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Orlando Pride vs. Angel City FC: Final Score 1-0 as Pride Claim Huge Win On the Road

Adriana’s 22nd-minute goal was enough to lift the Pride over Angel City for a crucial three points.

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1 year ago

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride

The Orlando Pride (9-10-1, 28 points) found an early goal and held on for 68 minutes to beat Angel City FC (6-7-7, 25 points) 1-0 in Los Angeles. Adriana’s 22nd-minute goal was the difference as the Pride defended for their lives in the second half. The win brings them even on points with OL Reign for the final playoff spot with two games remaining.

Pride Head Coach Seb Hines made one change from the team that beat the North Carolina Courage 2-1 on Sept. 17. Anna Moorhouse returned from her one-game suspension, replacing Carly Nelson in goal. The back line in front of the English shot stopper was Kylie Strom, Rafaelle, Emily Madril, and Haley McCutcheon. Jordyn Listro and Mikayla Cluff were in the defensive midfield behind Julie Doyle, Marta, and Adriana with Ally Watt up top.

The start was Marta’s 100th appearance in all competitions. She became the first player in Pride history to reach that mark.

This was a pretty sloppy game by both teams, with several bad turnovers that created opportunities for the opposition. The first half was close, but Angel City completely dominated the second 45 minutes. The Pride barely held on, desperately clearing the ball away inside their own box. The hosts claimed handballs twice on McCutcheon, but neither resulted in a penalty, enabling the visitors to escape with all three points.

Angel City created the first opportunities four minutes into the game. A good run from the left by M.A. Vignola saw the defender send a dangerous ball into the six-yard box, but the Pride were able to clear. Seconds later, a poor pass out of the back resulted in Clarisse Le Bihan finding the head of Claire Emslie in front of goal. However, the header was over the target and the assistant’s flag went up for offside.

In the 10th minute, Cluff received a pass from Strom near midfield, but gave it up under pressure. Savannah McCaskill took possession and charged towards the Pride box. Before she reached the 18, the midfielder attempted a long-distance effort that went straight into the arms of Moorhouse.

An Angel City cross into the box in the 18th minute was headed out, but only to Alyssa Thompson near the top of the box. The teenage attacker quickly put a shot towards goal, but Strom was there to block the attempt.

While the hosts dominated the chances in the first 20 minutes, it was the Pride that took the surprising lead. A give-and-go between Adriana and Marta enabled the latter to shoot from the top of the box. Sarah Gorden blocked the shot, but it went to the foot of Adriana, who volleyed the ball towards goal. The ball went off the arm of Angel City goalkeeper Angelina Anderson, who started in place of regular starter DiDi Haracic, and in to give the Pride a 1-0 lead.

“We were really dangerous on the transition. We knew their fullbacks really like to get, to join in their attacks. So that was a big emphasis for us was finding Adri in that space,” Strom said about the goal. “We’ll give her the ball all day and what a goal that was. I think we actually did create a few other moments that we didn’t capitalize on. But that goal was massive. And I’ve never heard that stadium, it was so loud and it went so quiet.”

“The goal is remarkable,” Hines added about Adriana’s strike. “The ball’s hanging in the air so long and then to connect the way she did and get it on frame, it was brilliant.”

Angel City nearly found an equalizer in the 31st minute when Vignola was sent behind McCutcheon by Emslie. The left back shot from a tight angle and the ball was blocked by Moorhouse. It bounced around the six-yard box, hitting Thompson in front of the goal, but eventually ended up with McCutcheon, who sent it out of play.

In the 34th minute, Cluff sent Adriana down the right. Watt was making a run into the box, but Adriana took on her defender on her own and shot from outside of the 18. The shot was too hard for Anderson to catch, so she blocked it away instead. The decision by Anderson enabled the Pride to create a second chance when Doyle sent a cross into the box. Watt was there to redirect it on goal, but Anderson was able to catch it.

The Pride should’ve doubled their lead in the 39th minute when Adriana made a long run from midfield into the Angel City box. She cut back to lose her defender and found Marta with plenty of space near the penalty spot. The Pride captain’s first touch was towards the far post, but she opened up a little too early and sent the attempt wide.

A minute later, Angel City should’ve scored an equalizer when a McCutcheon foul on Emslie gave the hosts a free kick. Le Bihan took the set piece, sending it to the top of the Pride’s six-yard box. Paige Nielsen got behind the back line and should’ve connected with it, but the center back couldn’t get her foot on the ball, enabling the Pride to survive the threat with the lead.

At halftime, Angel City had more possession (57.8%-42.2%), shots (8-5), corners (2-0), and crosses (11-5), and passed more accurately (78.5%-71.3%). Meanwhile, both teams put three shots on target. The Pride probably should’ve had a two-goal lead at halftime, but Adriana’s 22nd-minute goal was the difference at the break.

“We needed to take care of the ball a lot better. We’re causing ourselves our own problems,” Strom said about the halftime message. “Seb said at half, you know, don’t make this a tennis match. Don’t make this back and forth and turn it into transition. So we needed to find, you know, in defending we were gritty and had a high tempo and then we need to find a way to calm down and possess.”

