The Orlando Pride further reinforced their claim as the team of 2024 on Sunday, defeating NJ/NY Gotham FC 2-0 in a late-season clash of NWSL heavyweights. The Pride left little room for debate, scoring early and holding Gotham to mostly distant chances to win the game and go six points clear at the top of the table at the end of weekend play.

Adriana was clearly Player of the Match, scoring a brace in the first 20 minutes. First she volleyed home Kylie Strom’s header stolen from Gotham goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger in the sixth minute. Then, in the 19th minute, she craftily put away a long diagonal after bringing it down at the corner of the 18-yard box and being afforded too much space. Angelina’s cross into the box on a recycled set piece helped create the first goal, while Summer Yates’ pinpoint switch in play turned into an assist on the second.

It seems that this season the Pride break records every weekend and Sunday’s win over Gotham was no exception. Records included:

• Extending Orlando’s single-season club points record (44).
• Extending Orlando’s two NWSL record unbeaten streaks (18 in a season, 19 overall).
• A new mark for managerial wins in club history (26) as Head Coach Seb Hines passed Tom Sermanni.
• A club record for the most players to score five or more goals in a season (Barbra Banda, Adriana, Marta, Yates) after Adriana’s brace helped her reach that total.

And, while not a record, as of Sunday, the Pride have held a clean sheet in half (!) of their games this season. The shutout against Gotham was the team’s fifth in its last six games.

The Pride will hit the road for their next match, visiting the Chicago Red Stars next Sunday at 6 p.m. The Red Stars are the only team the Pride have not yet beaten this season, after drawing Chicago at home 11 on March 24. Any points taken by the Pride or dropped by Angel City or Bay FC next weekend will clinch a playoff spot for the Pride for the first time since 2017.

We hope you enjoy these images from a signature win over the defending NWSL champions.

Orlando City hosted Atlético San Luis in sloppy conditions Sunday in the last game of East 2 group play, fighting to a 1-1 draw despite going down a man within the first half hour. The Lions knew they’d be up against a desperate San Luis side, as the visitors needed a win to advance.

Much to the chagrin of the announced crowd of 15,662, Kyle Smith’s clear denial of a goal-scoring opportunity — even though it required a second look by the referee, it was obvious, and the initial yellow card seemed lenient — made the Lions’ job of clinching top of the group more difficult.

Down to 10 men, Wilder Cartegena dropped back into the three-back formation the Lions have previously used to much defensive success this season and continued to press for a goal. On the last play of the half they were rewarded by an excellent advance. Cesar Araujo charged up field, breaking a San Luis line and sent the ball to Ramiro Enrique, who quickly found Martin Ojeda on the left. Ojeda sent a dangerous cross to Torres outside the far post, and the Uruguayan nodded it back to the penalty spot for good finish from Enrique. Having scored six games in a row, Enrique now holds the the record for the club’s longest scoring streak.

After the half, San Luis reorganized and piled on the pressure with quick lateral ball and player movement to put stress on Orlando City’s defensive block. Orlando came close to extending their lead a couple of times, but for the most part the Lions were on the back foot throughout the second period. In the 71st minute, San Luis finally broke through, tying the match on a gotta-tip-your-hat, pinpoint cross from Benjamin Galdames that Rodrigo Dourado sprinted onto the end of to glance into the net. Since neither team was able to score again, the game ended tied 1-1.

Leagues Cup rules specify that all drawn games go to kicks from the spot to determine a “third” point. So, despite the fact that neither side could improve its position, to penalties we went. Pedro Gallese was perfect in his reads, diving the correct direction for every San Luis take, getting a hand to two and saving one. Orlando was perfect in its own attempts, with Dagur Dan Thórhallsson powering the final Orlando attempt through the strong hand of San Luis goalkeeper César López for the extra point.

We hope you enjoy these photos of a rainy game against a Liga MX opponent Orlando had never previously faced. The Lions will next take on Cruz Azul Friday at a time to be announced later.

With seven players representing their various countries at the Olympics, the Orlando Pride had to find a different source of firepower against C.F. Monterrey in their second Summer Cup group match. The Pride seized their opportunity to show off the massive potential awaiting behind the normal starters, with Alex Kerr, Evelina Duljan, Cori Dyke, and Ally Lemos all demonstrating their promise for the full 90 minutes. Kerr and Duljan especially shone, consistently taking on and beating defenders throughout the game.

The Pride had to level twice — first through Kerr’s moment of brilliance and late on a Julie Doyle tap-in of a seeing-eye Celia cross to force penalty kicks after a 2-2 draw. Clearly the team practiced this week, confidently making all five attempts, with goalkeeper Sofia Manner coolly reading Merel van Dongen’s panenka attempt for an easy save to give the Pride the extra point.

Inexperience showed at times, and fitness was tested, but the youngest Pride players showed the grit that has become the hallmark of the Seb Hines era. Orlando will next face Racing Louisville on tonight to round out group play. Due to the strange structure of the tournament (only four of the five group winners will advance), the Pride really need a win in order to have hopes of advancing.

We hope that you enjoy the images of the Pride’s first match against an international opponent.