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Orlando Pride vs. OL Reign: Final Score 2-0 as Pride Fall for Fourth Time in Five Games

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4 years ago

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The Orlando Pride (4-4-4, 16 points) fell to OL Reign (4-6-1, 13 points) 2-0 at Exploria Stadium tonight. An early goal in each half by the visitors saw the Pride lose their fourth in five games and extend their winless streak to five straight (0-4-1).

In Carl Green’s first and only game as head coach of the Pride, he made some changes to the starting lineup. As expected with the absence of Ali Riley, Ali Krieger moved into her former right back position. This was also the first game that we saw the new partnership of Phoebe McClernon and Amy Turner. Regular starting left back Courtney Petersen moved into the defensive midfield and Jodie Taylor made her Pride debut, starting up top with Sydney Leroux and Taylor Kornieck.

The Pride got off to a better start than they did in Portland Sunday night, creating multiple chances inside the first five minutes. In the opening seconds, Petersen found Leroux at the back post but a poor first touch got too far away.

The Pride had another good chance in the fifth minute when Krieger found Kornieck in the box. The tall attacker got her head to the ball and directed it toward the far post, but it was just wide of the target.

The Reign woke up after those two chances and began to put the Pride on their back foot. In the seventh minute, the Reign were given a golden opportunity when McClernon sent an ill-advised ball back to Ashlyn Harris. With attackers closing in, the Pride goalkeeper fell on it and the referee immediately called for a Reign indirect free kick inside the box.

It was an uncommon scene as the Pride placed 10 players on the goal line and the 11th player at the top of the six-yard box. The defensive strategy worked as Harris made the initial save, the Reign had another shot blocked and the Pride were able to clear.

Three minutes later, another defensive miscue gave the Reign another golden chance. Krieger lost the ball near the right touchline, allowing Tziarra King to take possession with space at the top corner of the Pride box. King found Jessica Fishlock, who also happened to be wide open, and the midfielder put it past Harris for the opening goal.

The Pride did have several chances, primarily with Petersen and Krieger looking for Kornieck or Leroux. However, the majority of those balls were just off the mark, allowing the Reign to clear.

A controversial moment occurred in the 39th minute when Taylor sent a long ball for Leroux on the opposite side. The assistant referee immediately called her offside, though replays appeared to show that Leroux was onside. The NWSL doesn’t have VAR, so the decision was final.

“I felt we had a really challenging moment in the game and we should’ve had a goal, which was wrongfully disallowed,” Green said about the play. “Certainly, from the iPad replay that I was watching. And you know, we all know goals change games. We come in at halftime, level, you know it’s a completely different second half.”

The Pride did get another opportunity in the 45th minute to equalize. Marisa Viggiano sent a ball across the box, which Reign goalkeeper Sarah Bouhaddi came out to collect. However, the goalkeeper missed the ball and it fell to Petersen on the far side. The defender playing in the midfield shot on the open goal but the ball was struck poorly and flew back across the box, ending the chance.

The Reign doubled their lead in the 51st minute and it came from another Krieger giveaway in her own end. Attempting to dribble out of trouble, Krieger lost the ball to Eugenie Le Sommer, who quickly found King at the top of the box. The ball was well struck by King, beating Harris to the far post.

Eight minutes later, it appeared as though the Reign would get their third goal. Le Sommer received the ball in the box and got behind Turner. The Pride center back attempted to win it back as Le Sommer charged in on goal, but the late tackle from behind caused Le Sommer to go down and referee John Matto pointed to the spot.

There were questions about whether Turner actually got the ball. As Harris was receiving treatment prior to the penalty, Turner appealed to the referee to watch the replay on the video board. But the decision had been made.

Whether it was the delay or Harris’ recent success with penalties, it was a poor attempt by Fishlock. It was at a perfect height for Harris, who was able to block the shot for her fifth consecutive penalty save.

A bad giveaway by Turner gave the Reign another great opportunity in the 69th minute. The center back was too nonchalant with the ball, allowing Bethany Balcer to challenge her. Attempting to avoid the turnover, she played it softly in front of Le Sommer, giving the French striker a golden chance. However, Krieger did well to get her body on Le Sommer in the box, forcing her to take a poor touch wide of the goal.

Just 10 minutes later, Green made an attacking sub as the Pride looked to get back into the game. As Abi Kim came on for Kylie Strom, the Reign mounted yet another attack. Substitute Balcer set up Sofia Huerta at the top of the box, with the latter firing on goal. It was a low, strong shot on target, but Harris was able to get down and make the one-handed save.

While the Reign dominated the chances in the second half, the Pride did have some opportunities to get back into the game. In the 74th minute, Marisa Viggiano sent a lovely ball towards the head of Kornieck. The midfielder got her head to it but sent it over the crossbar.

