Soccer Made in Portland

Fall is here, and with it comes good fortune for the Portland Timbers and Thorns. The Timbers have won three in a row and are 4-1-1 under interim coach Miles Joseph, surging back into the playoff picture. The Thorns, meanwhile, are back atop the NWSL standings after dispatching Megan Rapinoe and OL Reign, 2-0, with just three matches remaining. Cozy up with your hot cocoa, comfy sweater and a nice...

The Portland Thorns have one of their biggest matches of the season Saturday as Megan Rapinoe and OL Reign come to town. The Portland Timbers aim to build on an impressive 2-0 win over LAFC with a strong result on the road at Austin FC on Sunday, and they will be missing Diego Chará.   On this week’s episode of Soccer Made in Portland, Chris and Ryan discuss what could be described as the best per...

The NWSL season is getting down to the final stretch, and the Portland Thorns hope to leave a bad performance in Louisville behind them. The Portland Timbers, meanwhile, just want to put together a full 90 minutes of quality play. The final 45 against Seattle over the weekend need to be bottled.   On this week’s episode of Soccer Made in Portland, Chris and Ryan break down the Timbers’ comeback dr...

The Portland Thorns can breathe a sigh of relief with Sophia Smith’s injury not as serious as some feared. And the Portland Timbers can do the same after a much-needed win and bounce back performance for Santiago Moreno.   On this week’s episode of Soccer Made in Portland, Chris and Ryan discuss how tactical shifts have solidified the Thorns ahead of a late-season run to the playoffs, and how the...

It has been a rollercoaster of emotions in 48 hours for fans of the Portland Timbers and Thorns. The Timbers got trounced in Houston; the Thorns pulled out a signature, 2-1 win over North Carolina despite being down a player for nearly the entire match; and coach Giovanni Savarese and the Timbers parted ways. On this week’s episode of Soccer Made in Portland, co-hosts Ryan Clarke and Chris Rifer b...

It wasn’t just the Portland Timbers and Thorns who took some time off: Soccer Made in Portland co-host Chris Rifer did, too. Although he was running, eating and sipping his way through Italy. A familiar experience for co-host Ryan Clarke, save for the running.   On this week’s episode, Chris and Ryan examine what can be gleaned from the Timbers’ form in Leagues Cup, and the storylines heading into...

The Portland Timbers added three new faces in the summer transfer window: defender Miguel Araujo, midfielder Bryan Acosta, and winger Antony. Now, the club is looking to the future with an eye on building out the roster even further with a lot of potential moving parts.   On this week’s episode of Soccer Made in Portland, host Ryan Clarke sits down with Timbers general manager Ned Grabavoy to disc...

The Portland Thorns shared an update on their forthcoming sale, the Portland Timbers advanced in Leagues Cup, and the USWNT continues to underwhelm on the World Cup stage.   On this week’s episode of Soccer Made in Portland, Oregonian sports columnist and noted visitor of local libraries Bill Oram joins the show. Oram and Ryan Clarke discuss what we learned from the long-awaited Thorns sale update...

The Portland Timbers honored Diego Valeri with an emotional, rollercoaster win over the Columbus Crew on Saturday. And with no games on the docket last week, the Portland Thorns are speaking out about training conditions and calling for a switch to grass at Providence Park along with their own training facility.   On this week’s episode of Soccer Made in Portland, Ryan and Chris discuss the Thorns...

The Portland Thorns are on a two-game losing skid without their World Cup participants. The Portland Timbers are struggling to climb back into the playoff picture, and the status of Santiago Moreno after a transfer request remains uncertain.   On this week’s episode of Soccer Made in Portland, Chris and Ryan break down the Thorns’ loss to Gotham and look ahead to a potential dynasty-defining stret...

The Portland Timbers face a crossroads in their season: midfielder Santiago Moreno has requested a transfer.   On this week’s emergency episode of Soccer Made in Portland, Chris and Ryan make siren noises and discuss what Moreno’s request means for the Timbers — and coach Giovanni Savarese — moving forward. Are there culture issues bubbling over with this team? Is Savarese’s seat growing warmer as...

What a World Cup sendoff that was for Portland Thorns star Sophia Smith.   A hat trick for the reigning NWSL MVP propelled Portland to a 4-2 win over the Washington Spirit last weekend, and now the Thorns press on without Smith and five other World Cup participants.   On this week’s episode of Soccer Made in Portland, Chris and Ryan discuss Smith’s dominant outing and the big tests coming up for M...

