Portland Wins 3rd NWSL Title
10/31/2022
By: Jeff Yoder
Portland Thorns Win NWSL Title; LAFC & Philadelphia Union Reach MLS Finals & More
A busy weekend of soccer across the globe means we’re packing it all into one section. The Portland Thorns were crowned NWSL champions. The MLS final is now set. And a number of big matches and upsets in the Premier League were worth a mention. Here’s a nod to the world’s game before November’s MLS Cup Final and the World Cup.
Portland Thorns Win NWSL Championship
The NWSL finale pitted Portland Thorns and Kansas City Current on Saturday with the title on the line, and it didn’t take long for Portland to strike. League MVP Sophia Smith scored just four minutes in, and an Addisyn Merrick own goal in the second half sealed the win (2-0). It’s the franchise’s third NWSL Championship (2013 & 2017).
MLS: LAFC & Philadelphia Union Advance
Both 1-seeds advanced with three-goal scoring sprees in the MLS Cup conference finals over the weekend. LAFC buried Austin (3-0) to win the west and reach their first MLS Cup final. New York City FC got the first goal on Philadelphia to put the Union in panic mode, but they rallied with three second-half goals despite being out-possessed (65-35). It’s a clash of the two best teams in the land next Saturday.
Philadelphia Union def. New York City FC (3-1)
MLS Cup Final: Saturday (4:00 pm ET)
Other Leagues
EPL: Leeds Utd. def. Liverpool (1-0)
EPL: Brighton & Hove Albion def. Chelsea (4-1)
EPL: Man. City def. Leicester City (1-0)
Additional Storylines
USA Today: Portland Thorns Become Latest NWSL Champion to Overcome Trauma
MLS: MLS Cup 2022 is Set: LAFC vs. Philadelphia Union Descend on Los Angeles
Photo: Brad Smith / Getty Images