- Portland Thorns star Morgan Weaver scored a last-minute game-winner vs Angel City Wednesday night.
- In a show of flexibility, the forward brought her foot level with her hip to flick the ball into the net.
Morgan Weaver scored a stunning last-minute goal to lead her Portland Thorns past Angel City FC.
Then she thanked her exercise class instructor — who doubles as her teammate — for helping to make it happen.
In stoppage time of the Thorns' Wednesday-night UKG Challenge Cup matchup at Portland's Providence Park, forward Morgan Weaver redirected Christine Sinclair's cross with a back-heel flick that soared past the goalkeeper and into the side netting of the goal.
Weaver's feat of athleticism pushed her side to victory with just a minute remaining in the contest — and helped the Thorns stay firmly in the hunt for the UKG Challenge Cup's $1 million prize.
—National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) June 1, 2023
It's even more impressive in slow motion:
—National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) June 1, 2023
In her post-match TV interview, an elated Weaver explained that she was focused on staying onside as Sinclair lofted the ball her way. Once it was in the air, she said, her objective was to "do my best to get my foot on this."
She had to twist her leg so that her foot was nearly at hip level to make it happen and credited a new exercise regimen from Portland midfielder Hina Sugita for being able to do so.
"Thank goodness I've been taking Hina's hip mobility class," Weaver said with a chuckle. "Because that is why my foot was that high."
—Portland Thorns FC (@ThornsFC) June 1, 2023
Weaver and the Thorns sit in second place in the West Division in the UKG Challenge Cup standings, but they have several regular-season matches to worry about before returning to in-season tournament competition. They'll next take the field Saturday night, as they take on NWSL rival OL Reign in Seattle.