They had another good chance in injury time when a Meggie Dougherty Howard free kick flew into the box. Gunny Jonsdottir headed it on for Kim, who was charging on goal, but she was unable to control it. The ball bounced off her chest and went wide of the post. That was the final chance for the Pride as they fell 2-0.

“For starters, I want to say I’m really proud of this group,” team captain Harris said after the game. “We fought to the very end. And even though we didn’t get the result, and that’s clearly disappointing, I’m very proud of the way the team has reacted to this week and the last few weeks.”

The possession in this game was quite even, with the Reign holding a slight advantage (50.8%-49.2%). The teams also had an almost identical number of passes, with Pride completing three more (388-385). The difference in this game was the number and quality of chances created by each team. The Reign dominated the Pride in shots (18-7) and shots on target (12-0). If not for the 10 saves made by Harris, the final score could’ve been much worse for the hosts.

“I think overall structure,” Harris said about the team’s lack of chances created in the game. “And preparation is key. I don’t know that we’ve necessarily been prepped and I think confidence is based on preparation. And I think we’re lacking that.”

The loss sees the Pride continue their current slide, which includes four losses in five games. It’s a shifting situation with new ownership taking over this week and a new interim coach arriving in the near future to replace Marc Skinner, who resigned on Friday.

“I’m looking forward to someone coming in with new energy and new guidance, a new perspective to help carry this team for the rest of the season,” Harris said about the coaching change. “Because we have an incredible group of female players, an incredible staff and ownership.”

“These kids have been tremendous,” Harris said of her teammates. “They have had a tough week, to say the least. And they showed up every single day and they put their head down and they wore it like professionals.”

While it was a tough week for the players, it was also tough for Green. Skinner’s immediate departure meant that Green, who had also resigned, would lead the team for the only time against the Reign.

“I think what they showed was togetherness as a set of players,” Green said about the team. “You look at the end of that game and how hard they worked for each other. And the spirit they showed. I just think it will bode so well for the team going forward for the rest of the season.”

The Pride will look to rebound next Saturday when they travel to North Carolina to take on the Courage at 7 p.m.

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Orlando Pride

Orlando Pride Sign Zambian Forward Prisca Chilufya

Pride add to their attack by signing Zambian international Prisca Chilufya from FC Juarez.

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1 day ago

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January 31, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

The Orlando Pride announced today that the club has signed Zambian forward Prisca Chilufya to a three-year deal that runs through the 2027 season. She’s the third Zambian attacker to join the Pride in the last 10 months.

“We are thrilled to welcome Prisca to the Orlando Pride. Prisca is a dynamic forward who brings exceptional ability, speed, and a proven scoring record to our attack,” Orlando Pride Vice President of Soccer Operations and Sporting Director Haley Carter said in a club press release. “Her experience in both international competition with Zambia and her success in Liga MX Feminil demonstrates the kind of top-tier talent we’re committed to bringing to Orlando. She represents both immediate impact and long-term potential, and we believe she will thrive in our environment. Her three-year commitment reflects our shared vision for building something special. We can’t wait for our fans to see her take the pitch in purple.” 

The 25-year-old attacker joins the Pride from FC Juarez in Mexico. Since joining the team in 2023, she’s made 48 appearances and scored 14 goals. She’s scored four goals this year in just over half a season.

“I am honored to be joining Orlando Pride, a club with such a strong vision and commitment to excellence in women’s soccer,” Chilufya said in the club’s release. “I’m excited to bring my experience and skills to the NWSL, which is one of the most competitive leagues in the world. The opportunity to play alongside such talented teammates and learn from the coaching staff here in Orlando is something I’ve dreamed about. I’ve watched as the Pride have been built something special, and I want to contribute to the team’s success both on and off the field.” 

Before moving to Mexico, Chilufya played for Tomris Turan of the Kazakh Women’s Championship, making 14 appearances and scoring 18 goals during the 2022-2023 season. She moved to that club from fellow Kazakh club BIIK Kazygurt — which she helped win the championship in 2021.

On the international level, Chilufya has been a regular for Zambia since making her debut in the 2018 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations and qualifiers for the Tokyo Olympics. She took part in all three of Zambia’s games in the 2024 Paris Olympics, serving as an alternate for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Most recently, she played in the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.

What It Means for Orlando

This signing comes on the heels of the Pride transferring Brazilian star Adriana to the Saudi Women’s Premier League. It’s not surprising the club made a move to bring in an attacker and that the player was Zambian.

Chilufya is the third Zambian international the Pride have signed in the last year. It started with the acquisition of striker Barbra Banda, who quickly became a focal point of the Pride’s attack. Then they signed Grace Chanda, whose injury during the Olympics has thus far kept her from making her Pride debut.

