Welcome to your match thread as the Orlando Pride (11-0-5, 38 points) return to NWSL action, hitting the road to take on the Houston Dash (3-8-5, 14 points). This is the first of two times the Pride and Dash will meet this season, with the game in Orlando scheduled for Sept. 28.

Here’s everything you need to know about tonight’s game.

History

The Pride and Dash have played 20 times since the Pride joined the NWSL in 2016. Orlando has a 7-9-2 record against the Dash in regular-season play and a 2-5-1 regular-season record in Houston. Additionally, the teams played two Fall Series games in 2020, both of which were won by the Dash.

The most recent matchup between the two teams was on Oct. 15, 2023 in Orlando. While the Pride were the better team, the game was scoreless heading into the late stages. However, an 87th-minute penalty conversion by Marta gave the Pride the 1-0 win. The previous game was on June 3 in Houston. The Pride had trouble playing the ball out of the back and were hit on the counterattack, leading to a difficult night. Sophie Hirst gave the hosts the lead in the sixth minute and Michelle Alozie doubled the advantage just before halftime. Despite having more possession and shots, the Pride fell 2-0.

The first meeting in 2022 was on June 3 in Houston. The hosts were led by a Nichelle Prince hat trick, while Rachel Daly and Alozie added goals in a 5-0 Dash win. It was the last game the Pride played before then-head coach Amanda Cromwell was placed on administrative leave. The return game was on July 8, 2022 in Orlando. Ally Prisock’s own goal was the only scoring as the Pride took the 1-0 win, the second result in a seven-game unbeaten run.

The Pride and Dash played twice during the 2021 season. The first game was on June 26 in Houston. Maria Sanchez and Veronica Latsko gave the hosts a 2-0 lead. Gunny Jonsdottir got one back, but it wasn’t enough as the Dash won 2-1. The second meeting came on Sept. 5 at Exploria Stadium. The Dash took an early lead through Daly. However, Taylor Kornieck equalized late, resulting in a 1-1 draw.

The 2020 NWSL season was canceled due to COVID but these two teams were matched up in the Fall Series. On Sept. 26, 2020 in Houston, Prince put the Dash ahead, but Marisa Viggiano responded just before halftime. Sophie Schmidt gave the hosts another lead and Shea Groom put the game away as Houston took a 3-1 win. The two teams played again on Oct. 9 at Osceola County Stadium in Kissimmee — the only time the Pride have played at the venue. Groom opened the scoring early and Latsko soon made it 2-0. Sydney Leroux got one back for the hosts, but Houston held on for a 2-1 win.

The Pride and Dash played three times in 2019, with the Pride going 0-2-1. During the first game in Houston on May 5, the Pride only recorded one shot on target. However, Houston only got one goal through Kealia Ohai in a 1-0 win. The second game on June 15 was also in Houston. Joanna Boyles scored her first professional goal to give the Pride the lead, but the Dash scored twice to take the advantage. A Danica Evans conversion allowed the Pride to escape the Oven with a 2-2 draw.

The third and final meeting in 2019 occurred on Aug. 10 in Orlando. The Pride ended the game with nine players as Julie King was sent off in the 61st minute and Marta was sent off in the 85th minute. However, the Dash were only able to convert once — a late penalty by Daly — and won 1-0.

The teams played three times during the 2018 season. The first game was on April 22 in Orlando. Chioma Ubogagu scored the lone goal, leading the Pride to a 1-0 win. They met again in Orlando on June 27. Alex Morgan opened the scoring and the Pride held that lead at the break. But the second half was all Houston, as Ohai and Sofia Huerta scored, resulting in a 2-1 Houston win. The final meeting that season was on July 11 in Houston, where Daly’s brace led the Dash to a 3-1 win. 

The Pride and Dash played twice during the 2017 season and the visiting team won both games. The first was on June 17 in Houston. Camila and Alanna Kennedy added to a Marta brace as the Pride took a commanding 4-0 lead. The Dash tried to come back with goals by Poliana and Prince, but the Pride took home a 4-2 win. A week later in Orlando, Carli Lloyd and Daly scored in a 2-0 Houston win. 

The teams met four times during the 2016 season — the Pride’s first in existence. The first meeting was the Pride’s first-ever regular-season home game on April 23. An Andressa own goal gave the Pride the lead just after the half before Lianne Sanderson and Morgan made it 3-0 for the hosts. Andressa scored one for her own team, but that was it for Houston as the Pride won 3-1 in front of a then-NWSL record 23,403 fans.

The second meeting was in Houston on May 20. Kristen Edmonds scored the only goal in the 81st minute as the Pride won 1-0. The third meeting that year came on June 23 in Orlando. Jasmyne Spencer broke the scoreless deadlock in second-half injury time as the Pride won 1-0. The fourth and final meeting came on Sept. 3 in Houston. The Dash took a 3-0 lead with goals by Janine Beckie, Poliana, and Ohai. Morgan and Edmonds got the Pride back into the game, but Ohai put it away with her second in a 4-2 Dash win.

