The Orlando Pride continued their impressive 2024 season Sunday afternoon, holding off the Kansas City Current 3-2 to advance to the NWSL final. The teams gave each other a lot of respect through the first half of the game, emphasizing organization and defense and relying on organized buildups. This was a successful plan as both teams still found team goals in the opening half. Kansas City was first successful in the 33rd minute on a millimeter-perfect cross from Michelle Cooper that Debinha converted while lurking at the back post. The Pride kept their cool and equalized before the half, with Ally Watt finding Haley McCutcheon darting into the space that Barbra Banda had provided, drawing the defense with her.

Orlando kept its defensive solidity but got more aggressive in trying to get the attack out on the run, taking control of the game for the majority of the second half in doing so. This strategy, aided by the removal of Lo’eau Labonta from the Current midfield in favor of attacker Nichelle Prince, worked to the Pride’s advantage, freeing Banda several times throughout the half. She scored in the 51st minute when Kylie Strom lifted a perfectly weighted ball into the top of the box. Rather than trying to touch down the incoming pass in tight space, Banda brilliantly boxed out her defender, letting the ball run into the box and finished with authority, slamming the ball into the back of the net.

Marta doubled the lead in the 82nd minute when Banda poked the ball from defender Kayla Sharples in midfield, touching it into space for Marta. The Brazilian then showed her class, dribbling into the box, forcing two defenders to commit to blocking a shot that never came, and then touching the ball around goalkeeper Almuth Schult and finishing the play in a highlight reel moment of brilliance.

After that, desperation prevailed for Kansas City, with all 11 players coming forward on corner kicks for the entirety of the announced 12 minutes of second half injury time and a lot more — just over 18 additional minutes in all. The pressure and volume of attacks pulled the Current within a goal as one of the shots caught Kerry Abello in an outstretched arm. Though she tried to pull it in, it was instrumental in blocking the shot and an easy decision upon video review to award a penalty.

Up only a goal, the Pride defended desperately and held on. With the victory, the Pride advance to the NWSL Championshipin Kansas City, where they will face the Washington Spirit Saturday at 8 p.m.

We hope you enjoy these images from a memorable and historic match at Inter&Co Stadium.

Orlando City faced down Charlotte FC in the deciding game in the first round of the MLS Cup playoffs, drawing even at 1-1 deep in stoppage time and dominating the ensuging penalty shootout 4-1 to advance. In what had become a theme of the series, Orlando City dominated on paper but could not find a goal, rattling the woodwork twice in the first half and outshooting Charlotte 21-6. Charlotte, however, did a good job of limiting many of those shots to low-probability areas or preventing shots from Orlando’s 14 key passes.

This strategy almost paid off when Charlotte found a goal in the 81st minute off a quirky defensive miscue, but Orlando’s desperation time press equalized close to the death via a penalty drawn by Duncan McGuire. Despite some artificial drama from video assistant referee Ismail Elfath sending referee Ismir Pekmic to the monitor to review the obvious shirt pull, the call on the field was upheld. Facundo Torres converted his own rebound when the penalty was initially saved by Charlotte goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina, tying the game and sending it to penalties.

Orlando clearly took last week’s penalty result seriously, as the Lions reversed last week’s fortune and dominated the shootout. Goalkeeper Pedro Gallese made two excellent saves on the first two and Orlando converted its first four attempts to advance.

Clearly the Lions felt a tremendous amount of emotion at getting through. Always a team to celebrate its victories and acknowledge fans, there was a bit of extra exuberance in the post-game celebrations. Torres threw Gallese on his shoulders and more players received their children on the field than is typical. Many players stayed to sign autographs, interact with fans, and generally linger on the field with teammates and family members well after the game. At the time, the Lions may have felt they’d played their last home match of the season, but results elsewhere were favorable, extending Orlando’s home playoff run for at least another round.

Since Orlando is the highest remaining seed in the Eastern Conference, the Lions will have home field advantage through the conference final should they get past Atlanta on Nov. 24.

We hope you enjoy these images from the game and the ensuing celebration!

The Orlando Pride defeated the Washington Spirit 2-0 to sweep the season series and clinch the league’s best record, thereby claiming the NWSL Shield for 2024. The Pride went out and did what they’ve done all year — control the game, limit opposing chances, and manage to find a way to break through a stout defense on a rainy Sunday night in Central Florida.

Barbra Banda continued to show why she is so special even when not finding the score sheet, generally creating space, pulling multiple defenders out of position, and drawing the penalty that finally broke the deadlock. Marta similarly did Marta things, including converting the penalty, and Adriana created chaos of her own, including forcing the own goal that ensured the victory.

At the other end, solid individual and team defending, some timely saves by Anna Moorhouse (and let’s be honest, a little luck, although of the Pride’s own making) preserved the clean sheet in a historic win.

With the victory, Orlando claimed more records in this remarkable season, including:

• Extending the Pride’s NWSL unbeaten record (24 games).
• Extending Moorhouse’s individual season record for clean sheets in a season (13 games).
• Tying the single-season club record for the most clean sheets (13 games, equaling the 2021 Portland Thorns).
• Tying the NWSL single-season record for most wins and most points (17 and 57, respectively, equaling 2018 North Carolina Courage).

We hope you enjoy this extended gallery of images from the Pride’s NWSL Shield-clinching game and the subsequent well-earned celebration.

The Pride return to action Friday night on the road, facing the Portland Thorns.