Portland 2-4 Boston. Down to ten in the 22nd minute, down two at the break, and still in it until stoppage time.
We're back at Pappy's, our original bar, on a Monday, because Marissa got a tattoo on Sunday. It says "gay" in Old English, lowercase g, so it doesn't read "hey".
Marissa was in the press box. Boston played like a team chasing playoff points, not one that was already eliminated. Sophia Wilson was sent off for a hair pull right in front of the referee, and Marissa isn't arguing with the red. Boston scored twice before halftime. Then, with ten players, Portland played what Marissa calls some of their best soccer. Pietra Tordin's penalty made it 2-1, and Shae Harvey scored her first NWSL goal off the bench. Boston scored either side of it, in the 88th minute and in stoppage time. Marissa has questions about Mackenzie Arnold's positioning on those two goals. She also says no one player loses a game.
Then the good news. Tordin's penalty made Portland the first club to 50 regular-season penalty goals, and she has her first senior USA call-up. Jessie Fleming set the club's single-season appearance record and has played 51 games in a row. Alan has a new jersey, and Marissa wants the owners to bring back red, black and green.
Plus Marissa's Match Week 24 Roundup, the table after the weekend's games (seventh, three clear of Seattle with three to play), and USA v Spain in the international break. Thorns Abroad is next week.
Recorded Monday, October 5, after every Week 24 game was played.
Bring a drink.
CHAPTERS
00:00 Back at Pappy's, and Marissa's new tattoo
04:55 Marissa at the game, and Stephanie from the Mercury
06:34 Portland 2–4 Boston
10:52 Wilson's second red card
12:37 Tordin's penalty, Harvey's first goal, and the last two goals
15:39 A new coach, and the players we've lost
17:25 Milestones, Tordin's call-up, and Thorns Abroad
19:54 Alan's new jersey and Fleming's record
22:03 Marissa's Match Week 24 Roundup
27:27 The table after the weekend, with three to play
30:43 The international break: USA v Spain and the FIFA rankings
33:25 The NWSL table
35:08 Sign-off
