Orlando Pride
Orlando Pride vs Houston Dash: Player Grades and Player of the Match
“Keep on missing each other.
Our world’s out of order
All I see is Missed Opportunity
Will we ever learn”
– Hall & Oates
That’s right, when you are busting out Hall & Oates, you know the business just got serious. Every single stat category was dominated by the Pride on Wednesday night, and yet the game ended up a 2-1 win for Houston.
So needless to say, this will be a tough one for me to break down and grade, as I try to reconcile what I saw for most of the match, with what the final results were. Let’s get to it!
Starters
GK, Ashlyn Harris, 6 — Five “shots” on target, and three of those saved. The first goal, as we all know, was the floating cross from Kealia Ohai. I can’t put too much on Harris for this, yes, we can all say she could have waited just a second more before making the leap, but it really was just a bizarre circumstance that ended in the absolute perfect spot. The second, the penalty kick, Sofia Huerta’s body language was pretty spot on and it sent Harris the wrong way. The positives: I thought she did well most of the night in directing the defense and putting the ball into play.
D, Poliana, 6 — A solid enough game from Poliana. I thought she was good once again at what we’ve been seeing, maintaining possession in tight spots and getting the ball freed up. Wednesday night though, we saw a dip in her passing rate, and she ended with a 67.6%.
D, Monica, 7 — Oh, Monica…what was such a flawless game got obliterated by an 82nd-minute handball in the box. She would have easily been my player of the match, but you just can’t make those kinds of mistakes in those situations. She led the team in passes with 63, and completed 95.2% of them. She also had three tackles on the night.
D, Shelina Zadorsky, 7 — Shelina had a solid night alongside Monica, and created the only chance that mattered in the end when she slid the ball across to a waiting Alex Morgan for the tap in. It was a rare assist for the center back.
D, Carson Pickett, 6 — Carson was steady on the night. I thought she had some good moments along the sidelines that got the ball into the attack. As the game wore on, things started getting a bit chippy, and I think she especially seemed to get a bit off her game.
MF, Dani Weatherholt, 6.5 — Dani was all over the pitch per her usual. She also led the team in tackles with four and created a few chances as well. It could have been capped off with an awesome effort in the 63rd when she tried to flick it with her heel into the top corner, but Jane Campbell was ready and secured the save. I did feel some of her connections with her teammates were a bit off compared to what I’ve seen in the past.
MF, Alanna Kennedy, 5.5 — Alanna’s work on the defensive end was solid, and she had one of the better passing rates on the team at 83.3%. The part of her game I was torn on Wednesday was taking all those shots (six) with none being on target — though in fairness she did just barely miss a goal with a header off the right post. I like when a defensive midfielder isn’t afraid to shoot a rocket at the keeper, but they have to be at the keeper, and a lot of her shots were squandered opportunities to put the ball in a better place of attack.
MF, Christine Nairn, 7 (PotM) — For the second week in a row, Nairn is my player of the match. She led the team in chances created, and had a decent pass percentage at 78.7%. A lot of people don’t like to see long balls played, but when Nairn plays them, especially to a player like Alex Morgan, they always have a chance to be special, and you can see the two of them are building up a decent rhythm. As always, her work rate is fantastic.
F, Marta, 6 — This was a slightly above average Marta game for me. At times she seemed frustrated, and whether it was for good reason or not, it definitely affected her play in the match. I love her because she plays with those raw emotions on her sleeve all the time, but they didn’t work to her advantage in this one. All-in-all, statistically, an above average game for her with an 80% passing rate, two chances created, and her lone effort on goal was at a difficult angle from the outer edge of the box.
F, Alex Morgan, 6.5 — Alex, like Monica, was on the cusp of being my player of the match. But like the handball, I can’t get over the missed penalty kick. It just wasn’t a strong enough effort and as we all know, it went right into the left post. She made up for it later of course being there for the tap in goal to put Orlando ahead in the 22nd minute. Short of that, her game was decent in all phases, except passing, which was a team low 36.4%.
F, Kristen Edmonds, 6 — Edmonds almost put Orlando in the lead in the 19th minute when a ball was played to her in the box. She had a great first touch and chose to go near post. It was stopped by a Jane Campbell foot. I wonder what could have been had she quickly buried it far post, I think she could have beat Campbell on that side. Everything else from Kristen was decent enough, and there were a few moments early in that first half where it felt like she was going to be a part of a goal.
