Sophia Smith sparkles as Portland Thorns capture record third NWSL title

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  • Portland win 2-0 over upstarts Kansas City in NWSL final
  • Sophia Smith scores early and earns player of match honors
  • Thorns add record third title to previous 2013 and 2017 wins

The Portland Thorns are National Women’s Soccer League champions for a record third time after winning 2-0 over the Kansas City Current before a near-sellout crowd at Audi Field in the nation’s capital on Saturday night.

The brace of goals came from burgeoning US star Sophia Smith and an own goal early in both halves. And while the threats from the west coach giants were varied and relentless – overshadowing any from middle-America surprise package Kansas City – the start, middle and end of the momentous match were marked in particular by Smith. It was a fitting end to a season notable for just the same. The 22-year-old newly minted NWSL Most Valuable Player – the youngest in the 10-year-old league’s history – made her mark early with a fourth-minute goal on a match that would prove notable for her performance above all else.

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from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/oct/30/nwsl-final-sophia-smith-portland-thorns-kc-current

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