NWSL Challenge Cup: Weaver's goal sends No. 1 North Carolina Courage home, as No. 8 Thorns secure semifinal spot

Topics: NWSL Challenge Cup, NWSL, Morgan Weaver

The eight-seeded Portland Thorns headed into the NWSL Challenge Cup first quarter-final with a sense of humbleness.

Having lost the first game of the competition to North Carolina and drawing its following three matches, Portland went from tournament favorite to underdog in a matter of four matchdays. And to add to their bad run, there stood the North Carolina Courage in the way of a semifinal spot.

Head coach Mark Parsons' plan, as he told media outlets, was to quiet down the storm in the first half and sting in the second. And he could not have put it in a better way.

As expected, the Courage took charge of the first half keeping 58 percent of possession and outshooting the Thorns 12 shots to four. However, the Thorns kept the score at bay thanks to an impressive first-half performance by backup goalkeeper Britt Eckerstrom amassing to four saves. Parsons plan was coming along well.

@Breck28 denies Debinha to keep this one scoreless

0-0 | #NCvPOR

Tune in now on @CBSAllAccess and @Twitch.#NWSLChallengeCup pic.twitter.com/1OLJpgL15D
— NWSL (@NWSL) July 17, 2020

The only thing that remained constant in the second half was Eckerstrom's heroics as the second half entailed a completely different story.

The Thorns switched from a defensive approach to an offensive one, looking to exploit the Courage with quick counters. And on the 68th minute, it paid off.

A build-up through Portland's right flank saw "Rocky" Rodriguez cross the ball across the frame for rookie forward Morgan Weaver to tap the ball past Carolina's keeper. Not only did Weaver score the game-winning goal, but it was also her first as a professional player.

Go on and shine, Rook

Morgan Weaver gives @ThornsFC the lead!

0-1 | #NCvPOR

Tune in now on @CBSAllAccess and @Twitch.#NWSLChallengeCup pic.twitter.com/pFSBk0XrKk
— NWSL (@NWSL) July 17, 2020

North Carolina kept bombarding Portland's goal for the remainder of the match, but this was Eckerstrom's day to celebrate making four more saves to earn her clean sheet.

-Eckerstrom save-

BRITT ECKERSTROM, WE ARE NOT WORTHY!!#NCvPOR | 0-1 | #NWSL pic.twitter.com/sQjQruRi7h
— The Equalizer (@EqualizerSoccer) July 17, 2020

Achieving this win without veteran Becky Sauerbrunn in the backline is an incredible feat for a team that fans questioned going into this stage of the competition.

The Thorns are set to play in the semis against the winner of the quarterfinal game between Houston Dash and Utah Royals. This game is scheduled to kick-off on July 17 at 10:30 p.m. ET.