Substitutes
F, Sydney Leroux (64’), F, Rachel Hill (71’), and F, Chioma Ubogagu (78’), 4.5 — Perhaps unconventional to put all three in the same rating, but you can say the exact same thing about all three substitutions on the night, and that is that they simply had no impact. They had 34 touches combined (I can’t believe it’s actually that many) and 20 total passes between all three. To me, the Pride became totally toothless in the attack once the subs started rolling out. Highlights include: good work by Syd to win possession early in her play, Hill had a great burst of speed to keep possession and take a shot in the box (off target), and Chi put in a cross in the 88th minute that was too close to Campbell and easily slapped away.
A tough pill to swallow, and I’m hoping it’s the wake-up call that the loss to the same team was last year, and the Pride begin to go on a tear and make my dreams come true. (I had to end with H&O!) Vote and comment below!
Polling Closed
| Player | Votes |
| Monica | 1 |
| Shelina Zadorsky | 15 |
| Christine Nairn | 7 |
| Alex Morgan | 4 |
| Other (comment below) | 2 |
Orlando Pride
Orlando Pride vs. Boston Legacy FC: Final Score 1-0 as Pride are Swept by Expansion Boston
The Pride finish 0-3-1 against expansion teams after a toothless attacking night against Boston Legacy FC.
The Orlando Pride (6-7-2, 20 points) fell 1-0 at home to Boston Legacy FC (4-7-4, 16 points) in front of a Wednesday night crowd of 6,004 disappointed fans. Boston struck early and the Pride laid on a relentless attack in the second half, but they lacked precision in the final third and couldn’t overcome the Legacy’s stubborn defense. Barbara Olivieri scored the game’s only goal.
Orlando Pride Head Coach Seb Hines deployed his typical 4-2-3-1 formation for tonight’s match. The back line in front of goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse was made up of Cori Dyke, Hannah Anderson, Zara Chavoshi, and Oihane. Haley McCutcheon and Ally Lemos served as the defensive midfielders, with Angelina, Jacquie Ovalle, and Solai Washington taking up the attacking midfield roles and Marta up top.
“Yeah, I mean they took their goal well. You know, some quick combination play, but I feel like every goal is preventable,” Hines said after the match. “You know, that’s just my mindset and how I think. And you know there was a couple of give-and-goes, and then you know getting close to people and affecting people wasn’t quite there in the first half.”
In the first minute, Oihane worked her way down the right and fed a ball through to Washington, who sent in a low cross that Casey Murphy collected easily.
In the sixth minute, Lilly Reale responded by sending a harmless ball over the crossbar.
Marta worked down the left a minute later and sent a high cross into the box, but it was too far in front of Washington and Angelina, who were trying to catch up to the play. The pass went harmlessly out the other side of the area, wasting a numerical advantage in transition.
In the 12th minute, Boston worked the ball down the right and sent in a cross that McCutcheon blocked behind for a corner. Jorelyn Carabali met the ensuing delivery with a free header, but it didn’t have much pace on it and popped up right to Moorhouse. Five minutes later, Moorhouse got over to gather a cross in from Reale.
Boston struck in the 17th minute, carving through the Pride midfield as Alba Caño found Ella Stevens, who tapped it centrally to Olivieri. The Boston attacker fired toward Moorhouse’s left. The goalkeeper dove but couldn’t make the save as the ball was able to sneak inside the post to make it 1-0.
The Pride attempted to pull the goal back in the 22nd minute, working up through the middle, but could not break down the stubborn Boston defense.
In the 26th minute, McCutcheon turned the ball over to Olivieri, who muscled her way into the box and cut back a pass to Caño, who fired wide. McCutcheon was shown a delayed yellow card for trying — and failing — to hold back Olivieri on the play, with the referee playing advantage.
The Pride responded in the 28th minute, following a throw-in, working wide on the left. Dyke sent in a good cross to Angelina right in front of goal. The Brazilian did well to get a foot on it, but hit it poorly and sent the ball wide left.
In the 36th minute, the Pride earned a free kick following a foray into the Boston 18-yard box that was defended away. Murphy collected the ensuing ball in from Ovalle without difficulty.
