Thorns improve to 2-1 in the Concacaf W Champions Cup group stage with a win over Santa Fe

Izzy D'Aquila scored a penalty early in the first half and Payton Linnehan scored a game-winning goal in the second half as the Portland Thorns defeated Santa Fe of Panama 2-1 in the group stage of the Concacaf W Champions Cup.

The Thorns largely dominated the game in front of 8,386 fans at Providence Park despite fielding a second choice, but missed several prime opportunities to build a significant lead. Portland led only 1-0 well into the second half against the last-place team in its five-team group and ultimately won the game when Linnehan beat a Santa Fe defender with a loose ball and scored in the 64th minute. ended the minute with a breakaway.

D'Aquila's goal from the penalty spot came after Linnehan was knocked down in the penalty area in the 10th minute.

An unforced free kick from Portland goalkeeper Shelby Hogan in the 82nd minute allowed Santa Fe's Nuria Marquez to score into the open net, setting up a nervy finish for the Thorns.

Portland improved to 2-1 in group play with one game remaining on Oct. 15 against the Vancouver Whitecaps at BC Place. The top two of the five clubs will reach the semi-finals of the tournament next May. The winner of the competition will compete in the inaugural FIFA Women's Club World Cup in 2026.

San Diego leads the group with nine points, while the Thorns and Club America of Mexico have six each. But America has a seven-goal lead in the goal difference tiebreaker, meaning the Thorns will have to get at least a draw in Vancouver and hope San Diego beats America the next day.

The Thorns started the game against Santa Fe in a second-selection lineup that entered the game 0-3 in the group while losing 9-1. While Portland was still clearly the superior team, the Thorns kept the visitors, who were only playing for pride, waiting for a long time. Santa Fe attempted just one shot in the first half but had 10 after the break, including a shot from Hannah Lee that Hogan had to dive over the crossbar in the 62nd minute.

The Thorns made 13 of their 19 shots in the first half, many of them high-quality chances, but were unable to find the net as the game wore on due to a combination of poor finishing and the play of Santa Fe goalkeeper Yenith Bailey. D'Aquila hit the post from near the penalty spot in the 5th minute, but was then denied by Bailey after a seemingly open chance 15 minutes later. Linnehan also failed to take advantage of two tempting chances in the first half.

Bailey made several difficult saves, including a diving deflection on a long-range shot from Marissa Sheva in the first half and a sliding kick save from Thorns substitute Christine Sinclair in the 75th minute.

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Many Thorns starting players took a break or came off the bench in the second half on Wednesday as the team prepares for the home stretch of NWSL play. Portland sits seventh in the league, three points ahead of Racing Louisville for the final playoff spot.

Next: The Thorns have four league games left, starting with a home game against Utah on Saturday at 7 p.m.

—Scott Sepich for The Oregonian/OregonLive