Gotham City or Rose City?

It’s a tale as old as time in the world of soccer. On one side, you have a perennial powerhouse filled with some of the best in the game. On the other, you have a side with a barren hardware case, filled with promising players on paper, but nothing to show for it. We will get to see this classic tale play itself out once again on Saturday when the Portland Thorns take on NJ/NY Gotham FC for the 2021 Challenge Cup trophy, 1 PM ET on CBS.

First, the juggernaut: Portland. Since their inception, the Portland Thorns have been the most consistent team in the NWSL, failing to reach the semi-finals of the NWSL Playoffs or further just once. They've also won the trophy twice, in 2013 and 2017. 

Portland is coming off a 2020 where they earned the Community Shield after an outstanding showing in the 2020 NWSL Fall Series. Despite a gritty draw to reigning Challenge Cup champions Houston Dash, Portland has handled all Challenge Cup competition with ease, almost as if they knew they would appear in the title match. 

With USWNT superstars Lindsay Horan, Becky Sauerbrunn, and Crystal Dunn, international scoring leader Christine Sinclair, plus young talents Sophia Smith and Simone Charley, this team has the roster to beat any club team in the world. Expect Portland to lean on experience and technical skill to frustrate their young, untested opponents.

Now, their opponents: NY/NJ Gotham FC. It’s almost as if Gotham said “new brand, new team” after their surprise rebrand earlier this year, which saw the team get a new name, crest, and kit, as well as several new additions to their roster. But, the new kit must be made of magical threads, as this team has been unstoppable. In arguably the best game of the tournament, Gotham beat traditional powerhouse North Carolina 4-3 in the final minutes of the match. 

While their offense has been strong, their defense proved its strength in two draws against Washington and Louisville to lift the team to the top of the standings in the East. Young talents Midge Purce, Evelyn Viens, and Paige Monaghan have given this traditionally downtrodden team a breath of life. International stars Carli Lloyd and Nahomi Kawasumi have kept these young women grounded, providing necessary experience in unfamiliar territory. 

Due to Portland’s offensive strength, expect Gotham to rely heavily on their defense, hoping to break through Portland’s backline on a quick, youngster-infused counter-attack. It should be noted that a win on Saturday would give Gotham its first-ever NWSL trophy, so if they can stick it out over Portland for the full 90, club history will be made.

Our prediction: It would be unwise to bet against the Thorns in this one. They’ve gone through stronger competition, have more experience playing under pressure, and have a deeper roster. But, one of the best things about The Beautiful Game is that it’s so unpredictable. In a league like the NWSL, any team can win any game, so it would not be surprising to see Gotham steal this one. This storyline is eerily similar to the Houston Dash versus the Chicago Red Stars last season, and we all remember how that one went.

There is no guarantee what Saturday could bring; we could be in for an offensive onslaught or tense defensive determination. The only guarantee, though, is that Saturday will be a match you do not want to miss.