The impact Chilufya will make on the team is unknown, but it won’t be easy to break into the lineup. With Adriana gone, Chanda will likely move into the attacking midfield if she’s healthy. Meanwhile, the club re-signed club captain Marta to a new two-year deal, and she’ll obviously play the 10 role. Julie Doyle and Summer Yates both played on the left side in 2024 and are expected to continue sharing responsibility there in 2025. Such competition for a starting spot can only help the club, pushing all of these attackers to develp their game.

Regardless of which players seize a starting spot, the Pride have added depth, something Carter continually tries to do. Head Coach Seb Hines will have plenty of choices in an attacking midfield that can be devastating to NWSL defenses at times. It’s a good move for the Pride after losing a key piece in the attack.

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Orlando Pride

Orlando Pride Transfer Adriana to Saudi Side Al Qadsiah FC

The club has secured one of the highest transfer fees in NWSL history for the Brazilian attacker after she requested a transfer.

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2 days ago

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January 30, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

The Orlando Pride announced today that the club has secured a club-record transfer fee from Al Qadsiah FC of the Saudi Women’s Premier League in exchange for Brazilian international attacking midfielder/forward Adriana. The club announced that the sale was one of the three highest in NWSL history, with Jeff Kassouf of The Equalizer reporting the fee as $500,000.

“We are incredibly grateful for Adriana’s contributions to the club, and while we will miss her presence both on and off the pitch, we are happy to support her in this next chapter of her career,” Orlando Pride Vice President of Soccer Operations and Sporting Director Haley Carter said in a club press release. “At the Pride, we believe in empowering our players to pursue opportunities that align with their personal and professional goals. The record transfer fee we received reflects both Adriana’s exceptional talent and our commitment to building mutually beneficial relationships in the global transfer market. These resources will help us continue to attract world-class talent to Orlando as we build for the future. We wish Adriana all the best and she will always be part of the Pride family.” 

The move, which was requested by Adriana, comes shortly after the start of training camp as the Pride prepare to defend their NWSL Shield and NWSL Championship titles.

“I want to thank the Orlando Pride, my teammates, and especially our amazing fans for making Orlando feel like home,” Adriana said in the club’s release. “This club gave me an incredible opportunity to grow as a player and person, and I will always be grateful for my time here. The Pride organization has been very supportive of my desire to take on this new challenge overseas. They worked hard to make this move possible while ensuring it benefited everyone involved. Orlando will always hold a special place in my heart, and I look forward to watching the club continue to grow and succeed.” 

The Pride signed Adriana almost exactly two years ago on Jan. 19, 2023, from Brazilian giants Corinthians. That deal was through the 2025 season, meaning her contract would have been up at the end of this year. As Orlando typically extends players’ deals before they expire, the timing makes some sense, despite it happening during the Pride’s preseason.

In two seasons with Orlando, Adriana was a key player for the Pride with the versatility for Seb Hines to deploy her in multiple ways. She was primarily used as a winger during her time in Orlando, appearing in 46 NWSL regular-season games with 38 starts, logging 3,333 minutes. She scored six goals and added four assists, sharing the team lead in those categories in 2023. Her contributions in 2024 raised her career regular-season totals with the Pride to 12 goals and five assists across two seasons.

Adriana appeared in all three of the Pride’s playoff games during her stay in Orlando, starting two and logging 197 minutes. She did not make a goal contribution, attempting six shots with only one of those hitting the target. She tallied five key passes and one successful long ball in the Pride’s run to the title.

Additionally, the Brazilian made one appearance in the NWSL Challenge Cup, playing just eight minutes off the bench in 2023 without a goal contribution. She was on international duty during four of the Pride’s six matches in that competition. Adriana was away at the Olympics during the NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup, so she did not play in that competition.

What It Means for Orlando

Losing a player of Adriana’s caliber does not make a team better, but the club got a big return for an attacking piece that had started splitting time with Summer Yates during Orlando’s final stretch of the season in 2024. The Pride’s younger players are starting to demand more minutes with their performances, and while the team’s depth takes a hit with Adriana’s departure, the club has the resources to find a roster replacement.

Someone will have to replace Adriana’s six goals per year. Yates scored five in her second season in the league, but a jump to 11 in her third year seems unrealistic. However, more minutes for Yates may mitigate some of Adriana’s lost offense. Others who can contribute to replacing those goals include Grace Chanda, Simone Charley, Ally Watt, and Julie Doyle. The first two on that list are talented, but still have yet to play their first game for the Pride. It’s also conceivable that Barbra Banda can score more goals in her second NWSL season.

In Adriana, the Pride also lost one of the team’s better penalty takers. Adriana was two-for-two from the spot in 2024. Someone else will need to step up and take up the secondary penalty-taker role (to Marta) in 2025.

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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.

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1 week 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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