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Orlando Pride vs. Seattle Reign: Final Score 1-1 as Morgan and Fishlock Trade Goals in Stoppage Time

The Orlando Pride got a late goal from Alex Morgan but then conceded moments later and failed to clinch a playoff spot.

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7 years ago

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Image courtesy of Victor Tan / New Day Review

It looked like Alex Morgan had given the Orlando Pride their sixth straight win with her goal in stoppage time, but Jessica Fishlock answered almost immediately as the Pride dropped the two valuable points that would have secured the team’s first-ever appearance in the NWSL playoffs. The league’s two highest scoring teams couldn’t find the back of the net until after the 90th minute — and then they both did.

Orlando (10-6-6, 36 points) momentarily jumps over the Chicago Red Stars into third place in the NWSL, and is 1-1-2 all-time against the Seattle Reign (8-7-7, 31 points). The Pride saw their five-game winning streak snapped but are now unbeaten in seven (5-0-2) dating back to the August 5 draw against Chicago.

The elation of Morgan’s late goal being extinguished seconds later didn’t sit well with Head Coach Tom Sermanni or his players.

“It’s difficult at this moment in time because of the frustrations of the emotions,” Sermanni said. “We worked really hard tonight against Seattle. I thought we had more than enough chances in the second half to win the game and then I thought we had won the game. Sport comes back and gives you lessons sometimes.”

“We came out with a point, which is good, but we feel like we lost two instead of gaining any,” said defender Ali Krieger.

Sermanni went with the same lineup that beat the Boston Breakers on Saturday, starting a back line of Steph Catley, Krieger, Monica, and Camila in front of goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris. Alanna Kennedy and Dani Weatherholt flanked Marta in the middle, with Chioma Ubogagu, Morgan, and Rachel Hill forming the attacking line.

The teams played a scoreless and cagey first half, as it felt like a playoff game. The Reign pressed high and made it difficult for the Pride to play out of the back, showing a lot of energy in the opening 10 minutes of the match, earning several corner kicks. Megan Rapinoe nearly scored an Olimpico off of one such corner six minutes in, but Harris was able to do just enough to keep it out.

The Pride started to come into the game with Marta switching play with a beautiful curling pass to spring Ubogagu down the left, but Chi’s cross was cut out. At the 15-minute mark, the Pride earned a free kick from distance and the service found the head of Seattle’s Merritt Mathias and skipped just over the crossbar. Three minutes later, Catley played a superb long ball for Morgan, but the striker’s first touch let her down, allowing two defenders to team up on her, and the attack eventually fizzled.

Kennedy and Morgan each had shots blocked around the 20-minute mark and Catley fired an open shot from the top of the box well over the bar a minute later as the Pride got on the front foot.

Rapinoe tried to put the Reign on the board first with a long-range shot in the 27th minute that curled away from Harris, but the Pride keeper was able to stretch out and punch the ball away.

Five minutes later, Ubogagu showed some shake and bake to blast her way past a defender, but she impatiently tried to play to Hill early and the attack went to waste. At the 39-minute mark, Camila made a cheeky move in her own penalty area to shake free of Rapinoe and ignite the Orlando break, but at the other end, Marta’s cross for Morgan had a touch too much weight on it and sailed over the end line.

The half ended scoreless, with Seattle holding a slight possession advantage (51%) and both teams were around 80% with their passing accuracy. Orlando out-shot the Reign, 8-4 but got none of its attempts on target, while Harris had the game’s only save on Seattle’s lone shot on goal. Marta created four chances in the opening period to lead all players, with Morgan adding two.

Hill nearly broke the deadlock two minutes after the restart, rising to get onto a cross from Camila, but her header smashed off the crossbar and stayed out in the 47th minute. Two minutes later, Camila fired and forced Lydia Williams into a diving save on the Pride’s first shot attempt of the night to hit the target.

The Orlando chances continued with Chi rounding the corner and firing off Williams at the near post in the 54th minute. On the ensuing corner, the ball fell at Marta’s feet and the Brazilian held off three defenders before laying off for Ubogagu again. Chi smashed another shot on target but it was right at Williams.

