TUKWILA, Wash. Two teams heading in opposite directions collided Saturday night, with a predictable result.
The Portland Timbers, who are tied for first place in the National Women's Soccer League, beat the last-place Seattle Reign FC 1-0.
Christine Sinclair put the Thorns on top with a penalty kick in the 84th minute before an announced crowd of 3,324 at Starfire Sports Complex.
Portland is 6-1-1 and tied with Sky Blue FC, which won 1-0 Saturday at FC Kansas City.
The Thorns are 3-0-2 on the road and are the only unbeaten team on the road.
Seattle is 0-7-1 and one point behind the seventh-place Chicago Red Stars (0-4-2) in the NWSL.
Karina LeBlanc made five saves for her fourth shutout and second in a row.
Sinclair had a game-high six shots. She and Alex Morgan lead the Thorns with four goals apiece.
Her PK was a low drive to the left side, with goalkeeper Hope Solo guessing that she would go the other way.
Solo, making her NWSL debut, returned from a wrist injury and made two saves.
The penalty came when the referee ruled that the Reign had fouled Portland midfielder Allie Long at the top of the box as she went for a chip pass from Sinclair.