Boston managed a shot in the 40th minute after winning the ball off an Orlando throw-in and working it out to Caño, who centered for Annie Karich. She fired a shot but sent it right at Moorhouse.
Orlando had its own chance seconds later when an Ovalle effort flew just wide, needing a touch from Murphy to put it out for a corner. It looked like the Pride had equalized on the corner, with Ovalle curling the ball directly in for an Olimpico, but the goal was called back for a foul by Lemos who lightly bumped into Murphy. It was a curious call, as Lemos stood her ground and Murphy had to move back toward her goal away from Lemos to try to get to Ovalle’s delivery, but the goal didn’t count and a free kick was awarded to Boston.
Aïssata Traoré fired over the crossbar in the 43rd minute after some buildup down the Boston left.
Washington managed a decent cross in the 44th minute, but it was just too far in front of an onrushing Ovalle. Oihane added a cross of her own in the 46th minute, but it again went right to Murphy.
Boston won another corner moments later from an attack down the right, but the delivery flew over everyone except Reale at the back post. She put it out for an Orlando goal kick. The Pride survived a penalty scare on the play, as Ovalle had tangled with Carabali in the box, with a lot of shirt pulling and no attempt to play the ball. Referee Cristian Campo went to the monitor after a lengthy delay waiting for the video assistant referee. Campo looked at the play and confirmed the call as no foul and a goal kick, evening out the game’s two most controversial plays.
The first half came to an end without another good look at goal and Boston leading 1-0.
The half finished with Orlando leading in possession (51%-49%) but Boston had the advantage in shots (7-4), shots on target (2-0), and passing accuracy (87%-81%). Both teams won two corner kicks in the opening half.
Orlando saw more of the ball in the second half and created more opportunities, but in the end, the Pride were wasteful with those chances and gave the ball away too cheaply in the final third.
Hines brought on Julie Doyle at halftime for her 100th appearance for the club. She replaced Oihane at right back.
“Yeah, I mean, just want to say how grateful I am too. I mean, not every single player gets to hit 100 — and hit 100 at the same team,” Doyle said. “I’m so grateful just for the staff and the organization for believing in me every single year and every single contract and have had some highs and lows, but winning a championship was the best soccer memory.
“We’ve got to figure out how to break down a low block. I think that’s probably the hardest thing to do in soccer. You see it even in the World Cup. But yeah, and just like having that grit and mentality, and doing whatever it takes to get another goal, and you know, for us, I think that’s something that we obviously need to figure out.”
Orlando put together some excellent buildup in the 50th minute between Washington and Angelina, following clever holdup play by Marta. The sequence led to a Washington shot that Murphy parried away. The resulting cross found Marta, but her touch deflected off a Boston defender and into touch for a Pride throw-in that led nowhere.
Marta got a shot off in the 55th minute, following buildup through the middle from Anderson and Dyke, but sent it straight at the goalkeeper.
Boston worked a cross into the Orlando box in the 59th minute, sent in by Bianca St-Georges, but McCutcheon cleared it.
Barbra Banda subbed on in the 60th minute for Ovalle, and Orlando immediately started to play more directly with the Zambian international on the pitch. The Pride threatened in the 62nd minute with a ball over the top to Banda out wide, but a good tackle by Carabali snuffed out the attack after Banda had worked her way centrally, trying to clear herself for a shot.
The Pride followed with a free kick that was sent in, recycled, and lobbed back in, glancing off Anderson’s head and over the end line. Washington fired a shot just wide of the left post in the 64th minute. Murphy got a touch to help it, but a goal kick was given.
In the 66th minute, Boston came close to doubling the lead following a scramble in the box. Caño’s free kick found Reale, who crossed it back in, but Dyke cleared the danger off the line.
Hines made a double substitution in the 68th minute, sending on Simone Jackson for Washington and Nicole Payne for Lemos.
In the 77th minute, Jackson fought hard to work the ball toward the center of the box for Banda, who took a swing at a difficult ball that sailed high and wide. Eight minutes later, Orlando nearly forced an own goal when a Doyle cross deflected off Carabali and rattled the post.
The Pride earned a corner in the 86th minute when Emerson Elgin cleared a McCutcheon cross for Banda over the end line. Boston defended two corners in the ensuing goalmouth scramble, with Olivieri prominent in clearing the danger.
