Orlando Pride
Orlando Pride vs. Utah Royals: Preview, How to Watch, TV Info, Live Stream, Lineups, Match Thread, and More
The Pride return to action tonight as they travel west to face the Utah Royals.
Welcome to your match thread as the Orlando Pride (0-0-3, 3 points) travel west to take on the Utah Royals (1-2-0, 3 points). This is the first of two games the teams will play against each other this season with the return meeting in Orlando scheduled for June 21.
Here’s everything you need to know about tonight’s game.
History
The Royals first played in 2018 and 2019 before the team was purchased and relocated to Kansas City. The new owners of Major League Soccer’s Real Salt Lake bought an expansion side, so it’s the first time the two teams have met since 2019, although this is an all-new side. The Pride were just 1-3-2 against the original Royals, with all games coming in the NWSL regular season.
The last time the Pride met Utah was on Aug. 17, 2019 in Orlando. Christen Press gave the visitors the lead in the 60th minute and Amy Rodriguez doubled the advantage in the 77th minute as the Royals won 2-0. Prior to that game, the teams played in Utah on May 25 with the same result. Rodriguez opened the scoring in the 31st minute from the penalty spot and Makenzy Doniak made it 2-0 in the 89th minute. The first game between the teams in 2019 was on April 27. The difference was a familiar goal scorer, as Press netted the lone goal in the 19th minute in a 1-0 result.
The 2018 campaign was the Royals’ inaugural season, and Orlando got the better of the newcomers, going unbeaten in three matches (1-0-2). In the 2018 season opener, Utah and Orlando played to a 1-1 draw. The Royals scored on their first chance of the game. They had an excellent spell of possession and, in the third minute, Diana Matheson put in a cross, and Gunny Jonsdottir — who later played for the Pride for two seasons in 2021 and 2022 — volleyed it into the back of the net. Marta tied things up from the spot in the 21st minute, and the game ended 1-1.
About a month and a half later, the teams met again, playing to a 0-0 draw, this time in Rio Tinto Stadium. It was a relatively dull night with no goals and the majority of the action in the middle of the field. Both teams struggled on the attacking end. There were no shots on target in the first half and just three in the second.
While those first two matches ended in draws, the last meeting of 2018 finally saw a winner. On July 14, 2018, there was end-to-end action, and both teams saw chances in front of the net. Utah found an early goal, this time from Rodriguez in the eighth minute, and then Alex Morgan tied it up with a penalty kick just before halftime. In the 52nd minute, a good through ball from Ali Krieger found Kristen Edmonds one-on-one with Utah goalkeeper Abby Smith, who was caught out of position. Edmonds chipped the ball past Smith for the game-winner, and Orlando got its first-ever victory against the Royals.
Overview
The Pride have claimed points in all three of their games so far this season, though they’ve drawn each one. It started with a late Summer Yates goal to draw Racing Louisville FC 2-2 on the road before returning home for a two-game homestand. Marta’s late strike enabled the hosts to draw Angel City FC 1-1 and they drew the Chicago Red Stars by the same score two weeks ago.
Injuries and a lack of goals have been problematic for the Pride early this season. While their back line is almost completely healthy, the team is still missing Barbra Banda, who will likely be the starter after she arrives in Orlando Sunday morning. In the meantime, they’ll need other attacking options like Ally Watt, Marta, and Adriana to step up.
Utah is one of the NWSL’s two expansion teams, returning to the league after a four-year hiatus. As a result, they have a roster that’s trying to get used to playing with each other. Former Royals star Rodriguez is the head coach and has built the team with a combination of veterans and young players. The Royals lost two of their first three games, but beat the North Carolina Courage 2-1 on March 22, placing them even on points with the Pride.
The Royals used the first overall pick in the 2024 NWSL Draft on former North Carolina Tar Heel Ally Sentnor and the selection has been paying off. The rookie has scored two of the three goals for the Royals this season, coming in the two most recent games. The other goal was scored by Kate Del Fava in the team’s win over the Courage.
