Thorns rally from two goals down without Morgan

• by Soccer America , Aug 25, 2013

[NWSL: Semifinals] A week after it blew a one-goal lead that cost it the regular-season title, FC Kansas City couldn't hold on to a 2-0 lead after 25 minutes and lost to Portland, 3-2, in overtime in the NWSL semifinals.

NWSL Rookie of the Year Erika Tymrak and Leigh Ann Robinson, who both earned their first national team call-ups, teamed up for the first FCKC goal as Tymrak took a pass from Robinson and fired a shot from 22 yards that snuck inside the far left post.

FC Kansas City doubled its lead in the 25th minute when forward Melissa Henderson delivered a looping header over Thorns keeper Karina LeBlanc.

But by her own admission, NWSL Defender of the Year Becky Sauerbrunn allowed the Thorns back in the game eight minutes later  when she gave the ball away and Angie Kerr’s cross found Tobin Heath, who made no mistake with a strong shot past Nicole Barnhart.

Sub Tiffany Weimer, who like Heath had joined Portland in mid-season from Europe, evened the score in the 65th minute and fed Allie Long for the winning goal two minutes before the end of the first overtime session.

Thorns star Alex Morgan, who hasn't played in three weeks because of a knee injury, dressed but did not see action.

Aug. 24 in Overland Park, Kan.
FC Kansas City  2 Portland 3 (OT). Goals: Tymrak (Robinson) 12, Henderson (Mathias) 25;  Heath (Kerr) 33, Weimer (Marshall) 65, Long (Weimer) 103.
FC Kansas City -- Barnhart; Mewis, Sesselmann (Farrelly, 106), Sauerbrunn, Robinson, Scott, Buczkowski, Tymrak, Mathias (Jones, 82), Holiday, Henderson (Loyd, 74)
Portland -- LeBlanc; Dougherty, Williamson, Buehler, Marshall, Kerr (Ellertson, 106), Long, Shim, Heath (Wetzel, 74), Sinclair, Foxhoven (Weimer, 56)
Referee: Christina Unkel
Att.: 4,016.