Fishlock put the ball in the net in the 59th minute but she was offside and the flag was up even before she got her shot away, as the Reign kept trying to break in behind the Orlando defense. The Pride were wary of the Seattle attack all night, resulting in 10 offside calls against the visitors.

Camila came close in the 61st minute, stepping into one from distance and not missing by much.

The Brazilian right back/midfielder/forward finished with four shots, tying Hill and Kennedy for the most on the team, just ahead of Ubogagu’s three. Hill continued to look dangerous, firing wide in the 66th and then barely missing the back post with a shot fizzed from right to left in the 68th. The second shot was just out of Williams’ reach but sliced wide of the goal.

Seattle got a spell of possession after that for about the next 10 or 12 minutes as the Pride failed to link up passes and had a few giveaways. Finally, Ubogagu broke out of the pack with the ball and her cross was cut out for a corner, but in the buildup she missed a run from Morgan or chose not to slot in her strike partner and the chance went wanting. It was Chi’s final involvement as she was taken off for Toni Pressley, with Sermanni opting to go three at the back and play for the win.

Seattle had a couple decent looks at goal before Camila forced another diving stop from Williams to keep things level as the game headed toward stoppage time.

Just two minutes into injury time, the Pride pounced on a ball in the midfield and Weatherholt slotted in a perfectly weighted ball for Morgan to run onto. Alex had a defender closing but fired a low, left-footed shot that found the inside of the back post for what appeared to be a 92nd-minute game winner.

“Dani was able to play me in a great ball and although there was a defender on me, I felt that Lydia [Williams], the goalkeeper, was kind of hugging her near post. I saw that kind of out of the corner of my eye. I went for it. It went exactly where I was aiming and it was very short-lived, that excitement.”

The celebration for Morgan’s ninth goal of the season — on Weatherholt’s first career assist — didn’t last long. Shortly after the restart, the ball was cleared wide to Orlando’s left flank, where Nahomi Kawasumi gathered it with far too much time and space. She picked out a target in the box and crossed right onto Fishlock’s head. The cross cleared Krieger’s head by maybe an inch or two — she said in the postgame press conference that she felt it brush the top of her bun — and found Fishlock between Krieger and Monica for the game-tying header.

“We were really organized in the back. We were very tight in the box,” Krieger said. “Obviously players score goals, spaces don’t. So you have to make sure you’re tight on players, especially players running in through the midfield. When you’re in the box you have to make sure you’re grabbing onto players. I think that Steph [Catley] did a great job clearing that ball and then it’s trying to get some initial pressure on that service to not allow that. But when you don’t have that, you have to make sure you’re marked up in the box and I think that’s something that we can maybe do a little bit better on.”

From that point on it was pretty much over. Seattle hung on to win the road point and prevent the Pride from clinching as we head into an international break.

Orlando finished with 51% of the possession and a 78% passing accuracy, along with a 20-10 advantage in shots (5-3 on target). But the Reign were tough to break down on this night, blocking six Orlando attempts.

“I thought Seattle were pretty organized and I thought they defended us pretty well,” Morgan said. “I think at times we controlled the game, at times Seattle controlled the game, but I felt like overall we had a lot of really good chances. We were the better team. Obviously we fell asleep in that last minute.”

It was an intense match and Sermanni said afterward that it felt like a playoff atmosphere.

“Both teams knew how important that game was and I think that’s what we saw,” he said. “For them in particular tonight was a cup final. They could not lose the game tonight. For us, had we lost the game we’ve still got other opportunities but it was really important for us not to lose the game and lose momentum. And I think you saw that tonight.”

After the international break, in which seven Orlando starters will be in action — including the three Brazilians and two Australians traveling all the way down under and back — the Pride will face the league’s top two teams needing a few more points to clinch a postseason berth.

Orlando’s next game will be Saturday, Sept. 23 at home against the Portland Thorns. The Pride will finish the regular season on Saturday, Sept. 30 against league-leading North Carolina on the road.

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Opinion

Three Orlando Pride Games to Circle on the Calendar

Let’s take a brief look at three games to pay extra attention to during Orlando’s upcoming NWSL campaign.

