Match Preview: San Diego Wave FC vs. Portland Thorns FC, NWSL Semi Final

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – San Diego Wave Fútbol Club continues its historic playoff action on Sunday, Oct. 23, against the Portland Thorns for the 2022 NWSL Semi-Final, kicking off at 2 p.m. PT at Providence Park. The match will be available for streaming on CBS Sports Network for domestic viewers and on Twitch for international viewers. While the team battles it out in Portland, Oregon, San Diego Wave FC will also host a free Semi-Final Watch Party at Snapdragon Stadium for supporters to cheer on the players to the next round.

In their NWSL Playoff debut, San Diego Wave FC fought back from a one-goal deficit against the Chicago Red Stars. A 67th-minute goal from Emily Van Egmond and an overtime game-winner from Alex Morgan helped earn a trip to face the #2 Portland Thorns for a chance to compete in the 2022 NWSL Final.

“I’m immensely proud of the team’s performance last week against Chicago after going behind and showing such resilience. We’ve had to reflect and learn from that and see what we can possibly do to get a win against Portland who are an exceptional side.”

Casey Stoney, San Diego Wave FC Head Coach

Portland and San Diego are no strangers to one another. The two sides have already met four times this year with their overall record being (1-2-1), in favor of the Thorns. Their most recent meeting took place on August 27th at Providence Park, where Wave FC tallied their first win against Portland with a dominant 2-0 victory thanks to first-half goals from Kristen McNabb and Alex Morgan.

Wave FC continues to make history as the first expansion team to make the playoffs in their inaugural year, while no team in the league has played in more playoff games than the Portland Thorns. The two sides look to earn the victory and punch their ticket to the 2022 NWSL Championship in Washington D.C. on Oct. 29.

About San Diego Wave Fútbol Club

San Diego Wave Fútbol Club is the 12th and newest member of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). The club’s vision is to be a force for good through the game we love and is led by President Jill Ellis, former head coach of the US Women’s National Team (USWNT) and two-time World Cup champion. Together with Head Coach Casey Stoney, the club will bring the highest level of world-class, professional soccer to San Diego. USWNT standouts Alex Morgan and Abby Dahlkemper were two of the first players signed to the club that consists of athletes representing six international soccer federations, including US, Mexico, Canada, Sweden, England and Australia. The team played the first 11 home games in the 2022 inaugural season at its temporary home, University of San Diego’s Torero Stadium. The new Snapdragon Stadium will serve as Wave FC’s permanent home starting in September 2022. Learn more about the club and players at www.SanDiegoWaveFC.com.

About Snapdragon Stadium

Snapdragon Stadium is San Diego’s newest expertly-designed sports venue with optimized viewing and new VIP experiences. Located on the campus of San Diego State University at Mission Valley, Snapdragon will feature a unique array of food and beverages, including coastal-inspired cuisine and game day favorites. When not in use for sporting events, Snapdragon will serve as a year-round entertainment destination and community hub for San Diego with concerts, festivals and more.