Crystal Dunn sends the Portland Thorns to the NWSL final | OneFootball

The Portland Thorns are through to the NWSL final.

The Thorns triumphed 2-1 over the San Diego Wave on Sunday at Providence Park, as goals from Raquel Rodriguez and Crystal Dunn secured their ticket to the championship game for the first time since 2018.

The Wave proved to be a difficult opponent, opening up the scoring in the eighth minute of the match after Alex Morgan sent a cross in to Taylor Kornieck, who headed it into the back of the net to earn the lead.

“It will take a lot of defensive cover,” Becky Sauerbrunn said about containing Kornieck and Morgan. “I think with Taylor, she’s just gifted in the air and so you have to assume she’s gonna win the majority of the aerial battles."

Rodriguez found the equalizer later in the first half, rocketing the ball into the top of the goal, but it was Dunn’s stunning extra time winner that sent fans into a frenzy. Dunn entered the pitch in the 60th minute, coming on for Rodriguez to play a heroic role in the match.

“This is it, this is why we have this job that we love. To be a part of it is just playing for these big moments and these big games coming up.It’s really nice to know that you’re playing for something so much bigger than just a regular season game,” said Dunn.

“Everybody knows it’s been a long, hard year for not just our club, but for the whole entire NWSL. These are moments that you can’t pass up, and I’ve been a part of a lot of (semifinals) and a lot of finals. These are moments where you kind of forget all the distractions, and you just go out there and you work your hardest.”

Dunn only recently made her return to football, after spending months away on maternity leave. But after giving birth to her son Marcel, the player was eager to get back and feature for the Thorns and U.S. women’s national team.

“It’s hard to believe that I gave birth five months ago, but my team was so supportive and they’re a big reason why I’m able to get back on the pitch and play this game,” Dunn said after the game. “My teammates are incredible.”

The Thorns will now face the Kansas City Current in the final on Saturday at Audi Field.