Orlando Pride vs. Chorrillo FC, Concacaf W Champions Cup: Final Score 5-0 as Pride Move Atop Group A

The Orlando Pride (2-0-0, 6 points) dominated Chorrillo FC (0-3-0, 0 points) 5-0 at Estadio Rommel Fernandez tonight in Panama City, Panama, staying perfect through two matches in Concacaf W Champions Cup play. Summer Yates netted the second hat trick in Pride history, while Julie Doyle and Ally Lemos added goals in the first game the Pride have ever played on foreign soil.

Similar to the Pride’s first Concacaf W Champions Cup game, Head Coach Seb Hines changed almost the entire lineup. In fact, Zara Chavoshi was the only repeat starter from the team’s 1-1 draw with Bay FC Saturday night.

Cosette Morche made her Pride debut in goal behind a back line of Simone Jackson, Cori Dyke, Chavoshi, and Grace Chanda. Viviana Villacorta, Luana, and Yates were in the midfield with an attacking line of Doyle, Elyse Bennett, and Prisca Chilufya.

Chorrillo was outscored 15-0 in its first two games — 6-0 against CF Pachuca and 9-0 against Club America — so the Pride expected to dominate, even on the road with a weakened lineup. Despite a heavily rotated team, the Pride converted early and often, taking a 2-0 lead just six minutes in. Chorrillo did have opportunities, but Morche was only threatened once in the dying moments of the game. As a result, it was a relatively easy win for the Pride without having to use any key starters ahead of a crucial league game Friday night.

The Pride got off to the ideal start, scoring the opening goal on their first chance in the fourth minute. Chilufya sent a great ball to the back post, where Doyle was making a run and the attacker headed it down and past Chorrillo goalkeeper Sara Lozano to make it 1-0.

A minute later, the Pride doubled their lead when Jackson won a corner kick. Luana’s set piece was punched out by Lozano, but not far enough. Her defenders couldn’t clear, allowing Yates to reach the ball and slot it past Lozano, making it 2-0 just six minutes into the game.

The Pride had a good chance for a third in the 12th minute when Villacorta beat Deysire Salazar and the midfielder pulled her down. Luana stood alone over the ball, sending her free kick towards goal. However, the Brazilian international couldn’t get over the attempt and it sailed over the target.

The Pride dominated the action, but Chorrillo had a chance to get its first goal of the tournament in the 14th minute when Shayari Camarena was sent behind the back line. Chavoshi misplayed the ball and Camarena was in on goal, but Chavoshi caught up to put a body on the attacker. It was enough to put Camarena off, who sent her shot directly into Morche’s arms.

Jackson was sent down the left in the 21st minute and tried to cross the ball, but it was blocked by Stepfany Toral for a corner kick. Luana’s set piece bounced off of Doyle and Chanda took possession. The attacker turned to shoot, sending her shot over the crossbar.

The Pride won the ensuing goal kick and created the third goal of the game. Luana played Bennett to the right and the forward quickly looked up and found Yates wide open near the penalty spot. The second-year attacker took the pass and calmly put the ball away for her second goal of the game and gave the Pride a commanding 3-0 lead.

Chorrillo had an opportunity to get one back in the 30th minute when Yasselis Magallon beat Jackson, slipping as she sent a cross into the box. Kayra Perez volleyed the ball on goal, but it was right at Morche, who caught the attempt.

The Pride nearly had a chance for a fourth in the 33rd minute when a bad pass by Toral was intercepted by Chilufya near the Chorrillo box. Dayane Madrid stepped up to challenge the attacker and the ball popped to Bennett. However, the newest Pride player couldn’t get through the defense, allowing Lozano to easily collect the ball.

Yates sent Doyle to the top of the Chorrillo box in the 38th minute and the attacker was pushed from behind by Magallon. She went down in the box as Madrid cleared the ball away, feeling the referee should’ve pointed to the spot. But the foul wasn’t called and play continued.

The Pride dominated the first half with the advantage in possession (65.5%-34.5%), shots (6-2), shots on target (3-2), crosses (9-3), corner kicks (4-1), and passing accuracy (85.4%-72.6%). Most importantly, they held a 3-0 lead at the break.

Shortly after the break, second-half sub Oihane attempted a cross in the 50th minute that was blocked out of play by Karla Ovalle for a Pride corner kick. Jackson’s set piece was knocked out of play by Delineth Rivera for a second corner and the second one was played short to Yates. Looking for a hat trick, Yates shot from the top corner of the box, but it was right to Lozano.

Similar to the previous play a minute earlier, Oihane sent another cross that was blocked out of play for a corner kick, this time by Madrid. Melissa Herrera pulled Chavoshi down as Jackson’s set piece sailed into the box. The referee pointed to the spot, giving the Pride a penalty on the obvious foul.

Looking for her first professional hat trick, Yates stepped up to take the kick. It wasn’t a great penalty, but Yates put enough pace on it to beat Lozano, completing her hat trick and giving the Pride a 4-0 lead.

It was the second hat trick in Pride history after Barbra Banda netted three goals in a 3-1 win over the Utah Royals on May 23 in NWSL action.

Quick passing created a chance for Camarena in the 59th minute, looking to get Chorrillo on the board. The attacker had room for a shot, but she lifted it over the crossbar from a tight angle, causing no concern for Morche.

Oihane laid the ball off for Lemos in the 69th minute, well outside of the Chorrillo box. Despite the distance, the halftime substitute fired a knuckling shot. However, it went straight to Lozano, causing little trouble for the goalkeeper.

Lemos was called for a handball near the Pride third of the field in the 81st minute, creating a set piece chance for the hosts. The free kick was squared to Rivera, who fired from long distance. It was on target and probably the most threatening shot Morche had faced, but it caused the Pride’s third-string goalkeeper little trouble as she caught it on her goal line.

Jackson made a run to the end line in the 84th minute before the ball was knocked off her foot and out of play by Magallon for a corner kick. The ensuing set piece was punched away by Lozano, but only to Lemos at the top of the box. After settling the ball, Lemos lifted it over Lozano and into the corner of the goal, extending the lead to 5-0.

Chavoshi fouled Camarena just outside the Pride box in the second minute of stoppage time, giving Chorrillo a chance for their first goal of the tournament. Ovalle took the set piece and went for goal, putting the shot on target. However, Morche was up to the task, tipping it over the crossbar.

The ensuing set piece was headed away before Camarena sent it back into the box. Madrid tried to head the ball on goal, but her attempt went wide. That was the last chance for either team as the Pride came away with a 5-0 win.

The Pride ended the game with the edge in possession (67.5%-32.5%), shots (12-9), shots on target (7-4), crosses (18-5), corner kicks (8-2), and passing accuracy (84.6%-66.8%).

These three points place the Pride atop the Group A standings after two of four group games. They’re two points ahead of Club America and three points ahead of Pachuca, the club’s next two opponents. However, Pachuca has a game in hand, having played only once in the tournament so far.

Meanwhile, Chorrillo FC is now officially eliminated from the competition. The Panamanian side lost all three of its matches so far and has been outscored 20-0. The only remaining game for Chorrillo is against LD Alajuelense, which sits in fourth after two games with a draw against Club America and a 3-0 loss against the Pride.

With this Champions Cup contest behind them, the Pride return to NWSL action in just four days. They’ll host the North Carolina Courage at Inter&Co Stadium Friday night in a crucial game.