Angel City had a positive start to the second half and nearly found a quick equalizer. Madril blocked the ball out of play in the 48th minute, giving the hosts a corner kick. The set piece found the head of Vignola near the penalty spot, but her attempt hit the body of McCaskill, enabling the Pride to clear.

Two minutes later, Nielsen sent a cross into the box that found the head of Emslie. The midfielder got her head to the ball, but it was blocked wide. The Pride quickly sprinted the other way with Marta playing Adriana in the middle of the field. The Brazilian’s second touch was a pass forward for Watt, who shot from the top of the box. Unfortunately, her attempt sailed over the target.

In the 55th minute, Amandine Henry sent a long ball for McCaskill in the box. The midfielder headed the ball down and it went off McCutcheon. The Angel City players immediately raised their arms claiming a handball, but the flag was up for offside.

Two minutes later, it looked like McCutcheon would control a long ball into the Pride box. But the right back was nonchalant, allowing Emslie to beat her to it. The midfielder tapped the ball past Moorhouse, but into the side netting, enabling the Pride to escape the lapse of concentration.

Hines made his first change in the 60th minute, bringing Kerry Abello on for Doyle. It was a difficult night for Doyle, who turned the ball over multiple times in the first half and wasn’t able to get involved in the attack.

In the 64th minute, Strom and McCaskill collided over a Vignola cross. The ball bounced to Le Bihan near the penalty spot, giving the forward an attempt with space. However, she couldn’t get much on it and the shot went to Moorhouse.

The onslaught by Angel City continued in the 67th minute when McCaskill found Morgan Reid in the box. The center back’s shot was on target, but Madril did well to get in front and block it away.

Hines made his second substitution of the game in the 70th minute. It was a change up top with Messiah Bright coming on for Watt.

Second-half substitute Jasmyne Spencer created a chance in the 74th minute, sending a shot towards goal. Fellow substitute Sydney Leroux was in front of Moorhouse, but Rafaelle did well to get in front of the shot and blocked it away.

In the 77th minute, the Pride had one of their few second half chances. Adriana dribbled down the right and had Bright with some space, but continued forward. By the time she sent a cross into the box, the striker was covered. The ball was too far in front of Bright anyway, going all the way through the box.

Angel City players felt they should’ve had a penalty in the 82nd minute when a ball into the box appeared to hit the arm of McCutcheon. Several players’ arms went up claiming a handball and Video Assistant Referee Shawn Tehini took a lengthy look at the play. But they decided it wasn’t enough for a clear and obvious error.

Jun Endo sent a low cross into the box in the 85th minute that found the foot of McCaskill, who was continuing her run. The midfielder was the only one to reach the ball, redirecting it towards goal, but sent it over the crossbar.

An Angel City corner kick in the 86th minute was headed back across the box where it found Leroux. The forward headed the ball on target, but Moorhouse tipped it over. The ensuing corner kick was caught by the goalkeeper, enabling the Pride to clear.

The fourth official showed eight minutes of second-half injury time, a number much higher than the Pride wanted to see. Hines made his final three changes all defensive ones as the game entered the final stage. Megan Montefusco, Brianna Martinez, and Celia came on for Marta, Adriana, and Cluff.

The Pride put all 11 players behind the ball and Angel City struggled to find a chance in the dying minutes. The closest they came was eight minutes into injury time when Gorden lifted a ball that was too close to Moorhouse. It was a nervy second half as Angel City continued to push, but the Pride held on for the 1-0 win.

Angel City ended the game with more possession (63.7%-36.3%), shots (21-8), shots on target (7-4), corners (11-0), and crosses (35-10), and passed more accurately (77.9%-64.4%). However, the Pride were able to clear away the many attempts and hold onto the one-goal lead for 68 minutes.

“It’s a monumental result today. I think we showed a different side to us,” Hines said about the game. “You know, it wasn’t pretty from our side but Adri takes a shot and, you know, it’s a great finish. And, you know, you’re 1-0 up. We weathered a lot of their attacks. They played well, Angel City, they put us under a lot of pressure. They made us defend, and the players stood up to the challenge. It wasn’t an easy environment to (overcome), but most importantly, we come away with three points and keep moving on that table.”

The win pulls the Pride even on points with OL Reign for the sixth and final playoff spot, but they sit seventh because the Reign have a better goal differential. They’re also only one point behind the Washington Spirit and North Carolina Courage. Since the Reign play the Spirit and the Spirit end the season against the Courage, the Pride will qualify for the postseason if they win their final two games, regardless of results elsewhere.

This is only the second season that the Pride have traveled to California and they’ve found those trips prosperous. The team is now 4-0-0 away to San Diego Wave FC and Angel City FC, outscoring their opponents 6-1.

The Pride won’t be able to celebrate this big win very long as they have another game Friday night against Racing Louisville. The next opponent is four points under the playoff line and desperately needs to win.