Published

3 days ago

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January 24, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride

We got the release of the Orlando Pride’s 2025 schedule on Wednesday, which means we’re that little bit closer to the start of the season on March 7. The nature of the 14-team National Women’s Soccer League means that there are fewer scheduling quirks than with the 30-team Major League Soccer, with each team playing the other 13 clubs twice each. Still, there’s plenty to dig into with regards to how the scheduling shakes out, and now that I’ve had time to examine what 2025 holds, I’ve got three games in particular that I’ve got circled on my match calendar. Behold.

March 7 — vs. Washington Spirit

You had to know this was coming, right? There’s so much to like about this game. Not only is it the home opener, but as the NWSL Challenge Cup match, it’s also a chance to win another piece of silverware in a rematch of last year’s NWSL Championship game. This game sells itself on just about every level imaginable. The Pride return almost everyone from a wildly successful 2024 season, and while there aren’t a ton of new signings to familiarize ourselves with, getting healthy versions of Grace Chanda and Simone Charley is essentially like getting two brand new players. It’ll be our first chance to gauge where the Pride stand as they try to continue on from the high standards that were set last year, and we should also get a couple new banners hoisted into the rafters. You can hardly ask for more than all that.

Aug. 16 — at Kansas City Current

The Current were excellent in 2024, finishing fourth and boasting the league’s best attack, with 57 goals scored in 26 games, for an over two goals per game average. The Pride, meanwhile, had the league’s third-best attack, with 46 goals, and the joint-best defense with just 20 conceded. Orlando never lost to Kansas City in 2024, as the Pride drew and won the regular-season contests and then won again in the semifinal matchup between the two teams. The pair have made a habit of putting on entertaining affairs, and with the match placed as one of the first ones to occur after the league’s July break, it might go a long way towards setting the tone for the back half of Orlando’s season.

Nov. 2 — vs. Seattle Reign

The NWSL is bringing back Decision Day this year, and the Pride have been blessed with a home game on the league’s final day of regular-season play. On paper, Orlando has also been handed a favorable matchup against a Seattle team that struggled last year and is in the midst of a rebuild. Given how tight the margins tend to be in the upper reaches of the league, every point takes on added importance, and playoff scenarios can swing wildly when everyone is playing at the same time. It’s always nice to be able to play at home in a situation that variable, and it can make for a truly memorable atmosphere that will (hopefully) set Orlando up for another postseason run on the right note.

It feels a little cheap to highlight the first and last games of the season, but I can’t help liking what I like. Are there any games that you’re especially looking forward to this season? Be sure to have your say down in the comments. Vamos Orlando!

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Orlando Pride

A 2025 Orlando Pride Wish List

Four things I want for the Orlando Pride in 2025.

Published

4 days ago

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January 23, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride

I know that it probably seems greedy to ask for anything more after the Orlando Pride won both the NWSL Shield and the NWSL Championship in 2024, but I’m still going to do so. If the Pride want to repeat their success in 2025, they will need a little bit more than in 2024. Let’s look at my wish list for the defending champs.

No Banda Slump

Barbra Banda scored 12 goals with five assists in her first 12 matches with the Pride. She then scored one goal with one assist in the next 10 regular season matches. I know that players have slumps. Strikers in particular tend to be streaky when it comes to goal contributions. I’m just asking that Banda not have another slump quite that big in 2025.

It might be that teams did a better job of double- or triple-teaming her on defense. Perhaps she just got a little unlucky during the slump. Whatever the reason, I hope that her familiarity with her teammates, the league, and Seb Hines’ style of play allows her to significantly increase her goal contributions this season.

A Healthy Chanda and Charley

Neither Grace Chanda nor Simone Charley were able to see the pitch much for the Pride last season. That hopefully changes in 2025. Adding these two players is almost like signing new players, except they’ve been there for everything. There’s no need to adapt to the culture of the club, as they are already a part of it all.

Chanda not only brings international experience, but she has played with Banda for the Zambian National Team. I expect she’ll be able to make an immediate impact when she integrates into the attack. As for Charley, she will be yet another speedy striker the Pride can utilize in their potent attack.