The Portland Timbers are who we thought they were. At least that’s how Soccer Made in Portland co-host Chris Rifer sees it. On this week’s episode, Rifer and Ryan Clarke discuss the Timbers’ sputtering loss to the Chicago Fire and diagnose the myriad issues facing a team that sits outside the MLS Cup playoff picture. Before that, though, plenty to talk about with the Portland Thorns’ recent run of...

The Portland Thorns earned their biggest win of the season, 2-0 over OL Reign on Saturday in Seattle. The Timbers, meanwhile, played in one of the least interesting games of the season, a 0-0 draw with the Sounders. But, hey! Look! It’s Lionel Messi! On this week’s episode of Soccer Made in Portland, Ryan and Chris discuss the Thorns’ statement victory, the ugliness of the Timbers’ draw, and what...

The Portland Thorns got a big win in the NWSL Challenge Cup on Wednesday thanks to a clutch goal from Morgan Weaver. The Portland Timbers, meanwhile, hit a low point (so far) in what has been a difficult season, falling 4-1 on Sunday against Sporting Kansas City.   On this week’s episode of Soccer Made in Portland, Ryan and Chris break down a crucial three points for the Thorns against Angel City...

The Portland Timbers are near the bottom of MLS in points per game. The Portland Thorns broke out of their rut with a vengeance, beating Chicago 4-0 on Sunday ahead of a crucial matchup with San Diego on Friday.   On this week’s episode of Soccer Made in Portland, Chris and Ryan discuss whether the “critics” are being too critical of the Timbers, and what Sunday’s big win means for the Thorns’ for...

The Portland Timbers got two positive results and might be changing their fortunes thanks to Evander’s brilliance. The Portland Thorns, meanwhile, are lacking confidence and on three-game winless skid.   On this week’s episode of Soccer Made in Portland, Ryan and Chris discuss what it’s going to take for this positive regular-season stretch to be considered a turnaround for the Timbers. And they t...

On this week’s episode of Soccer Made in Portland, Chris lays it all out as plainly as he can: it was a rough week for a Timbers team that has yet to prove itself and sits on the playoff fringe. Plus, Chris and Ryan discuss the recent defensive issues for the Thorns. And is Sophia Smith somehow becoming even more dominant? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Portland Timbers may be turning a corner despite continually dealing with injuries, and the Portland Thorns remain undefeated despite some imperfect performances as of late. On this week’s episode of Soccer Made in Portland, Ryan and Chris break down the Timbers’ win over St. Louis, examine what can be gleaned from Sportico’s $685 million valuation of PTFC, and relive the thrill of Bella Bixby...

The Portland Timbers are moving on in the U.S. Open Cup, but the jury is still out on this team after a tough regular-season loss to FC Cincinnati despite better form. On the other side, the Thorns are rolling and remain undefeated. Do the champs have any flaws? On this week’s episode of Soccer Made in Portland, Ryan and Chris discuss meeting each other in-person for the first time (yes, really) a...

The Portland Timbers throttled rival Seattle 4-1 on Saturday, a moment that could serve as a catalyst for a much-needed turnaround. The Thorns, meanwhile, are taking plenty of shots but not converting as many as they’d like. But no need to worry about the defending NWSL champs yet. On this week’s episode of Soccer Made in Portland, Ryan returns from Vegas to discuss the games he missed, and Chris...

The Portland Thorns have a new forward in the mix for a few months: Canadian international Adriana Leon. The rich are getting richer, and they’re back on the field Friday against Houston after a nearly two-week international break. On this week’s episode of Soccer Made in Portland, Ryan and Chris discuss what to expect from Leon while she remains on loan with the Thorns. Plus, can the Timbers use...

Sophia Smith is a supernova for the Portland Thorns. Why isn’t she getting the recognition she deserves on the national stage? Will this World Cup be her breakthrough as an international sports icon? On the latest episode of Soccer Made in Portland, Ryan and Chris discuss the Thorns’ convincing 4-1 win over Kansas City, and the Franck Boli-led Timbers’ well-earned 1-1 draw at FC Dallas. Could this...

The Portland Thorns are already rolling, fresh off a 4-0 win over Orlando in the opener. Can they be stopped? Conversely, can the Timbers regain their confidence in the midst of injury and uninspired play?   On the latest episode of Soccer Made in Portland, Ryan and Chris discuss the Thorns’ dominant win and the Timbers’ brutal 0-0 draw vs. the LA Galaxy. Plus, some unprecedented locker room drama...

On the latest episode of Soccer Made in Portland, Ryan and Chris discuss what to expect from this Thorns season, plus they recap the Timbers’ struggles. Are they backsliding to the middle tier of MLS? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices