CORVALLIS, OREGON - Fran Cortijo needed just 244 seconds to write the story of the first half, slotting home a perfectly weighted through ball from Andrew De Gannes that was flicked on by Arnau Farnos, before a spirited crowd at Oregon State's Paul Lorenz Field. The early goal propelled Portland to an early advantage, but the Beavers responded in kind, equalizing through Anton Hjalmarsson's clinical finish in the 29th minute, assisted by Wylie Trujillo and Alex Waggoner. The 1-1 draw maintained Portland's unbeaten streak while Oregon St. extended their unbeaten run to three matches.
The early breakthrough set the tone for what became an intense tactical battle, with both teams marshaling their defensive resources to counter the opposition's attacking threats. Oregon St.'s goalkeeper made three crucial saves to deny Portland's attackers, while Portland's defense absorbed the Beavers' pressure, withstanding 14 shot attempts across 90 minutes. The Beavers managed to find their rhythm after conceding, with Emily Wilson orchestrating several promising counter-attacks.
The first half was marked by end-to-end action, with both teams creating half-chances. Portland's Alex Waggoner threaded a pass through the Beavers' defense that found Trujillo, but his shot sailed wide in the 20th minute. Oregon St. responded with a series of incisive passes, but their final ball lacked precision, failing to trouble Portland's goalkeeper. The visitors edged the corner-kick battle 5-3 at halftime, though neither team capitalized on their set-piece opportunities.
The second half saw both teams make tactical adjustments, with Oregon St. pushing more players forward in search of a winner. Portland, meanwhile, settled into a more defensive posture, looking to counter-attack and catch the Beavers on the break. The visitors nearly snatched the win in the 85th minute when De Gannes unleashed a powerful shot that Oregon St.'s goalkeeper tipped around the post. The Beavers, however, couldn't muster a clear chance in the final 10 minutes, with their best opportunity coming when Hjalmarsson's header sailed wide off a corner kick.
The statistical ledger reveals a closely contested match, with Oregon St. outshooting Portland 14-8 overall but failing to capitalize on their numerical advantage. The Beavers held a marginal edge in shots on target, 5-4, while Portland controlled the corner-kick battle, 6-5. The draw was a fair result, given the competitive nature of the contest.
For Portland, the draw maintains their unbeaten streak at three matches, and they remain atop the conference standings with a 9-0-3 record. They'll look to continue their unbeaten run when they host Pacific next. Oregon St., meanwhile, has now gone three matches without defeat, with a 6-3-2 record overall. Their next test comes against Gonzaga, a team that has been in excellent form of late.
The afternoon belonged to both teams, really – each displaying moments of brilliance and resilience. As both teams move forward, they'll look to build on the positives from this closely contested match. For Oregon St., the task will be to find the finishing touch that has eluded them in recent matches.
Key Players:
Fran Cortijo (Portland) – Slotted home the opening goal with clinical precision, capitalizing on a perfectly weighted through ball from Andrew De Gannes.
Anton Hjalmarsson (Oregon St.) – Equalized with a composed finish, demonstrating his ability to perform under pressure.
Andrew De Gannes (Portland) – Provided the assist for Cortijo's opener and created several other promising chances with his incisive passing.
Emily Wilson (Oregon St.) – Orchestrated several counter-attacks, using her vision and distribution to unlock Portland's defense.
Wylie Trujillo (Oregon St.) – Played a crucial role in Hjalmarsson's equalizer, providing the initial pass that led to the Beavers' goal.
Alex Waggoner (Oregon St.) – Threaded a pass through Portland's defense that nearly led to a second goal for the Beavers.