Hines made his final substitution in the 88th minute, sending on Seven Castain for McCutcheon.
In the 90th minute, chaos reigned in the box as the Pride had shots from both Marta and Payne blocked. A minute later, a promising attack down the left was snuffed out when Doyle stepped on the side of the ball while trying to beat her defender, handing possession back to the Legacy, who used their possession to try to run out the clock.
In the 95th minute, Marta worked a nice ball over the top that gave Banda a fighting chance, but a slightly heavy touch — with Boston players closing in — cost her the ball.
The final whistle brought Orlando’s second loss to Boston to a close. The Pride took only one point from four matches against the two new NWSL expansion sides.
The match finished with Orlando having the better of the possession battle (52%-48%), shots (13-8), corner kicks (5-2), and passing accuracy (84%-83%) but both teams put two shots on target.
“It’s obviously challenging, especially when she had quite a significant injury leading up into the last couple of games,” Hines said of Banda’s contributions and readiness going forward. “I feel like we’ve managed her really well, but you have to be so cautious with players, especially when they have injuries the way that Barbra had, and she’s such an explosive player, you don’t want to lose her for many more games — we’ll assess where she’s at, how she feels after tonight’s game, and then make a decision on you know if she starts or she can be an impact off the bench again.”
It was a disappointing result and performance for the Pride — their second in the last three matches, sandwiched around one of the team’s best outings of the year on Friday against the Kansas City Current. But the only thing consistent about the 2026 Pride is the team’s inconsistency and inability to get everyone healthy. Both Hailie Mace and Summer Yates sat out the game with knocks.
Things won’t get any easier for the Pride, who must now travel to Utah to face the Royals on Saturday night at altitude.
Orlando Pride
Orlando Pride vs. Boston Legacy FC: Preview, How to Watch, TV Info, Live Stream, Lineups, Match Thread, and More
The Pride look to win their second straight game as they welcome Boston Legacy FC to Inter&Co Stadium.
Welcome to your match preview and live thread as the Orlando Pride (6-6-2, 20 points) face Boston Legacy FC (3-7-4, 13 points) at Inter&Co Stadium at 7 p.m. (NWSL+, Victory+). This is the second and final scheduled meeting between these two teams this season.
Here’s everything you need to know about tonight’s game.
History
Boston Legacy FC is one of two expansion teams joining the NWSL in 2026. The first and only game between the two teams took place on May 12 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, MA. The Pride took the lead in the 14th minute when Rafaelle was pushed over during a set piece and Marta converted the penalty. However, Aleigh Gambone equalized in the 72nd minute and Amanda Gutierres netted the winner eight minutes into second-half stoppage time from the penalty spot for a handball in the box by Luana. Boston took that first-ever meeting 2-1.
Overview
The Pride went into the World Cup break with back-to-back wins over San Diego Wave FC and Bay FC. However, they returned with a weak performance against Angel City FC away from home, resulting in a 2-0 loss.
On Friday night, the Pride faced a red-hot Kansas City Current team. While the first half wasn’t the best, the Pride had arguably their best half of the season in the final 45 minutes. Marta opened the scoring with a long-distance shot in the 49th minute, followed by a Hannah Anderson header off a corner kick in the 57th minute. Barbra Banda came on in the 76th minute and extended her league-leading goal total to 12 in the 85th minute, securing the 3-0 win.
The clean sheet was the Pride’s fifth of the season. Combined with the three goals, the team now has a positive goal difference (+2) with 21 goals scored and 19 goals conceded. The last two years, the team has been better defensively than offensively, but it’s opposite this season. The Pride are now third in goals scored and 10th in goals conceded.
In addition to the three points, Jacquie Ovalle and Marta started together for the first time this season. Banda also played the final 14 minutes after missing the Angel City game and looked like her dangerous self in the attack.
Tonight, the Pride welcome a Boston Legacy FC team that sits 14th in the 16-team league. The visitors tonight only have three wins this year, with one coming against the Pride and the other coming Friday night against the Chicago Stars.
Boston went into the World Cup break with back-to-back losses, falling 2-1 to Seattle Reign FC and 1-0 to the Kansas City Current. However, the expansion side has bounced back well, drawing 2-2 with Bay FC before beating the Stars 2-0.