“I think recovery is key right now,” Madril said about preparing for the quick turnaround. “I mean, I’m gonna live in the training room and we all have everything that we possibly need for recovery. So I think that’s going to be the next focus for the next 48 hours and then back to training to get ready for Louisville. I think we are entering into this new mentality where we know that it’s do or die right now. And so I think everyone’s kind of stepped it up a notch and in all realms. I think on the field during training, you know, recovery, all those things. And I think that continues this week to get ready for Louisville.”

“I think leading up to this game, we take one game at a time,” Hines added. “You can’t look too far ahead. So looking towards Angel City, we prepared, we put a lineup out there, get a game plan to ultimately get three points. We’ve now got that three points, recovery’s going to be involved now. So yeah, we set off to Louisville tomorrow. Make sure the players are all rested. They gotta obviously adapt to the time zones as well. So we’ll see what bodies are fit and ready to go against Louisville, which is going to again be a difficult environment to play in. But it always helps after a win and getting three points. So I’m sure the players will be hungry to go out there and get another three points out in Louisville.”

As Hines said, the Pride will rest tonight in Los Angeles and head to Louisville tomorrow in preparation for the upcoming match. They face Racing Louisville in Kentucky on Friday night — their penultimate game of the regular season.

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Seb Hines Has Decisions To Make For Orlando Pride’s Back Line

What will the Pride’s back line look like when everyone is healthy?

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1 week ago

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February 3, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

As the 2025 NWSL season approaches, the Orlando Pride’s roster is taking shape. While the lineup will mostly remain the same, the departure of Adriana and the addition of Prisca Chilufya will impact changes. Additionally, the team has a key previously injured player returning for next season, something that will force Head Coach Seb Hines to make some tough decisions.

One of the most interesting situations impacting the Pride is the back line. Last season, Rafaelle went down with an injury that forced Emily Sams back to her natural center back position, partnering with Kylie Strom. The duo were terrific down the stretch, lifting their team to 14 shutouts, including in the NWSL Championship.

The move forced rookie Cori Dyke to take a more significant role, starting at right back. It was a tough situation for the 24-year-old, but she handled it brilliantly. Dyke was excellent during the final stretch of the season and especially during the playoffs, helping the team win the league title.

When Rafaelle returns from her injury and is fit to play, Hines will have three center backs, all of which have proven to make strong pairings on the back line. So how will the Pride boss handle the situation? Let’s take a look at some of his options.

If It Ain’t Broke, Don’t Fix It

While Rafaelle is a Brazilian international and a great center back, Sams and Strom were fantastic together for much of last season. Sams began the year at right back, while Rafaelle and Strom were the center back pairing. When Sams was forced to move to her natural position, Dyke took over as the starting right back.

Dyke had a strong rookie campaign, especially after taking over. Taking her out of the starting lineup with how she performed would be difficult for Hines. It would be surprising to see Rafaelle healthy and on the bench, but the back line of Kerry Abello, Strom, Sams, and Dyke was the best in the league last year and Hines might not want to rock the boat.

Go Back To The Start of 2024

Another option is to go back to how the back line looked at the start of 2024. While Sams was a regular at center back in 2023, Hines moved her to right back to begin last season. In a corresponding move, Strom — who had been the starting left back since 2022 — moved to center back alongside Rafaelle.

With everyone healthy, Hines could give that lineup another chance. After all, Strom was more solid at center back than left back and Sams proved she’s more than capable of playing right back. This is probably the most likely option and would ensure the team’s three best defenders are on the field.

Return to 2023

The Pride acquired Rafaelle on July 3, 2023, while the league was in the middle of the FIFA Women’s World Cup break. When the Brazilian joined the team, she started with Sams at center back and Strom was the starting left back. Strom has much more experience at left back than Sams does at right back, so Hines could send her back to her original position.

However, Strom had her best season as a member of the Pride in 2024 while playing center back. It’s hard to believe that Hines would send his vice captain back to left back after playing her in the middle all of last year. Rafaelle and Sams are the team’s only other experienced center backs, so this option is a possibility, even if it is unlikely.

Take Advantage of Versatility

When it comes to acquiring defenders, one of the primary things Hines and Haley Carter consider is versatility. Almost everyone on the back line can play center back and at least one of the outside back positions. This gives Hines an opportunity that few coaches have with their rosters.

Hines could move the players around, pairing all three center backs at times and moving Strom to the left and Sams to the right occasionally. Even Dyke can play center back, as she did in college. Moving players around would give them breaks during the season, keeping them fresh.

This decision could also backfire. Players get comfortable with their positions, so moving them around constantly could impact their quality. It would be a risky choice and is unlikely, but given the versatility of the players, it is an option for Hines. He could also take advantage of their versatility by playing a back line of three center backs, using Strom, Rafaelle, and Sams, while pushing Kerry Abello and Dyke up to wingback.

The Pride won the NWSL Shield and NWSL Championship in 2024, one of the best seasons for any team in league history. They have most of the team returning, so they’ll be a favorite to repeat in 2025. While most of the lineup will be back, there are still some questions to be answered. One of those is who will start along the back line. We’ll find out soon enough, and it will be interesting to see what Hines decides.

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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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2 weeks 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 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 weeks 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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