Ana Dias scored in her first start and the Portland Thorns earned a 2-0 weather-delayed win over the Houston Dash on Friday night in the National Women's Soccer League.
Olivia Moultrie added a second goal to give the Thorns (6-3-1) their club-best six wins in a row.
After a two-and-a-half-hour weather delay at Shell Energy Stadium before kickoff, the Thorns came out strong. Janine Beckie's shot went off the post, and Dash goalkeeper Jane Campbell made four saves on 11 shots to keep it scoreless at halftime.
Houston (2-5-3) came out with more energy in the second half, and Diana Ordonez struck the post in the 46th minute, but the Thorns got on the board first.
In the 55th minute, Hina Sugita got open on a throw-in and cut the ball back for Dias, who scored with her first touch. Hailing from Portugal, Dias represents the 22nd country to score in the NWSL this year, the most in a season.
Moultrie doubled the lead in the 68th minute, firing a hard shot past Campbell at the near post.
BAY 2, WAVE 1
Scarlett Camberos and Racheal Kundananji powered Bay FC’s 2-1 comeback win at home against the San Diego Wave.
In the 23rd minute, Kyra Carusa pounced on a loose ball on a corner kick to put the Wave (3-4-2) up.
Ten minutes into the second half, Kiki Pickett dribbled the ball into the box and found Camberos open to her left, who had time to wind up and slide her shot into the right corner.
Bay FC (3-7-0), which had lost five straight, scored again in the 87th minute in front of nearly 17,000 fans at San Jose's PayPal Park. Dorian Bailey ran onto a ball sent into the box just before goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan arrived and cut it back for Kundananji, who slid to push the ball into the goal.
COURAGE 1, ROYALS 0
The North Carolina Courage dominated in every offensive category but had to rely on Kaleigh Kurtz's late goal to defeat the Utah Royals 1-0 at WakeMed Soccer Park.
The Courage (5-5-0) have won their first five home matches of the year and are undefeated in their last 14 home games.
On the other end, expansion team Utah (1-8-1) has lost all five road games this year.
In the 76th minute, Kurtz ran forward from the centerback position and found Ashley Sanchez on the right, who whipped a cross into the box. Brianna Pinto brought the ball down to Kurtz, who continued her run into the box and finished under the legs of goalkeeper Mandy Haught.
North Carolina finished with 20 shots compared to Utah’s three, but Haught made five saves to keep the game tight.
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