Boston is led in the attack by Aissata Traore and Gutierres with four goals each, followed by Nichelle Prince and Alba Cano with two apiece. Biance St-Georges, Sammy Smith, and Gambone are the team’s only other goal scorers with a goal each.
Prince leads the team in assists, with three, followed by Gutierres with two. Traore, Barbara Olivieri, Emerson Elgin, and Laurel Ansbrow have each added one assist this season.
The team is tied with Racing Louisville FC on 15 goals scored, third fewest in the league. Meanwhile, Boston’s 21 goals conceded is fourth most in the NWSL this season. Despite falling back in May, this is a game from which the Pride should be able to take all three points.
“Last time we played them it was a physical game,” Pride Head Coach Seb Hines said ahead of tonight’s contest. “It came down to literally the last kick of the game as well, so we’re looking to bounce back from that result that we were disappointed with going to their place. And, also, building on our performance against Kansas. It was a really good, encouraging performance. The attention to detail, scoring some goals as well is always nice, making it entertaining for our fans. So we’re looking to replicate that against Boston.”
The Pride will be without Hailie Mace (thigh), Kylie Nadaner (maternity leave), Rafaelle (hip), Viviana Villacorta (knee), and Summer Yates (ankle). Boston will play without Lais Araujo (thigh), Josefine Hasbo (lower leg), Kaka (ankle), Fauzia Najjemba (thigh), and Chloe Ricketts (ankle).
Official Lineups
Orlando Pride (4-2-3-1)
Goalkeeper: Anna Moorhouse.
Defenders: Cori Dyke, Hannah Anderson, Zara Chavoshi, Oihane.
Defensive Midfielders: Ally Lemos, Haley McCutcheon.
Attacking Midfielders: Jacquie Ovalle, Angelina, Solai Washington.
Forward: Marta.
Bench: Cosette Morche, McKinley Crone, Kerry Abello, Luana, Nicole Payne, Julie Doyle, Seven Castain, Simone Jackson, Barbra Banda.
Boston Legacy FC (4-2-3-1)
Goalkeeper: Casey Murphy.
Defenders: Lilly Reale, Emerson Elgin, Jorelyn Carabali, Bianca St-Georges.
Defensive Midfielders: Annie Karich, Alba Cano.
Attacking Midfielders: Aissata Traore, Barbara Olivieri, Nichelle Prince.
Forward: Ella Stevens.
Bench: Laurel Ivory, Hannah Stambaugh, Nicolette Hernandez, Laurel Ansbrow, Deja Davis, Amanda Allen, Sammy Smith, Aleigh Gambone, Gutierres.
Referees
REF: Cristian Campo.
AR1: Noah Kenyawani.
AR2: Kendall McCardell.
4TH: Alejo Calume.
VAR: Alyssa Pennington.
AVAR: Brian Marshall.
How to Watch
Match Time: 7 p.m.
Venue: Inter&Co Stadium — Orlando.
TV: None.
Streaming: NWSL+, Victory+.
Social Media: For live updates and rapid reaction, follow @themaneland.bsky.social on Bluesky and the Orlando Pride’s official Twitter (@ORLPride) or Bluesky (@orlpride.com) feed.
Enjoy the game. Go Pride!
Orlando Pride
Orlando Pride vs. Kansas City Current: Final Score 3-0 as Pride Bounce Back with Win
The Pride take all three points at home against the red-hot Current.
A strong defensive effort and some moments of attacking quality earned the Orlando Pride all three points in a 3-0 win over the Kansas City Current at Inter&Co Stadium tonight. It was especially fitting that the Pride earned a clean sheet on goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse’s 100th appearance with the club.
The Orlando Pride (6-6-2, 20 points) bounced back from a difficult result in LA in convincing fashion against a tough Kansas City Current (8-6-0, 24 points) team. The match started off fairly even, but Orlando was organized and disciplined in this match and ultimately prevailed with goals from Marta, Barbra Banda and Hannah Anderson.
