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Orlando Pride vs. Portland Thorns FC: Final Score 1-0 as Pride Win It Late

A second-half stoppage time goal saw the Pride claim all three points against the Portland Thorns.

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1 month ago

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Dan MacDonald, The Mane Land

The Orlando Pride (10-8-6, 36 points) used a late own goal to defeat the Portland Thorns (9-8-7, 34 points) 1-0 at Inter&Co Stadium tonight in Orlando. The win ended a five-game winless run in home league games and gave the team a chance to finish top four and host in the playoffs.

Pride Head Coach Seb Hines used the same starting lineup that drew 1-1 with the Houston Dash a week ago. Anna Moorhouse was the goalkeeper behind a back line of Kerry Abello, Rafaelle, Emily Sams, and Oihane. Haley McCutcheon and Angelina were the defensive midfielders behind Carson Pickett, Ally Lemos, and Jacquie Ovalle, with Ally Watt up top.

This was a six-pointer for the Pride and Thorns, with the winner inching closer to clinching a playoff spot and potentially hosting a playoff game. The Thorns held more possession and created enough opportunities to score, but the Pride had the better chances. In the end, a bit of luck saw the Pride claim all three points, making it possible to clinch a playoff berth this weekend if other results go their way.

The Pride had the first chance of the game in the fourth minute when McCutcheon’s cross found Watt. However, the forward headed the ball straight down. Ovalle took possession and laid it back for Pickett, but her shot was blocked by Isabella Obaze.

Sams sent a long ball out of the back in the eighth minute that McCutcheon flicked forward with her head. It sent Watt behind the back line, and the striker did well to beat Thorns goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold. However, the flag went up for offside, and it wouldn’t be the last time in this game.

The visitors got their first decent attack in the 10th minute when Abello blocked Olivia Moultrie’s cross out of play for a corner kick. They couldn’t create anything from the set piece, but Oihane knocked the ball out of play while shielding Reilyn Turner, who was sent towards the end line. Rafaelle headed out Moultrie’s set piece to Alexa Spaanstra at the top of the box. Spaanstra attempted to volley the ball but mishit it. After Moultrie’s shot from distance was blocked, the Pride were able to clear.

Moultrie sent Turner down the right in the 14th minute with Abello on her back. Turner sent a low cross into the box that Sams cleared but only to the top of the 18. Jessie Fleming collected the ball and shot, but Rafaelle deflected it, allowing Moorhouse to catch it.

On the other end, McCutcheon played the ball to Lemos in the box. Unable to shake her defender, Lemos laid the ball back for Angelina, who fired a shot from distance, sending her attempt well over the goal.

Moultrie found Turner on her right again in the 17th minute. The attacker’s cross was too close to goal, but it went over Moorhouse’s hand and hit the crossbar. The ball ended up with Sam Coffey, who sent her shot over the target. Turner then got onto a long ball across the field in the 21st minute. As she approached the end line, Turner played it to Moultrie making a run to the top of the box. Moultrie had space, but sent her shot over the goal.

Watt dribbled down the right in the 24th minute before sending a pass behind Oihane. It went through to the far side to McCutcheon, whose shot was blocked. After a short header by Moultrie, Pickett played the ball back for Angelina approaching the Portland third. The Brazilian’s shot was close enough to force Arnold into a dive, but the ball sailed just wide of the left post.

The Pride nearly took the lead in the 34th minute when Abello and Lemos combined to get the ball to Ovalle on the right side. Oihane made a run inside and Ovalle played her forward toward the end line. Watt couldn’t get a touch on Oihane’s low cross, which found McCutcheon at the back post. Reyna Reyes got there first and nearly put it in her own net, but Arnold jumped on it before it crossed the line.

Moultrie played Spaanstra behind the Pride back line in the 41st minute, creating a good chance. Spaanstra found Pietra Tordin in the box, but the forward missed just wide of the near post. The flag went up for offside on the initial ball over the top anyway.

In the first minute of stoppage time, Ovalle played the ball back for Angelina, who sent it over the midfield stripe for Watt making a run. The striker did well to get space from Obaze and beat Arnold inside her far post. However, Watt was offside again.

“I think the evolution of this team is playing what the opponent gives you,” Hines said. “So if Portland want to press us high and be aggressive, you have to draw them out as well. There were moments where we wanted to exploit that space in behind. We wanted to get Ally facing forward through on goal. Obviously, she was offside, but she should take a lot of confidence from that. You know, there’s margins where the defender just takes an extra step. So, as long as she can continue to be a threat, she should still get opportunities to find the back of the net.”

At the half, the Thorns had the advantage in possession (58%-42%), shots (8-7), shots on target (1-0), crosses (10-3), corner kicks (3-1), and passing accuracy (84%-79%). However, if Watt could stay onside, the Pride would’ve been up 2-0 at the break.

