The Portland Thorns upended all predictions for the NWSL Challenge Cup on Friday, knocking the powerhouse North Carolina Courage out of the tournament with a 1-0 quarterfinal victory.
The Courage hadn’t lost a match in almost a full calendar year, with their last defeat coming against the Chicago Red Stars on July 21, 2019. North Carolina entered the tournament as a ruthless and dominant side, scoring seven goals during four wins to clinch the top seed after the opening round of play.
Against Portland, that energy didn’t dim. North Carolina dominated possession, slashing through the Portland box and firing 21 shots by the end of the match.