Orlando Pride Head Coach Seb Hines deployed his typical 4-2-3-1 formation in the team’s return home. The back line in front of Moorhouse was made up of Kerry Abello, Anderson, Zara Chavoshi, and Cori Dyke. Haley McCutcheon and Ally Lemos served as the defensive midfielders, with Angelina, Marta, and Jacquie Ovalle taking up the attacking midfield roles. Solai Washington serving as striker.
“Zara’s been out for majority of the season, and we know her qualities,” Hines said said of his defensive players after the match. “With young players, you have to find out what they’re made of as well, and so she really stepped up into the challenge —Hannah and Zara — because they’ve been patient and been waiting for this opportunity since the start of the year. Hannah is such a threat off set pieces. Talk about Cori. She’s she’s been brilliant as well. Wherever we’ve put her in that back line, she’s been so consistent. We have to consistently have those desired behaviors to not concede, and that gives you the platform to go on and win the game.”
Kansas City came out quickly, testing Moorhouse in the first minute with a cross from Amelia White that Moorhouse got to just ahead of Haley Hopkins.
At the other end, Dyke took Orlando’s first shot from the top of the box in the sixth that looked more like a cross than a shot, and Marisa Jordan saved it with ease.
In the seventh minute, Angelina got the ball wide to the right side to Ovalle, who sent it back to Angelina, who then fired high.
Orlando put together a decent buildup down the left in the ninth minute by Abello and Washington, who centered it for Marta. Marta passed back to Angelina, who fired well wide to the left. Orlando went forward again in the 11th minute, with Marta out wide sending a ball over the 18-yard box that Dyke collected and then worked back out to Angelina. The Brazilian crossed it in to Abello, who headed it off target at the back post.
Izzy Rodriguez stripped Mart of the ball in the 13th just outside the Orlando 18-yard box, allowing Debinha to find Hopkins with a centering pass, but the Current attacker fired wide right. Croix Bethune tried her luck from long distance in the 16th minute, but the effort went straight at Moorhouse.
Orlando had a well-worked buildup through the middle in the 17th minute, with Dyke advancing up the right and sending a ball to Lemos, who found Dyke again for a cross in to Washington — but her shot sailed over the crossbar. Washington and Marta traded passes in the 19th before Washington attempted a right-footed cross into the box that Jordan intercepted easily.
As the teams continued battling back and forth, White worked her way around Abello in the 22nd minute and picked out Debinha with a cross, but her effort went straight at a well-positioned Moorhouse. Bethune found Hopkins in the 23rd, but Lemos cut off her ball through the box, sending it behind for a corner. McCutcheon headed away the ensuing corner, earning Kansas City another corner. Hopkins headed the the entry cross over the bar, handing Orlando a goal kick.
Kansas City nearly broke through three minutes later, on a mistake by the Pride defense on a ball over the top to Debinha. Chavoshi attempted to shepherd the ball out for a goal kick, but she was too far from the end line. Debinha got past her to the ball and sent it in front to Hopkins for the tap-in. But the goal was chalked off for offside on the initial ball. It was a close play.
Rocky Rodriguez’s cross found Bethune in the 30th minute, and the midfielder outjumped Abello, got her head on it, and placed the effort well, but the shot had little pace to it and Moorhouse collected it.
Lemos made a nice driving run in the 33rd minute and fed Washington, whose cross was cut out by Laney Rouse. The loose ball found Angelina before it was eventually cleared following some back-and-forth changes of possession just outside the Current’s box.
Some gritty midfield work from Abello — who picked up a knock to her wrist on the play — saw her strip the ball from the Current in the 38th minute and advance it to Washington, who worked her way to the end line and passed back to Ovalle. The Mexican international’s shot was right at Jordan. Abello received treatment, left the field briefly, and returned to the match in the 41st minute after the mandatory one-minute wait for receiving attention.
Orlando won a throw-in in the 42nd minute, and Washington worked her way down the left before delivering a cross that Jordan stopped, colliding with Kayla Sharples in the process. Neither was injured in the tangle.
Orlando was able to maintain sustained possession for several minutes and spent that time trying to fashion a shot but never created anything threatening. Kanasas City pounced on a McCutcheon attempted pass, and broke down the pitch through a Bethune ball over the top to Debinha, who had to wait for reinforcements. Lo’Eau Labonta arrived and Debinha fed a ball she popped up which was defended away by McCutcheon but back out to the Current. Kansas City worked it back to Labonta, who then sent the ball over the crossbar. It was the last action of the first half.