Tonight’s opponent has two former Pride players on its roster. Mikayla Cluff was traded on Nov. 15 for Expansion Draft protection, and Carly Nelson was sent west on Dec. 12 for an international spot and Allocation Money. Both players grew up in the Salt Lake City area and went to local colleges, with Cluff attending Brigham Young University and Nelson the University of Utah. For this reason, the trades weren’t very surprising.
Nelson started the team’s first game, a 2-1 loss to the Red Stars, but has been on the bench for the two most recent games. So far, Cluff has only made one appearance, coming on as a late substitute against the Courage.
While the Royals have had a tough start to the season with two losses, Pride Head Coach Seb Hines likes what he’s seen from the league newcomers and believes that claiming points will be a tough task for the Pride.
“You look at Utah being a new team, (but) they have been in every game that they have competed in,” Hines said. “We looked at their first game against Chicago. I felt they controlled a majority of the game against Chicago and were unlucky not to get anything out of the game. They played North Carolina at home and managed to get a win against a difficult team, so they showed that togetherness and their willing to battle and fight. Even without the ball, they managed to get points, and then Washington could have gone either way. They have got three points out of three games and been unlucky in a couple of games, so it is going to be a challenge for ourselves to go to Utah and try to get something out of the game.
“It is more about ourselves and what we can do and what we can produce on the day. If we play some of our best football and we reward ourselves by getting ourselves in those areas of the field where we can be threatening and execute in that final third, then I think everyone will walk away with what we feel we deserve. Utah is going to be a tough game, obviously going to Utah is going to be a challenge with the altitude, but the players will be more than prepared and know what is at stake in the game.”
The Pride are still without three players that have suffered season-ending injuries in Simone Charley (right leg), Megan Montefusco (right heel), and Viviana Villacorta (left knee). Luana is also listed as out with an excused absence. While Rafaelle (foot) is listed as questionable, she’s been upgraded after a fractured foot has kept her sidelined for the first three games of the season.
Utah has two players out for tonight’s game, including Imani Dorsey (Achilles) and Ifeoma Onumonu (ankle). Additionally, Nelson is listed as questionable (illness).
Official Lineups
Orlando Pride (4-2-3-1)
Goalkeeper: Anna Moorhouse.
Defenders: Kylie Strom, Emily Sams, Kerry Abello, Brianna Martinez.
Defensive Midfielders: Angelina, Morgan Gautrat.
Midfielders: Julie Doyle, Summer Yates, Adriana.
Forward: Ally Watt.
Bench: McKinley Crone, Ally Lemos, Amanda Allen, Evelina Duljan, Mariana Larroquette, Celia, Carrie Lawrence, Haley McCutcheon, Marta.
Utah Royals (4-3-3)
Goalkeeper: Mandy Haught.
Defenders: Madison Pogarch, Kaleigh Riehl, Kate Del Fava, Olivia Griffitts.
Midfielders: Agnes Nyberg, Paige Monaghan, Dana Foederer.
Forward: Ally Sentnor, Hannah Betfort, Brecken Mozingo.
Bench: Lauren Flynn, Michele Vasconcelos, Zoe Burns, Addisyn Merrick, Frankie Tagliaferri, Cameron Tucker, Mikayla Cluff, Emily Gray, Cristina Roque.
Referees
REF: Thomas Snyder.
AR1: Noah Kenyawani.
AR2: Darren Bandy.
4TH: Jordan Downs.
VAR: Laura Rodriguez.
AVAR: Tom Felice.
How to Watch
Match Time: 9:30 p.m.
Venue: America First Field — Sandy, UT.
TV: Bally Sports Florida.
Streaming: NWSL+.
Twitter: For live updates and rapid reaction, follow @TheManeLand and the Orlando Pride’s official Twitter feed (@ORLPride).
Enjoy the match. Go Pride!