Heath provided what proved to be the game-winning goal after she lined up a free kick in the 40th minute from more than 25 yards out and delivered a blistering right-footed shot that sailed over the Western New York wall and into the top left corner of Flash goalkeeper Adrianna Franch’s net.
Heath’s place in coach Cindy Parlow Cone’s starting XI had been in slight doubt during the week leading up the 2013 NWSL Championship Game while she nursed a sore right foot that forced her to come off in the second half of the Thorns’ semifinal victory over FC Kansas City seven days earlier.
The U.S. international also made an early exit from the final as she was subbed off in the 63rd minute and replaced by defender Tina Ellerton. Despite shortened evening, Heath was named the Most Valuable Player of the 2013 NWSL Championship Game.
Sinclair scored the Thorns’ second goal of the night in second-half stoppage time to seal the win, but not before Portland was made to play the final 34 minutes with 10 players after defender Kat Williamson was sent off for a second yellow card in the 56th minute.
Forward Alex Morgan did not start for Portland, but did come on as a second-half substitute to play the final 19 minutes and assisted on Sinclair’s injury-time goal.
The U.S. international watched from the sideline in the first half as the Flash created the first significant scoring opportunity of the game in the 12th minute, when Samantha Kerr looped a header on net that Thorns goalkeeper Karina LeBlanc was able to push onto the crossbar before eventually corralling the rebound.
The Canada international goalkeeper made seven saves in the game to earn the shutout after recording seven clean sheets during the regular season.
The Thorns responded in the 22nd minute with a move down the right flank as defender Marian Dougherty moved into space before curling a cross into the box that Sinclair lashed on frame with a strong header only to see Franch parry over the crossbar.
Both teams failed to capitalize on clear scoring chances less than three minutes later as Portland defender Tiffany Marshall pushed her shot wide from just outside the six-yard box after she was found unmarked at the far post by a free kick from Dougherty.
Less than 50 seconds after that, Flash midfielder and U.S. international Carli Lloyd had clear look at goal but struck her shot wide of the LeBlanc’s far post.
The Thorns were nearly on the scoreboard in the 37th minute when Danielle Foxhoven was sent in clear on goal on a well weighted through ball from Dougherty. But the Portland forward was closed down by an onrushing Franch, who did well to control the ensuing rebound as well.
However, Portland would take the lead in the 40th minute courtesy of Heath’s wonder-strike.
The score remained 1-0 in favor of the visitors through the 56th minute when the Thorns were reduce to 10 players after Williamson received her second yellow card when she was judged to have taken down Western New York forward and Abby Wambach just outside the Portland penalty area.
It was the second time in the span of nine second-half minutes Williamson had been carded for bringing down Wambach just outside the Thorns’ box after she was ruled to have obstructed the U.S. international in the 48th minute as well.