Orlando held the lead in possession (51%-49%) and both teams managed six shots. Kansas City led in shots on target (3-1), corner kicks (2-0), and passing accuracy (88%-86%).
Kansas City subbed on the dangerous Temwa Chawinga for Debinha after the break, and the Current started off the second half aggressively. Marta had other plans though and, in the 49th minute, she scored her 50th goal for the Pride from about 30 yards out. Ovalle took the ball down Orlando’s left side, worked her way central, and passed back to Marta. Kansas City applied absolutely no pressure on her, so she blasted a long-range shot past a diving Jordan.
Hines made his first substitution of the game in the 53rd minute, bringing on Hailie Mace for Abello. Orlando earned a corner moments later through Marta, and the Pride doubled their lead on the ensuing set piece. Lemos sent a good cross to the back post and Anderson met it with a header, placing it perfectly past Jordan to make it 2-0.
The Current won a corner of their own in the 59th minute, but Orlando defended it away. It only as far as Chawinga, whose follow-up shot was blocked by Anderson.
Hines turned to his bench again in the 65th minute, sending on Luana for Angelina and Julie Doyle for Ovalle. Bethune worked her way into Orlando’s box in the 67th and fired from close range, but at a tight angle, and sent her effort straight at Moorhouse, who parried it behind for a corner. Moorhouse punched the corner clear, and the danger was eventually cleared over the crossbar for an Orlando goal kick.
Orlando was content to sit back and defend from that point. Bayley Feist made a slow-rolling effort in the 72nd that was easily gathered by Moorhouse, and Mace had a shot of her own in the 73rd that didn’t overly test Jordan. The Current responded in the 74th through Gianna Paul, but Moorhouse collected her effort without much trouble.
Hines made his final change in the 76th minute, bringing on Banda for Marta and Oihane for Washington. Banda’s first involvement came in the 77th, when she fired over the bar, and she got in behind again in the 78th and tried to chip Jordan — but the ball drifted past the far post with no one on hand to finish it off.
The Current had back-to-back chances in the 80th minute. Chawinga’s tepid effort was saved comfortably by Moorhouse, and moments later, Bethune pounced on an ill-advised pass from Anderson, only for Moorhouse to deny her as well. Paul’s cross into the box in the 83rd was collected just as easily.
Banda put the result beyond doubt in the 85th. Mace sent a ball over the top and into acres of space behind the Current’s back line. Jordan came rushing out to beat Banda to it, but she made only glancing contact with the ball on her volley attempt to clear it. The ball squirted behind Jordan. Banda easily beat Jordan to the loose ball and slotted it into an empty net for her 12th goal of the season, making it 3-0.
“We felt our structure and our engagement line was probably better to be a little bit lower to kind of take away the space that she could exploit and not let just one ball beat us.” Hines said of his strategy to deal with Chawinga’s threat. “A little adjustment that we made going into this game was just dropping Haley McCutcheon into the back line and covering those distances and the shifting across, but also trying to be aggressive to still press in the right position.”
The Current continued to press in the 90th minute, with Chawinga carving out her best look of the night, cutting left to right and smashing a hard shot just wide of the right post, handing possession back to Orlando. Moments later, Chawinga headed over the bar on the match’s final scoring chance.
Orlando’s defensive posture for much of the second half flipped the stats firmly in the visitors’ favor. Kansas City led in possession (55%-45%), shots (20-11), shots on target (9-5), corner kicks (4-1), and passing accuracy (88%-83%).
“Really good result. You know, especially after we come from a loss in LA,” Marta said. “It’s been like a tough season this year, ups and down[s], and we need to take a chance, especially when we play home. So, I’m really happy with the result tonight. Some days you wake up and then you just say to yourself, ‘It’s today, you know. Today you’re gonna play your best game.'”
The Pride next face the Boston Legacy at home on Wednesday.
Orlando Pride vs. Boston Legacy FC: Final Score 1-0 as Pride are Swept by Expansion Boston
Orlando Pride vs. Boston Legacy FC: Preview, How to Watch, TV Info, Live Stream, Lineups, Match Thread, and More
SkoPurp Soccer Episode 129: Current Rewind, Boston & Utah Previews, and More
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