Raquel Rodriguez is making sure that the Portland Thorns don’t go quietly in the NWSL playoffs.
After Taylor Kornieck put the San Diego Wave up 1-0 in the eighth minute of Sunday’s NWSL semifinal game, Rodriguez pulled Portland even 12 minutes later. The midfielder fired a screamer past goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan and into the top corner that quickly became a “SportsCenter Top 10 plays” nominee and a candidate for NWSL goal of the year.
ROCKY RIGHT ON CUE 🤩@raque_rocky | @ThornsFC pic.twitter.com/FkWb1K1uXG
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) October 23, 2022
Rodriguez’s goal was the first to come outside of the box in a home playoff game since Denise O’Sullivan’s with the North Carolina Courage in 2017.
Crystal Dunn scored the game-winning goal in stoppage time to eliminate San Diego from the playoffs and send Portland to the NWSL Championship. The Thorns will play the winner of the the other semifinal matchup between Kansas City Current and OL Reign in the final on Oct. 29.