Horan, Heath score in Thorns’ 4-1 victory over the Spirit

PORTLAND — Lindsey Horan scored her third goal of the season and the Portland Thorns beat the Washington Spirit 4-1 on Saturday night in the National Women’s Soccer League.

It was the first loss of the season for the Spirit, who sit atop the NWSL standings at 4-1-1. Portland is undefeated at 3-0-3.

Horan’s goal in the 26th minute moved her into the league lead, matching Spirit midfielder Diana Matheson and Chicago’s Christen Press.

Portland went ahead 2-0 with an own goal in the 31st minute. Tobin Heath scored her first goal of the season in stoppage time at the end of the first half.

Heath returned after sitting out a game because of yellow card accumulation. She leads the league with five assists after five games, including the well-placed corner kick for Horan’s goal. 

The Spirit narrowed the match in the 55th minute on Joanna Lohman’s header.

Portland’s Nadia Nadim and the Spirit’s Christine Nairn were both handed yellow cards after they exchanged words following Nadim’s tackle in the 61st minute. 

Thorns substitute Meg Morris scored her first goal of the season in the 78th minute. The match was attended by 15,823 fans.