Portland Thorns player Long hopes career takes flight at wing
Thorns' midfielder back at normal position tonight
By Paul Danzer, Columbian
Soccer, hockey and Community Sports Reporter
Published: June 5, 2013, 5:00pm
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Allie Long of the Portland Thorns
PORTLAND — Allie Long was back in a familiar position for Sunday’s Portland Thorns FC match against the Chicago Red Stars.
But she wasn’t very comfortable.
With Christine Sinclair away with the Canadian national team, Long shifted from the left side of midfield to the central attacking midfield spot. Long was excited, but the Red Stars defense turned her excitement to exasperation.
“They did a good job of making sure that two people were on us all the time. I felt like I didn’t have room to breathe,” Long said. “Sometimes even the gaps I wanted to (move) into were automatically closed down by either our players, or their players marking our players. So it was very, very tight.”
The result was a disappointing 2-0 loss for the Thorns to a Chicago team that won for the first time in the National Women’s Soccer League.
Long noted that Chicago was better prepared for its third shot at Portland.
And without the firepower of Sinclair and forward Alex Morgan in the Thorns lineup, the Red Stars were able to pay more defensive attention to Long and forwards Danielle Foxhoven and Meleana Shim.
But Long said the Thorns needed to be better, especially at making runs without the ball to open up passing lanes.
“There wasn’t movement. I felt it on the field,” Long said. “It’s frustrating. You want to get the ball, you want to move it. Everyone needs to do their part, including myself.”
Long’s part for the Thorns thus far has usually found her primarily on the left wing. With the national teamers back in the fold, she figures to be back there for Thursday’s home match against FC Kansas City.
Long, 25, played primarily in the central midfield in college for North Carolina’s 2008 national champions, for the USA women’s under-20 team, and with four previous pro teams. She admits playing on the wing has been an adjustment.
She has produced one goal and one assist through nine games, while learning how to play near the sideline. Long enjoys the extra space on the wing.
“In the middle, it’s very quick and you’re always looking over your shoulder. (Outside) I feel like I get the ball and I actually have time to (decide) what I want to do,”
On the flip side, she sometimes feels detached from the action.
“I like to touch the ball a lot. So when I don’t get it and it’s on the right side I get frustrated,” Long said. “That’s challenging, but I’m getting over that.”
Besides, playing a new position might make Long a more versatile player, which could help her earn a spot on the U.S. women’s national team.
“That’s my goal. I have to remind myself. If I get frustrated during a game or if practice isn’t going my way, I keep my goal in front of me,” Long said. “This is a great platform, especially playing with such great players around me.”
NOTES — Thursday’s match is the second meeting of the season between Portland and Kansas City. The teams tied 1-1 in the NWSL’s first game. The Thorns (6-2-1) are three points behind league-leading Sky Blue. Kansas City (3-2-1) is tied for fourth place with Western New York. Kansas City has lost two games in a row.
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