Top 10 Moments of 2023: Orlando Pride Dump Portland Thorns

As we count down to the new year of 2024 — which will be Orlando City’s 10th in MLS and the Orlando Pride’s ninth in the NWSL — and say goodbye to 2023, it’s time to look back at the club’s 10 best moments of the year as selected by The Mane Land staff via vote.

It was June 11 and the Orlando Pride were hosting the Portland Thorns. A meeting with the Thorns over the years has typically not made for a great day of watching Pride soccer. Some of Orlando’s most lopsided losses in the Pride’s history have come against the Thorns and the club entered 2023 with only a 2-11-2 record in the all-time series (1-5-2 home, 1-6-0 away). In addition, the Thorns spoiled the Pride’s only postseason appearance to date back in 2017, beating Orlando 4-1 at Providence Park on Oct. 7 of that year.

The Pride had also opened the 2023 season at Portland and things did not go well. The Thorns crushed Orlando 4-0 back on March 26, scoring twice in each half to cruise to an Opening Day victory. The Pride were coming off two straight road losses at Chicago and Houston, and the defeat at the hands of the Red Stars was particularly galling, as they were last in the league and the Pride dominated play but simply couldn’t score.

There was no reason to think a 3-6-1 Pride team that hadn’t scored a goal in two matches — and in three of their last four — would be able to go out and beat a Portland team that entered 5-1-4 on the year and had scored 25 goals in 10 matches. However, that’s exactly what happened, as the Pride rose to the occasion and defeated Portland, 3-1.

There was also no reason to think anything would change between the two teams when Sophia Smith gave the visitors an early 1-0 lead. The USWNT forward was left wide open in front of goal and Morgan Weaver got her the ball for the easy finish, giving the Thorns the advantage in just the 20th minute.

But this was the start of a different Pride team. Rather than crumbling, Orlando fought back, equalizing just six minutes later. Adriana stood over a free kick just outside the area and her delivery was over the wall and just inside the near post to make it 1-1 in the 26th minute, giving new life to the Pride.

The teams fought to a standstill for the rest of the opening half, with Portland holding a slight statistical advantage at the break. But things quickly turned in favor of the hosts after the restart.

Adriana doubled the lead just moments after the second-half whistle. A little over a minute into the second half, a ball was played from the back to Ally Watt, who split two defenders and sent Adriana in on the break. The Brazilian set up her defender masterfully, cut to her right, and blasted the go-ahead goal past Portland goalkeeper Bella Bixby. The strike put Orlando ahead 2-1 in the 47th minute.

The Thorns tried to fight their way back level, but the Pride defense did a nice job of holding Portland at bay. Meanwhile, the Pride continued pressing and looking for a way to put the match away. They did just that in the 69th minute. Izzy D’Aquila’s back pass was a poor one and Messiah Bright pounced on the opportunity. Bright read the back pass well, beating her opponent to it, taking a touch to round Bixby, and slipping it into the net to make it 3-1.

From there, the Pride managed the game and held on for the victory. It snapped a five-game winless streak against the Thorns (0-4-1) dating back to the 2021 season. It was the Pride’s third straight home match and set the tone for the rest of the season, as Orlando climbed the table and had an opportunity to make the playoffs until the final minutes of the last match day. The Pride went 4-2-0 the rest of the season in league home games, including wins against two other traditionally tough opponents — OL Reign and the North Carolina Courage.

As both a singular snapshot of the season and the catalyst for a strong end to the year, Orlando’s win over Portland is a worthy moment to include in our list of the year’s best.

Come back through New Year’s Eve as we count down the remainder of Orlando City’s top 10 moments of 2023.

Previous Top Moments of 2023

10. The Orlando Pride select breakout stars Emily Madril and Messiah Bright in the 2023 NWSL Draft.
9. OCB draws at Chicago and then wins a shootout, clinching its first playoff spot since 2016.