Orlando Pride vs. Kansas City Current: Three Keys to Victory

The Orlando Pride continue their quest for a second trophy in 2024 against the Kansas City Current Sunday at 3 p.m. in the friendly confines of Inter&Co Stadium. The Pride are coming off a dominating 4-1 victory over the Chicago Red Stars, but their next opponent will be much tougher to beat.

What do the Pride need to do to defeat Kansas City and move on to the NWSL Championship?

Step on the Golden Boot

The Current scored a league-high 57 goals during the regular season. What you might not realize is that 37 of those goals came in the first half of the season. The Current only scored 20 in the second half of the season. That’s not to say they aren’t still a formidable offensive team.

Temwa Chawinga won the Golden Boot by scoring 21 of those for her club, including one against the Pride back in July in Kansas City. Obviously, she is one of the most dangerous attackers in the league. That being said, the Pride’s defense kept her to one goal at Kansas City, and shut her — and her teammates — out in the 0-0 draw at home in September.

The Pride tied with NJ/NY Gotham FC for the best defense in the league, allowing only 20 goals all season. Orlando will need to bring its best defense if the Pride are to once again shut down Chawinga. The back line needs to stay alert and limit mistakes. That goes for goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse as well.

Board the Banda Train

It had been a long time since Barbra Banda scored a goal with her feet. She finally broke out for a brace against the Chicago Red Stars on Friday, and honestly, she could have doubled that. I’ve been saying for a long time that she just needed that first goal (with her foot) to open the scoring floodgates. Orlando needs Banda to keep that up against the Current.

Kansas City has scored a ton of goals this year, but the Current also allowed 31 goals — the most allowed by the remaining teams in the playoffs, although the club has made huge strides in that area over the last couple of months. If the Pride attack can generate even half of the opportunities garnered in the match against Chicago, it could be a good day for the home side. I expect Seb Hines to to keep the 4-4-2 formation he’s employed recently, with Ally Watt getting the start next to Banda. Watt’s mere presence will free up space for Banda to work her magic.

Pack the Fortress

The Pride were 10-0-3 in the regular season at Inter&Co Stadium. It really doesn’t get much better than that. Attendance at Pride matches has averaged 8,340 this season with a Pride stadium record attendance of 17,087 against the Houston Dash. There is no reason that number can’t be beaten this Sunday in an NWSL semifinal match.

We recently interviewed Watt on SkoPurp Soccer: An Orlando Pride PawedCast. She told us how important the fans have been this season. She also mentioned that the bigger, louder crowds make it more difficult to talk to her teammates, but she said she’s happy to have that be the case. It stands to reason that over 17,000 fans would make it difficult for the Current to talk to each other as well. I will be there lending my voice, and I hope you will do the same.

That is what I will be looking for Sunday, though this time from the stands. I hope to see plenty of you there. Please feel free to say hello. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below. Vamos Orlando!