FULL HIGHLIGHTS | Portland Thorns FC vs. NJ/NY Gotham FC

Gotham FC opens their 2024 NWSL Regular season with a victory on the road!
Watch every goal, every save live on ABC, ESPN, ESPN+, ESPN Deportes, Prime Video, ION, Paramount+, CBS Sports Network, CBS and NWSL+ this season!

[@NWSLsoccer]

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[@wwefuniverse]

Esther comes from another planet. Love the way she plays every game.

[@TheNotoriousNemo]

Yeah she's on another level. She basically makes nwsl look bad.

[@runningthesw5788]

Smith has become the new Morgan for being offsides

[@No.1komanga]

The duel of the No. 9s.

[@literofcola]

At the game, it was frustrating to have those overturned with no replay or commentary. More frustrating, though, were the inconsistent foul calls.

[@davidsprenkle2641]

Two goals by Smith cancelled by extremely tight offsides calls. One a worldie. Football can be a cruel game. . . .

[@jimmd68]

A couple of offside calls for a top flight striker is no problem. Look at the great Fillipo Inzaghi. He was offside most of the time. A wise man once said "That lad must have been born offside." Yet he scored a ton of goals.

[@k.p.8955]

yeeesss! Esther. I love and hate Sophia all at the same time...lol. Way to go Gotham. Let's make it 2 years in a row!

[@No.1komanga]

Yeah, I have mad respect for Sophia!

[@DJ_Mr_Rodge]

same my fifa behind love her game but hates when i have to play against her

[@Dave-po2mz]

Looks like Ryan did some excellent work in the offseason. I wonder if it's more of Juan Carlos tutelage, the guy makes winners. Not to take anything away from Yasmine, it's a noticeable jump.

[@erobinsonii]

Cassie Miller is very good.

[@T.R.75]

Gotham is extremely lucky to get out of there with a win. if Smith buries just one of her multiple poor shots, its a different game. Gothams D was swiss cheese through the middle. not sure what Davidson was doing. appeared Tierna was fully back and playing well, maybe just an off night im hoping. hope Purce is ok, and Esther is always fun. Thorns look lost in midfield so far this season.

[@stevesunusual]

They did lose a certain Kuikka, much to her new team's benefit.

[@DJ_Mr_Rodge]

repeat after me: team ball is beautiful football

[@ricoclawed7937]

team ball is beautiful football

[@n.j.9728]

Some serious controversy in the past round in WSL due to no VAR, with NWSL once again coming out on top and proving to be superior. At the same time, it's hard not to hate VAR for canceling Sophia Smith's stunner. I'm torn 🤷🏼‍♀️

[@bradenhazle4378]

Hope Midge's inury isn't too serious. It was rough to hear her say "No I'm out, I'm out". Should've gone out after her first hard collision. And shame on the coach blaming a tournament when he can always rotate players.

[@TheNotoriousNemo]

She tore her ACL. She is done for awhile

[@tannerpoole2777]

Now… I thought only Alex Morgan had an offsides problem.

[@HarryHill-dy1sp]

Sitting one row from the 🥁. Earplugs worth weight in Gold! Thanks for a fun soccer match pyrotechnics a wonderful TIFO. Not a thorns win but a super fun time!

[@HarryHill-dy1sp]

Could even see my face on the replay!

[@stevesunusual]

They didn't win, but nice to see Smith grow as a leader and take the team on her back for much of the game. She was a force.

[@jaymea8907]

All that fire power and a goose egg

[@erobinsonii]

It's possible that Cassie Miller, Tierna Davidson and Sam Hiatt are the second best defensive threesome in the NWSL.

[@edwinlemus8530]

this year the games are more dynamic; the players are physically in good shape. But it would be nice to see more soccer IQ on the attack. a) offsides. Lear not to fall on it. b) Passing to the open player in front of goal. Other than that, is pretty good.

[@luciasobrino1369]

Spain and the Super League should learn about this league they have VAR, and this match prove that it is necessary in every football game

[@SportsLuvr]

Liga F should have VAR UWCL should have it as well. Real Madrid Femenino got robbed in the UWCL this year when there was a penalty call against them that wasn't a penalty. The Rea; Madrid player never even touched her.

[@luciasobrino1369]

@SportsLuvr that os what i am saying all the competitions should have VAR and i am a Madridista and what you said is true and also the is a match that Barcelona was robbed a goal because of the absences of the VAR

[@n.j.9728]

Move women's matches to large stadiums and you will get VAR. The camera needs to travel along the pitch to determine offside, not doable at the training grounds where 95% of women's games are held in Europe

[@n.j.9728]

I recall in the Real Madrid vs Chelsea game in the CL group stage, Chelsea had their winning goal canceled in the added time and no one could figure out why as the moment was shown from an angle from which it wasn't possible to tell anything. Hold women's games at Bernabeu already

[@ItsKarenReyes]

WHAT A GOD from SMITH!

[@danchapman8218]

Great game, but Sophia was robbed on two very close offsides calls.