Adding Depth Contributions

The 2024 season saw some players step up a level. Ally Watt had one of her best seasons, Summer Yates impressed everyone, and Cori Dyke earned a starting spot after an appearance on SkoPurp Soccer: An Orlando Pride PawedCast. If we can have other young players make the same type of jump in 2025, it bodes well for the club.

Despite having the best defense in the league, the Pride are a little light along the back. I’d like to see Brianna Martinez and new signee, Zara Chavoshi, make some noise on the back line when they get some minutes. There’s also the possibility of a non-roster invitee impressing enough to get a contract. Depth is incredibly important for a team looking to repeat.

Overcoming History

Winning back-to-back anything in any sport is difficult. Every other team will bring their best against you. The weight of expectations can also be very heavy. That being said, if any club can do it, this Pride team can.

The coaches and players already dealt with the pressure of the undefeated streak last season. They dealt with the pressure of winning the NWSL Cup after winning the NWSL Shield. They have dealt with plenty of pressure. Now, they will need to find the proper motivation to propel them to the top yet again. There will be no sneaking up on the league this year.

Those are some of the things I want to see in 2025, but I want to know your thoughts on these points. Perhaps you have some wishes of your own. Let me know in the comments below. Vamos Orlando!

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Orlando Pride

Orlando Pride Announce 2025 NWSL Schedule

We now know who, where, and when the Pride will play in 2025 as they seek to defend their two shiny trophies.

Published

5 days ago

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January 22, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC

The National Women’s Soccer League schedule was released this afternoon, telling us who, where, and when the Orlando Pride will play this year as they look to defend their NWSL Shield and NWSL Championship. The 2025 season once again includes a balanced schedule with each team playing the other 13 teams once at home and once away. As previously announced, the Pride will take part in the NWSL Challenge Cup against the Washington Spirit on March 7 at 8 p.m. at Inter&Co Stadium prior to the regular season.

The Pride will open the season at home against the Chicago Red Stars at 8 p.m. on Friday, March 14. The first road contest will take place on Sunday, March 23 at NJ/NY Gotham FC. Like last year, the season will end with a Decision Day matchup at home against Seattle Reign FC on Sunday Nov. 2 at a time to be announced later.

The postseason will start with the quarterfinals taking place Nov. 7-9, with matches televised on ESPN/ABC, CBS/Paramount+, and Prime Video. The semifinals will be played the weekend of Nov. 14-16 and broadcast on CBS/Paramount+ and ESPN/ABC. The final will take place in primetime and will air on CBS and stream on Paramount+.

The Pride’s longest homestand this season will be just two games, which happens four times if counting the Challenge Cup match against the Spirit and season opener against the Red Stars. Orlando will host Washington and Angel City on April 19 and 25, respectively; the Utah Royals and Racing Louisville on Aug. 3 and 9, respectively; and Bay FC and the North Carolina Courage on Sept. 13 and 19, respectively.

The longest road trip this year will also be two games, occurring four times: at Portland and North Carolina May 3 and 10, at Bay FC and Louisville June 13 and 20, at Kansas City and Angel City Aug. 16 and 21, and at San Diego and Houston Sept. 26 and Oct. 3.

There are no regular-season matches scheduled in July, meaning the league is taking a break for any potential summer international friendlies/tournaments or an as-yet-unannounced cup competition. The Pride’s busiest month will be August, in which they’ll play five matches, with three at home and two on the road. There will be four Pride matches in March (counting the Challenge Cup), May, and September; three each in April, June, and October, and one — the regular-season finale — in November.

Here’s the month-by-month breakdown for the regular season:

  • March – 3 (plus the Challenge Cup)
  • April – 3
  • May – 4
  • June – 3
  • July – 0
  • August – 5
  • September – 4
  • October – 3
  • November – 1

The most common day the Pride will play this year will be on Friday (11 times, or 12 times counting the Challenge Cup), including four consecutive Friday games late in the season. They’ll play 10 Saturday games, four Sunday matches, and once on Thursday (at Angel City Aug. 21).

