Sinclair scores in retirement match, Thorns down Angel City 3-0 to clinch playoff spot before 23,000

Christine Sinclair scored successful her celebratory status lucifer and nan Portland Thorns clinched a playoff spot pinch a 3-0 triumph complete Angel City

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Christine Sinclair scored successful her celebratory status lucifer and nan Portland Thorns clinched a playoff spot pinch a 3-0 triumph complete Angel City connected Friday night.

Sinclair, who is playing successful her last season, scored successful nan 16th infinitesimal successful beforehand of 23,212 fans astatine Providence Park. Sophia Smith and Morgan Weaver besides scored for Portland successful its past regular-season match.

Sinclair's nine profession was extended pinch nan victory, but Portland won't cognize its opening-round force until this weekend's last games are wrapped up.

The 41-year-old Sinclair, who retired from nan Canadian nationalist squad past twelvemonth arsenic world soccer's astir prolific scorer (190 goals), helped nan Thorns triumph nan inaugural NWSL title successful 2013 and titles successful 2017 and 2022.

She is among conscionable 3 progressive players successful nan NWSL who person played for nan aforesaid squad since nan convention launched successful 2013. The others are Jess Fishlock and Lu Barnes of nan Seattle Reign.

Sinclair has scored a club-record 66 regular-season goals, ranking 3rd successful convention history. Friday night's crippled was her 200th quality for Portland.

After Sinclair's goal, Smith added her 12th of nan play successful nan 26th infinitesimal and Weaver scored successful first-half stoppage time.

Sinclair was subbed retired successful nan 83rd infinitesimal to a lengthy ovation and toasted successful a post-game ceremony.

"Some of nan champion moments of my life person been connected this pitch. So conscionable a monolithic convey you," she said to nan crowd.

She vanished her world profession past twelvemonth arsenic nan world’s apical extremity scorer among some women and men pinch 190 goals. Sinclair won a golden badge astatine nan Tokyo Olympics and bronze medals astatine nan 2012 and 2016 Games.

She’s besides among conscionable 5 players to look successful six Women's World Cups, and 1 of 3 players to people successful five.

A autochthonal of Burnaby, British Columbia, Sinclair won NCAA championships pinch nan University of Portland successful 2002 and 2005.

Esther González scored a brace of goals successful visiting Gotham's 4-1 triumph complete nan Utah Royals.

Yazmeen Ryan scored successful nan 16th infinitesimal for Gotham, which has already clinched a playoff spot. Mandy Freeman added her first NWSL extremity immoderate 2 minutes later.

Hannah Betfort's extremity for Utah successful nan 74th made it 2-1 earlier Esther sewage 2 goals to adjacent it out.

Utah was already eliminated from nan playoffs.

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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer