Thorns Clinch Home Playoff Game In 2-0 Decision Day Win

The 2025 season has been an unusual one for the three-time NWSL champion Portland Thorns. The roster's been plagued with injuries, the franchise's superstar attacking duo was both ruled out for the year before Game 1, and the young team has needed to claw its way into the playoff picture.

Through all the adversity Portland's faced, high expectations never wavered – and the team still managed to clinch a top-four seed in the league with a 2-0 win over the Houston Dash in the regular season finale.

"I said to these players, we haven't got everything right. As a club, we got a long way to go. We got a long way to rebuild, to back to where we want to be and where we can be. And the owners are investing heavily in that. We're continuing to grow and develop as the rest of the league is," head coach Rob Gale said.

"But nobody can beat our fans – nobody – and that's worldwide, and you maybe got Arsenal out-doing this in the last year or so, because they're getting a few games at the Emirates," Gale continued. "But if you look at the statistics, number one fans every single season here, and just really proud of the players, delighted for the supporters. They deserve that, and they deserve another home game."

Decison Day matches have been kind to the Thorns over the years. Portland entered Sunday's match without a home loss in Decision Day matches (four wins and two draws), and a 6-2-3 record overall in such matches.

The Thorns faced off against a Houston Dash team in the bottom half of the league standings. The home side, for the most part, controlled its own destiny. A win would mean Portland almost certainly would host, while a couple of results would still mean a Providence Park playoff match if the Thorns drew.

3' Deyna Castellanos Strikes Early (1-0)

The Thorns got off to a quick start – a sentence that was rare in the 2025 season. They entered the attacking third within seconds of the start of the game. Portland earned a corner in the first 30 seconds but couldn't capitalize on the attempt.

By the third minute, forward Deyna Castellanos found the back of the net for the Thorns' earliest goal of the season. Jessie Fleming passed the ball to Castellanos, who took a few dribbles inside the 18-yard box. Her right-footed strike bounced off the right post and into the goal.

"We don't mind who scores the goals. We've said all year, we'll have to do it by committee, but individually delighted for the pair of them," Gale said. "If you look at the top teams in the league, they've had [variety] this season, but they're all starting to wobble a little bit without their top goal scorers, whereas we've continued and plowed through that whole season and dealt with that. So we're coming good at the right time."

17' Houston Can't Tie It Up (1-0)

A very dangerous sequence of events for the Thorns occurred following a long injury stoppage.

The Dash raced down the field on a counterattack opportunity. Portland stopped a shot attempt inside the box with a last-ditch tackle after Houston took too many touches.

35' Fleming Makes It Two (2-0)

The Canadian international continued to keep the young Thorns' hopes of hosting the postseason alive. She ended the first half with one assist and one goal.

Portland made the Dash backline scramble across the box but missed on its first few opportunities. Fleming rushed toward the edge of the area and fired with her right foot. Houston goalkeeper Jane Campbell tipped the ball with her glove, but couldn't punch it away from the net.

"When Jessie scored her wonderful goal, it was like a relief for us, actually, like it was something that we needed in that moment," Castellanos said. "And she took the opportunity, and it was a really good finish."

It was Fleming's second goal of the season and her first since a penalty against Louisville in April.

Full Time: 2-0

The Thorns finished the regular season with back-to-back wins to move to an 11-8-7 overall record. They are one of four teams with 40 or more points, tying Orlando with 40. Portland had the higher goal differential, being plus-seven.

The home side also clinched a season high in attendance with 21,903 fans on fan appreciation night.

"We were so behind in so many areas, but we rolled our sleeves up, and we wanted to fight for these fans," Gale said. "That was the message before the game on fan appreciation night."

Providence Park will host the San Diego Wave for the three versus six matchup. Portland and San Diego drew both matches 1-1 this season, but this time, a semifinal spot against the winner of Washington versus Louisville is on the line.

The Thorns will play the Wave at 12 p.m. PT on Sunday, Nov. 9.

"The table was so tight, we could have ended up in eighth today," Fleming said. "We're in third, but I honestly think that this team has better performances to be had, and I don't know if we even played to our full potential this season. Like I still feel like there's room to grow, so I'm excited that we still get another game, and hopefully we can continue that into next season."