The Portland Thorns said "Hold my beer" and beat Seattle, playing with only nine players. How did they do it?

The 2026 Portland Thorns' home opener was an unforgettable one. Portland soccer books will talk about this game years from now when they think about legendary performances – and rightly so.

What do you do when it's minute nine and you're already down one player? Moreover, what do you do when you still have more than 30 minutes to go and you're now two players down?

You do what the Thorns did: you grind.

Formation

Unlike the 4-4-2 the Thorns used in game one, this time coach Robert Vilahamn used a 4-2-3-1 with Jessie Fleming and Cassandra Bogere as a double pivot. Mimi Alidou, Olivia Moultrie and Reilyn Turner were behind Pietra Tordin, who started as the number nine.

However, the initial formation went to hell after Bogere was sent off in minute nine after seeing her first yellow in minute eight.

Now down to ten players, Portland went to a 4-3-2 while not in possession, as you can see below.

Fleming acts as the six, while Moultrie is the right winger and Alidou is the left winger. Turner and Tordin stay as forwards.