Photo Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images
PORTLAND, Ore. — The Thorns pulled off a sort of miracle Friday night in front of 21,321 fans, the largest crowd for a Portland home opener in the team’s history.
The game started with both literal and figurative fireworks as Cassandra Bogere earned two yellow cards within the first nine minutes of the game. The two cards, handed out in the 8th and 9th minute, earned her the fastest ever double-yellow sending off in NWSL history, all competitions, much to the disdain of the large home crowd. Though fans disagreed, both were deserved yellows as Bogere committed two tactical fouls. Both times, making no attempt to play the ball, she dragged a player down by their arm(s) and stopped a promising attack.
Despite being dealt a difficult hand to start, the home team went into the halftime break with a two-goal lead. The Thorns took advantage of exactly what you should when down a player, set-pieces and attacking in transition, plus some poor defending on the visitor’s part.
Portland first struck in the 28th minute off an Olivia Moultrie corner kick that was headed in by a somehow completely unmarked Pietra Tordin. The classic “f*ck Seattle” chants took on a renewed vigor for a few minutes after their side took the lead.
Just under 10 minutes later, Tordin turned provider to Reilyn Turner in transition. It was the two Thorns players against two Reign defenders and Emily Mason, who is filling in at center back for the injured Jordyn Bugg, missed Turner running on her backside. Turner got just enough in behind and finished cleanly with just the goalkeeper to beat.
The second half started better for the Reign; they looked more energized and like they were finally pushing for a goal. But Portland had a comfy lead and could just pack bodies back on defense.
The Thorns were even more inclined to hunker down on defense after they went down to nine players thanks to a second red card. After an extended wait for VAR and then the on-field check itself, Reyna Reyes was given a red card in the 57th minute when it was deemed that her pulling Madison Curry’s hair rose to the level of violent conduct.
Amidst the chaos after the ref’s in-stadium announcement of his decision, Portland tried to make a sub and bring in Marie Müller, but because she came on before the ref allowed the sub, she was given a yellow.
The Thorns used that same window to officially welcome Sophia Wilson back to Providence Park. She made her return to NWSL regular season play in the opener, but it was her first regular season appearance in Portland since 2024. She was also the perfect player to keep the Reign defenders from moving up too high, hold up the ball for her team, waste time and take the occasional chance to run solo at a limited defense.
With a two-player advantage but a two-goal deficit, the Reign went all in on offense. Head coach Laura Harvey subbed out a center back, defensive midfielder and attacker in favor of three new attackers in the 70th minute, leaving a three-back. Nine minutes later, the other original center back and an attacker gave way for two more attack-minded subs. They would play the rest of the game with a three-back made up of two usual outside backs, Sofia Huerta and Madison Curry, and a defensive midfielder, Angharad James-Turner.
Despite the switchup, the Reign attack still looked lackluster, just as rigid as the hemmed-in Thorns defenders and nothing like the team that scored two in Orlando to open the season. A multitude of crosses were sent in without ever really finding a teammate; they were either easily headed out by Portland defenders or nabbed out of the air by goalkeeper Morgan Messner.
The crowd was so raucous when the game ended that you could not hear the final whistle blow on the dramatic Thorns home-opening victory.
*This story will be updated
