Gotham move to top of the NWSL with decisive victory over OL Reign | CBC Sports

Jenna Nighswonger, Lynn Williams, and Taylor Smith scored in the first half to give Gotham FC a 4-1 win over OL Reign on Sunday.

Gotham (5-1-2) moved to the top of the National Women’s Soccer League with the win in front of 8,146 fans at Lumen Field in Seattle.

Nighswonger, a rookie, opened the scoring in the 10th minute with a left-footed shot from outside the 18-yard box that was just out of the reach of Reign goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce.

Smith added a goal in the 38th minute, getting a one-touch pass from Delanie Sheehan in the box and pushing it into the left corner.

Bruninha stole a ball in the box and unleashed a shot into the near-post corner to put Gotham up 4-0 in the 73rd minute.

Canadian Jordyn Huitema got a goal back for the Reign (4-3-1) four minutes later. Elyse Bennett won the ball on a corner kick and sent it to Huitema, who slipped it into the goal from close range.

WATCH | Huitema finds the back of the net:

Canada’s Jordyn Huitema scores for OL Reign in loss to Gotham FC

Attacker Jordyn Huitema of Chilliwack, B.C., scores in the 77th minute for OL Reign but they fall to NJ/NY Gotham FC 4-1.

Portland sends Chicago to 7th straight road loss

Portland scored three goals in the opening 16 minutes and went on to hand Chicago its third straight loss.

More than 20,000 fans were in attendance at Providence Park in Portland.

The Thorns (4-1-3) have just one loss this season after dropping a 2-1 decision on the road against the Houston Dash last week.

Kelli Hubly scored in the eighth minute from a tough angle to put the Thorns in front. Crystal Dunn’s goal in the 14th minute padded Portland’s lead.

It was Dunn’s team-leading fifth goal of the season and came on the same day as her son Marcel’s first birthday.

Two minutes later, 17-year-old Olivia Moultrie scored again for the Thorns to make it 3-0. Natalia Kuikka added a fourth goal for Portland early in the second half.