Here is the Pride’s schedule by day in the regular season:

  • Friday – 11 (plus the Challenge Cup)
  • Saturday – 10
  • Sunday – 4
  • Thursday – 1

Pride games will air on various platforms again in 2025, including Prime Video, ESPN 2, ESPN, ION, NWSL+, Paramount+, CBS, and CBS Sports Network.

A new NWSL Rivalry Weekend has been added to the schedule in 2025. While the Pride have some rivalries growing naturally against Kansas City and Washington, they have been pitted against Racing Louisville for some reason. Both teams wear purple, I guess.

Fans who support both Orlando City and the Pride will be interested to know the teams play on the same day eight times this season, but only twice do the game times overlap — on May 3, when the Pride play at 7:30 p.m. at Portland and the Lions play at 8:30 p.m. at Chicago; and on May 10, when the Lions host New England at 7:30 and the Pride and Courage kick off in North Carolina at the same time. However, the teams cut it close a couple other times, with the Pride hosting the Washington Spirit at 5 p.m. April 19 and the Lions playing at Montreal at 7:30 p.m.; and on Sept. 13, with the Pride hosting Bay FC at 5 p.m. and Orlando City facing D.C. United at 7:30 p.m. The other four times the teams play on the same day, the kickoffs are at least three hours apart and as many as 10.5 hours apart (March 29).

2025 Orlando Pride Schedule (All Times Eastern)

  • Friday, March 7 — vs. Washington Spirit, 8 p.m. (Prime Video) – NWSL Challenge Cup
  • Friday, March 14 — vs. Chicago Red Stars, 8 p.m. (Prime Video)
  • Sunday, March 23 — at NJ/NY Gotham FC, 7 p.m. (ESPN2)
  • Saturday, March 29 — vs. San Diego Wave, 12 p.m. (ESPN)
  • Saturday, April 12 — at Seattle Reign FC, 7:30 p.m. (ION)
  • Saturday, April 19 — vs. Washington Spirit, 5 p.m. (ION)
  • Friday, April 25 — vs. Angel City FC, 8 p.m. (Prime Video)
  • Saturday, May 3 — at Portland Thorns, 7:30 p.m. (ION)
  • Saturday, May 10 — at North Carolina Courage, 7:30 p.m. (ION)
  • Friday, May 16 — vs. Kansas City Current, 8 p.m. (Prime Video)
  • Friday, May 23 — at Utah Royals, 9:30 p.m. (NWSL+)
  • Saturday, June 7 — vs. Houston Dash, 7 p.m. (NWSL+)
  • Friday, June 13 — at Bay FC, 10 p.m. (Prime Video)
  • Friday, June 20 — at Racing Louisville, 8 p.m. (NWSL+)
  • Sunday, Aug. 3 — vs. Utah Royals, 6 p.m. (NWSL+/Paramount+)
  • Saturday, Aug. 9 — vs. Racing Louisville, 7:30 p.m. (ION)
  • Saturday, Aug. 16 — at Kansas City Current, 4 p.m. (CBS)
  • Thursday, Aug. 21 — at Angel City FC, 10:30 p.m. (CBS Sports Network)
  • Friday, Aug. 29 — vs. NJ/NY Gotham FC, 8 p.m. (Prime Video)
  • Sunday, Sept. 7 — at Chicago Red Stars, 3 p.m. (NWSL+/Paramount+)
  • Saturday, Sept. 13 — vs. Bay FC, 5 p.m. (ION)
  • Friday, Sept. 19 — vs. North Carolina Courage, 7:30 p.m. (NWSL+)
  • Friday, Sept. 26 — at San Diego Wave, 10:30 p.m. (NWSL+/Paramount+)
  • Friday, Oct. 3 — at Houston Dash, 8 p.m. (Prime Video)
  • Friday, Oct. 10 — vs. Portland Thorns, 8 p.m. (Prime Video)
  • Saturday, Oct. 18 — at Washington Spirit, 12:30 p.m. (CBS)
  • Sunday, Nov. 2 — vs. Seattle Reign FC, TBA (broadcast platform TBA)
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