Overview

The Pride currently sit atop the NWSL standings and are having the best season in team history. The year has included an NWSL-record eight-game win streak and they’re 16 games unbeaten. The three draws during the recent NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup has the Pride at 19 games unbeaten this year in all competitions and 20 straight dating back to last year’s season-ending win against…the Dash.

The most recent game in the regular season was a battle of the two best teams in the league on July 6 against the Kansas City Current. Despite going down to 10 players when Carrie Lawrence received her second yellow card in the 42nd minute, the Pride prevailed with a 2-1 win. Both teams were undefeated in this highly-anticipated game and the Pride win away from home solidified them as the best team in the league.

The Pride are coming off a nearly seven-week break in league play for the Olympics. While they were on record-breaking form, the league’s stoppage for the games was beneficial as the Pride had six key players representing their countries.

Heading into the Olympics, the most important thing was for these players to return healthy. Unfortunately, starting center back Rafaelle suffered an injury during Brazil’s quarterfinal game against France. Following the NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup, the Pride acquired their former left back Carson Pickett. It’s a move that will likely see Sams return to center back, where she played last year, alongside Kylie Strom while Rafaelle recovers.

Tonight, the Pride continue their regular-season campaign with a trip to Texas. It’s been a tough year for the Dash, who sit in 12th place in the 14-team league. Their 11 goals scored this year is the second fewest in the league and their 23 goals conceded is fifth most in the league. However, the Dash have kept six clean sheets in league play — just one fewer than Orlando’s seven.

Diana Ordonez is the only Houston player with multiple goals this season, having scored four times in 16 appearances. Six other players have scored once this year. Six of the 11 goals scored this year have been assisted and no player has assisted more than one.

Defensively, Jane Campbell continues to be the team’s number one, a position she’s held since 2018. The Dash have been using three in the back for much of this season, often consisting of Paige Nielsen, Natalie Jacobs, and Tarciane. However, Avery Patterson and former Pride left back Courtney Petersen have also lined up on the back line.

“Every game in this league is a challenge and difficult match. Especially after a long period of time, we have got players back into market and integrated them with the players who have been here,” Pride Head Coach Seb Hines said about tonight’s game. “We have had some well-deserved rest as well because of the workload we have put into this first half of the season. Just getting back into the groove against a team that has gone through a few changes with the head coach role and personnel. It is always a difficult environment to go play in Houston. We just want to get back into what we have done well in the first half of the season.”

The Pride are without 10 players as the regular season continues. Those out injured or sick include Grace Chanda (thigh), Simone Charley (ankle), Luana (illness), Sofia Manner (illness), Bri Martinez (ankle), Megan Montefusco (heel), Rafaelle (foot), and Viviana Villacorta (knee). Additionally, Carrie Lawrence is suspended after being sent off in the last league game and Amanda Allen (Canada) is away on international duty.

Houston will be missing eight players tonight, including Madison Ayson (foot), Ramona Bachmann (excused absence), Ryan Gareis (maternity leave), Sophie Hirst (concussion protocol), Katie Lind (maternity leave), Havana Solaun (knee), Kiki Van Zanten (SEI), and Amanda West (knee).

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Official Lineups

Orlando Pride (4-2-3-1)

Goalkeeper: Anna Moorhouse.

Defenders: Cori Dyke, Kylie Strom, Emily Sams, Kerry Abello.

Defensive Midfielders: Angelina, Haley McCutcheon.

Midfielders: Julie Doyle, Marta, Adriana.

Forward: Barbra Banda.

Bench: McKinley Crone, Morgan Gautrat, Ally Watt, Ally Lemos, Mariana Larroquette, Summer Yates, Carson Pickett, Evelina Duljan, Celia.

Houston Dash (4-4-2)

Goalkeeper: Jane Campbell.

Defenders: Avery Patterson, Paige Nielsen, Natalie Jacobs, Tarciane.

Midfielders: Elin Rubensson, Barbara Oliveri, Yuki Nagasato, Sophie Schmidt.

Forwards: Andressa, Diana Ordonez.

Bench: Heather Hinz, Allysha Chapman, Jyllissa Harris, Courtney Petersen, Croix Soto, Belle Briede, Sarah Puntigam, Michelle Alozie.

Referees

REF: Alexandra Billeter.
AR1: Matthew Schwartz.
AR2: Seun Yinka-Kehinde.
4TH: William Hale.
VAR: Abdou Ndiaye.
AVAR: Craig Lowry.

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How to Watch

Match Time: 8 p.m.

Venue: Shell Energy Stadium — Houston, TX.

TV: None.

Streaming: Prime Video.

Twitter: For live updates and rapid reaction, follow @TheManeLand and the Orlando Pride’s official Twitter feed (@ORLPride).

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Enjoy the match. Go Pride!