Shorthanded Portland Thorns beat Seattle Reign despite two red cards
The Portland Thorns beat the Seattle Reign 2-0 in the 44th edition of the Cascadia Rivalry in Providence Park on Friday night despite going down to 10 players within the first 10 minutes, and to nine in the 57th due to red cards. Thorns midfielder and Norwegian international Cassandra Bogere earned two quick-succession yellow cards in the eighth and ninth minutes and became the earliest red card send-off (due to two yellow cards as opposed to a straight red) in NWSL history. The Thorns, who began their season with a 1-0 road win over the Washington Spirit last Friday night, were resolute and composed on the pitch after Bogere’s exit, the deficit hardly noticeable as they maintained possession in their attacking third for several minutes that followed.
Seattle, who ended the match averaging 62% possession, struggled to exploit their advantages in either half. In the 28th minute, Thorns striker Pietra Tordin capitalized on a corner taken by U. S.
women’s national team midfielder Olivia Moultrie, which fell to her in the penalty box and required only a flick to the far post. Portland doubled its lead nine minutes later on a counterattack; Moultrie received the ball near her team’s defensive third and found Tordin at the center half with a swift pass. Tordin then slotted a through ball to Thorns forward Reilyn Turner, who bounded down the left flank to receive it and found the far post side netting past Seattle Reign goalkeeper Claudia Dickey.
The second half of the game brought more drama for the Thorns, but not by way of goal concession. In the 57th minute, the home side went down another player when Thorns defender and Mexican international Reyna Reyes pulled the hair of Reign fullback Madison Curry as both players jumped up to contest a ball in the air. Reyes was not initially carded, but a video assistant referee review escalated the offense to a red card.
Reyes was sent off, and the Thorns’ personnel was reduced to nine players. Shortly after Reyes’ red, Thorns striker and USWNT star Sophia Wilson subbed on for Turner, marking her first return to Providence Park since Nov. 24, 2024.