:
- This was Debinha’s first goal in 2017 and first with the NC Courage.
- Jessica McDonald recorded her first assist of the season. She recorded a total of seven in 2016.
- Abby Erceg returned to the lineup after missing the first game of the season due to injury.
- Ashley Hatch made her professional debut coming on for Jessica McDonald in the 89th minute.
Lineups:
NC Courage: Sabrina D’Angelo; Jaelene Hinkle, Abby Erceg ©, Abby Dahlkemper, Yuri Kawamura; McCall Zerboni, Sam Mewis, Debinha (Rosana,85’), Makenzy Doniak (Taylor Smith, 77); Lynn Williams, Jessica McDonald (Ashley Hatch, 89’)
Subs not used: Katelyn Rowland, Meredith Speck, Sam Witteman, Kristen Hamilton
Portland Thorns: Adrianna Franch; Emily Sonnett, Emily Menges, Meghan Klingenberg (Meghan Cox, 46’); Amandine Henry, Lindsey Horan (Mana Shim, 77’), Allie Long, Celeste Bourielle, Nadia Nadim; Mallory Weber (Hayley Raso, 65’), Christine Sinclair ©
Subs not used: Britt Eckerstrom, Meg Morris
Score:
NC: 1
POR: 0
Goals:
NC: Debinha (Jessica McDonald, 81’)
POR: —
Cautions:
NC: Yuri Kawamura (27’), Sam Mewis (76’)
POR: —
Ejections:
NC: —
POR: —
Attendance: 6,298
###
Cary, NC (April 22, 2017)– The North Carolina Courage (2W-0L-0T; 6 pts) played to an impressive 1-0 win in their inaugural home opener on Saturday night against the Portland Thorns (1W-1L-0T; 3 pts) at Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park. Debinha scored the club’s first home goal in history in the 81st minute with a running header after she found Jessica McDonald’s cross.
After both teams settled in, the NC Courage had their first opportunity in the 7thminute, as they earned a free kick, which McDonald took from the right wing.
Though McDonald was unable to convert, the Courage got another quality chance nine minutes later, as McCall Zerboni, who scored the Courage’s first ever goal last weekend against the Washington Spirit, had a powerful shot from a distance that veered wide.
The Courage continued to apply pressure, as McDonald had another opportunity in the 19th minute with a header from the left side of the six-yard box that missed just left.
In the 30th minute, the Courage were just inches away, as Debinha nearly netted a goal off a bicycle kick, following a cross from Lynn Williams and a shot from Makenzy Doniak, creating chaos in the box.
Williams was causing trouble, as she had consecutive chances in the 39th and 42ndminutes, with one shot going high and wide, and the other forcing Thorns goalkeeper Adrianna Franch to make a save.
Though halftime came and the match remained scoreless, the Courage outshot the Thorns 9-2. Additionally, the Courage held about 60 percent of possession in the first half.
After returning from halftime, the Courage were incredibly close to netting their first goal at Sahlen’s Stadium in the 55th minute. Sam Mewis forced Franch to make a save, however, the ball dribbled out of her hands and a charging Williams nearly slipped the ball past the keeper, but the play was called offside.
It was Williams again in the 59th minute, as the forward made a run with a through ball, but her shot went slightly wide.
Another opportunity for North Carolina came in the 74th minute, as a Portland hand ball in the box resulted in a penalty kick that was taken by Sam Mewis, but Franch was able to smother the ball.
Finally, the Courage were rewarded for their persistence, as Debinha scored the team’s first goal at Sahlen’s Stadium in the 81st minute. The Brazilian midfielder found a cross from McDonald, and with a running header, slotted the ball past Franch.
Overall, the Courage outshot the Thorns 14-2 and picked up all three points from the home win that kept them currently unbeaten in the regular season.
Notes:
- This was Debinha’s first goal in 2017 and first with the NC Courage.
- Jessica McDonald recorded her first assist of the season. She recorded a total of seven in 2016.
- Abby Erceg returned to the lineup after missing the first game of the season due to injury.
- Ashley Hatch made her professional debut coming on for Jessica McDonald in the 89th minute.
Lineups:
NC Courage: Sabrina D’Angelo; Jaelene Hinkle, Abby Erceg ©, Abby Dahlkemper, Yuri Kawamura; McCall Zerboni, Sam Mewis, Debinha (Rosana,85’), Makenzy Doniak (Taylor Smith, 77); Lynn Williams, Jessica McDonald (Ashley Hatch, 89’)
Subs not used: Katelyn Rowland, Meredith Speck, Sam Witteman, Kristen Hamilton
Portland Thorns: Adrianna Franch; Emily Sonnett, Emily Menges, Meghan Klingenberg (Meghan Cox, 46’); Amandine Henry, Lindsey Horan (Mana Shim, 77’), Allie Long, Celeste Bourielle, Nadia Nadim; Mallory Weber (Hayley Raso, 65’), Christine Sinclair ©
Subs not used: Britt Eckerstrom, Meg Morris
Score:
NC: 1
POR: 0
Goals:
NC: Debinha (Jessica McDonald, 81’)
POR: —
Cautions:
NC: Yuri Kawamura (27’), Sam Mewis (76’)
POR: —
Ejections:
NC: —
POR: —
Attendance: 6,298
###