[@tieu899]

Portland Thorns was a better team. I never like Smith, but I thought she played well this game. Gotham was lucky this time. I hope Gotham can get together and strengthen the mid field.

[@Lostinthislife7766]

It is really quite amazing how the thorns game shifted when Sinclair came in. It shows the value of experience. Sophia smith was amazing as always.

[@edwinlemus8530]

Portland is still a good team, but, but...that defense is in shambles: they stand and look the attackers go by: brutal.

[@C-Thunder]

Dang, Portland lost all momentum after the VAR ruling.

[@logistixz]

Soccer is a team sport right?

[@Lionessshani]

Based on the highlights, I feel that if someone is offsides, they need to call it before they celebrate! It is cruel that they had Smith (Who is one of my fav players) dribble all the way down and scored the first point and then take it back as soon as it goes in the back of the net, then the second goal she scores, they wait until they celebrate all those few minutes, then VAR/ref wants to check for offsides like whats up with that. I am so sad Portland lost this game, but hopefully they'll get'em next time. Go Thorns!!

[@stevesunusual]

They used to stop play right away I think, but now with VAR they let it go just in case there was an error in calling it. I think usually they should call it right away unless it's very close--no sense having someone celebrate or get hurt on a play that won't count!

[@Ralph_Smith0724]

*The Thorns are badly in need of a professional keeper. Sophia Smith needs to be associated with someone and that could be Beckie who is recovering from an injury and therefore cannot play for 90 minutes; otherwise, Smith will continue being marked by two rival players and neutralized. Moultrie is badly in need of a coach who teaches her how to dribble effectively. She looks clumsy when in possession of the ball.*

[@stevesunusual]

Doesn't seem like they had a great plan for Bixby's leave, that's for sure.

[@thespeedygoalkeeper2025]

World Cup Champion ESTHER!

[@Aki033-y7l]

I repeat. No female footballer is better than Sophia in the WORLD! ❤🌟

[@larrymeye4795]

😂😂😂

[@baskinsmichael]

Lol what a joke. She is ineffective in most games

[@playero5858]

Mallory Pugh is much better

[@andrewdurst8455]

My friend she’s not even the best on the national team let alone in the world

[@jaymea8907]

😄😂😅 sure bro

[@thespeedygoalkeeper2025]

Sophia was a problem for Gotham, but once they put Nighswonger on her, she was done!

[@twagissmude]

❤

[@omarmonoruiz]

I literally quit watching as soon as i heard the english announcer lady . ( no its not the accent)

[@eastvandb]

What a sad self-own.

[@tijanabll]

Same literally and it’s not her accent (I’m not even American) she just really talks in an annoying way. It’s too much

[@T.R.75]

Sanderson was getting annoying, agreed. usually dont mind her too much, but, she was bad this match.

[@omarmonoruiz]

@@eastvandb maybe production should consider the fact that a good announcer is horribly important. Its not just getting someone brih'ish or a woman. No anger. Just honest. Lit quit watching 😅☹️

[@TheKingOf2024]

Paid ref

[@baskinsmichael]

Moultrie is truly way out of her depth, not good enough for the league. Smith is ALWAYS running early and offsides. If she doesn’t fix this she will never be good enough for starting USWNT

[@mnonodzilala8508]

YT coaches know best right

[@andrewdurst8455]

@@mnonodzilala8508what is YT

[@andrewdurst8455]

I was gonna say isn’t she like 20 but nah 23😳 probably a good time to work on that bit of her game bc it was too predictable today

[@jaymea8907]

Moultrie is incredible lol 🤡

[@DavidKAnderson]

And Moultrie gets the start once again over Hina Sugita, who now that she's not needed as a fill-in at RW, (not her natural position) is the obvious choice for a central attacking mid. Obvious to everyone but Mike Norris, that is. Eff Eff Ess. Liv's a good player, but she's not the best choice there.

[@PaulLe-jk4uq]

NO NO NO!!! Sophia Smith IS NOT THE BEST PLAYER IN THE WORLD LIKE SOME LOST MINDS THINKING!!! If she is, this game would be won by Thorns! She is or the coaching staff pushes her to be more of egotistical player on the field. They relied almost totally on her. The results were OFFSIDE, OFFSIDE, and OFFSIDE …. Its the shame!!!👎 I’m for the Thorns! But Opportunity going down the red zone is not often, so make the most of it! The Thorns players wasted on POOR, LOW QUALITY SHOTS one after another, results were out or intercepted! Where was Beckie, Fleming, Weaver involvement on going down attacking???? I didn’t see any shot at goal from them, maybe once by Weaver! I’ve noticed nowadays, the NWSL also employing fast attacking strategy ! Ok, so all you NWSL players, should gear yourself to RUN fast a lot more now. I see players of certain skin may already endowed for this kind of attacking and winning?! Better strategize next time coach MIKE MORRIS, using other attacking players as well for better chance of WINNING , I think!! Go Thorns!!!🌹💖⚽️🇺🇸👍🤩