2021 NWSL Challenge Cup Championship

The 2021 NWSL Challenge Cup Championship, the final match of the 2021 NWSL Challenge Cup,[1] was a soccer match held on May 8, 2021 at Providence Park in Portland, Oregon, United States.[2] It was contested by Portland Thorns FC and NJ/NY Gotham FC, the winners of the West and East Divisions, respectively, of the Challenge Cup. The match finished drawn 1–1 after 90 minutes, with the rules specifying that the teams would not play extra time but would instead proceed to a penalty shootout. The Thorns won the shootout 6–5 after 7 rounds, thus winning the Challenge Cup.[3]

2021 NWSL Challenge Cup Championship
Event2021 NWSL Challenge Cup
Portland Thorns FC NJ/NY Gotham FC
1 1
Portland Thorns FC won 6–5 on penalties
DateMay 8, 2021 (2021-05-08)
VenueProvidence Park, Portland, Oregon
Player of the MatchAdrianna Franch, POR
RefereeNatalie Simon

Road to the final
Further information: 2021 NWSL Challenge Cup

Portland Thorns FC won the right to host the final by finishing with the best record across both divisions.[4]

Note: In all results below, the score of the finalist is given first.

Portland Thorns FC Round NJ/NY Gotham FC
Opponent Result Divisional play Opponent Result
Kansas City 2–1 Match 1 Orlando Pride 1–0
Chicago Red Stars 1–0 Match 2 North Carolina Courage 4–3
OL Reign 2–0 Match 3 Washington Spirit 0–0
Houston Dash 1–1 Match 4 Racing Louisville FC 0–0
Pos Team Pld Pts
1 Portland Thorns FC 4 10
2 OL Reign 4 7
3 Houston Dash 4 6
4 Chicago Red Stars 4 2
5 Kansas City 4 1
Source: NWSL
 Final standings
Pos Team Pld Pts
1 NJ/NY Gotham FC 4 8
2 North Carolina Courage 4 7
3 Orlando Pride 4 5
4 Washington Spirit 4 4
5 Racing Louisville FC 4 2
Source: NWSL

Match

Details

Portland struck first, with Christine Sinclair winning the ball near midfield and then scoring from just outside Gotham's penalty box in the 8th minute. Portland generated several more chances in the first half but Gotham's defense successfully kept the score 1-0 until halftime. In the 61st minute, Carli Lloyd scored a header on a cross from Imani Dorsey, evening the match at 1-1. That score held until the end of the 90 minutes of regulation time. Tournament rules specified that there would be no extra time, so the match proceeded to a penalty shootout. In the first five rounds, each team had a shot rebound back off the crossbar—one by Jennifer Cudjoe for Gotham and one by Meghan Klingenberg for the Thorns. Both teams made their sixth-round shots, but in the seventh round, Nahomi Kawasumi of Gotham had her shot saved by Thorns goalkeeper Adrianna Franch. Morgan Weaver of the Thorns scored on her seventh-round attempt, winning the game and the 2021 Challenge Cup for Portland.[3]


Portland Thorns FC1–1NJ/NY Gotham FC
  • Sinclair 8'
  • Charley Yellow card 79'
 Report
Penalties
 6–5
Referee: Natalie Simon

Player of the Match:
Adrianna Franch, POR[5]
Assistant referees:
Brooke Mayo
Deleana Quan
Fourth official:
Karen Callado
Reserve assistant referee:
Rachel Smith

Match rules

Broadcasting

The match aired on CBS and Paramount+ in the United States, and on Twitch internationally.[2] JP Dellacamera and Aly Wagner served as play-by-play announcer and analyst respectively on CBS, while Josh Eastern and Kaylyn Kyle did the same on Twitch. Marisa Pilla was the on-field reporter. CBS Sports soccer reporter Sandra Herrera and studio host Poppy Miller hosted the pre- and post-game shows on CBS Sports HQ along with Aly Wagner and Lori Lindsey.

Notes
  1. Each team was given only three opportunities to make substitutions, excluding substitutions made at half-time.

References
  1. "2021 NWSL CHALLENGE CUP SET TO BE PLAYED IN HOME MARKETS; KICKOFF SCHEDULED FOR APRIL 9". NWSL. January 27, 2021. Retrieved March 6, 2021.
  2. "NWSL Announces 2021 Challenge Cup Presented by Secret Opener in Houston". NWSL. March 8, 2021. Retrieved March 8, 2021.
  3. Donovan, Mike (May 8, 2021). "Challenge Cup Championship Recap | Portland Thorns FC 1 (6), NJ/NY Gotham FC 1 (5)". Portland Thorns FC. Archived from the original on May 8, 2021. Retrieved May 8, 2021.
  4. Tannenwald, Jonathan (May 4, 2021). "Union offer to host NWSL Challenge Cup final at Subaru Park if game has to be moved from Portland". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  5. @NWSL (May 8, 2021). "AD, this Bud is for you 🍻@ADizzle23 is your @budweiserusa Player of the Match!#CC21" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
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