“I think that it’s easy to fall into frustration when that happens, but we were just dead set on continuing to do what we were doing,” McCutcheon said. “Refine the little details that are going to get us the goals that we need. And I felt like we had them on the back foot for most of the game, and so that just gave us momentum. And we never shut off. We were locked into our details defensively, especially. And so, yeah, really proud of the group. And I think that at halftime, we just were like, Okay, we’ve got to dig in and keep doing what we’re doing.”

The Pride got the first chance of the second half when Fleming played a poor pass back for Jayden Perry at midfield. Ovalle took possession and carried the ball into the Portland third before firing from distance. However, her shot was right at Arnold.

Moorhouse attempted to play the ball to Oihane from inside her own box in the 51st minute, but it was intercepted by Vignola. The left back dribbled into the 18 and took a shot that was high and wide of the target.

Turner was sent towards the right corner flag in the 56th minute and Abello knocked the ball out of play as Turner attempted to cut back. Moultrie’s ensuing set piece found Turner on the far side of the box, but she redirected the ball into Moorhouse’s arms.

Lemos took possession from Watt in the 60th minute before shooting off the face of Obaze. The block went to the right side of the box for Watt, who went for the far post and forced Arnold into a kick save. The referee stopped play immediately after the save as Obaze remained down. The center back required attention but was able to continue.

Portland created a chance from a throw-in in the 65th minute. Fleming received the ball and quickly played it in for Deyna Castellanos, making a run between Rafaelle and Oihane. The substitute got her head to the ball, but sent it straight to Moorhouse, who made the easy catch.

In the 67th minute, Ovalle looked to make something happen at the top of the box, but her ball in was blocked. It went to Watt, who laid it back for Ovalle. The Mexican shot it, but it was right to Arnold.

A minute later, Hines made his first two changes. Marta and Simone Charley came into the game for Lemos and Watt. It was a return for Marta, who missed the last three games with a back injury.

“It’s massive. She’s a massive part of this team,” Hines said. “And, yeah, we’ve missed her. We’ve missed her leadership. We’ve missed what she brings on to the field.”

“She came on and she looked at me, and she said, ‘Feed me the ball.’ And I think when you have a player like Marta especially, who’s like, ‘Give me the ball, I’m feeling it,’ like that just gives me confidence in her,” McCutcheon added. “It gives me confidence in the group, and she just injects so much energy, and I know that when I get her the ball, she’s going to make something happen. She brings so much passion. And so we’re so lucky to have her.”

Ovalle created an opportunity for Charley in the 70th minute, sending a ball to the top of the six-yard box. With Obaze on her back, Charley got her head to the ball but put it wide.

Hines made his third substitution in the 71st minute, replacing Oihane with Zara Chavoshi, moving Sams to right back.

Turner made a run toward the top of the box in the 79th minute, before Moultrie took over. Moultrie shot from outside the box but McCutcheon cleared it out of play for a corner kick. Charley cleared the ensuing set piece while colliding with Turner, who went down and required attention but was able to continue.

Hines made his final two changes, sending Simone Jackson and Luana in for Ovalle and Pickett.

In the 83rd minute, Marta curled a ball behind the back line for Jackson making a run down the right. Jackson got into the box and took a shot that Arnold spilled wide of the post for a corner kick. The ensuing set piece was too close to the goalkeeper, who made the catch.

Jackson intercepted a poor pass from Fleming to Perry in the 84th minute before entering the Thorns box. Perry put a shoulder into Jackson, who went down. The forward wanted a penalty, but referee Shawn Tehini didn’t see enough in it to award a spot kick.

In the 87th minute, Turner was sent long on the left before beating Chavoshi into the Pride box. She sent a shot on goal that Moorhouse saved, tipping it away.

The Pride nearly scored in the 88th minute when Marta played a ball for Charley in the six-yard box. However, McKenzie did well to get back and knock the ball off Charley to keep the game scoreless.

The fourth official showed nine minutes and the Pride found their goal in the second. Jackson tried to play Charley behind the back line but Obaze got there first. It looked like the center back might keep it in play, but she knocked it out for a corner kick instead.

Marta took the set piece, sending it to the near post. As Arnold came out to punch the ball away, it went off the back of McKenzie and in, giving the Pride a late lead.

Portland pushed hard in the final minutes, looking to get something out of the game. In the fifth minute of stoppage time, Chavoshi pushed Fleming over, giving the Thorns a free kick in the Pride third of the field. Coffey sent the set piece over everyone, but Moorhouse had come off her line. It looked like the ball might sneak inside the far post, but it bounced wide instead.

The final chance came in the seventh minute of stoppage time when Abello knocked the ball out of play for a throw-in. McKenzie threw it in to Mimi Alidou, who played it right back. McKenzie’s cross found Moultrie, but she couldn’t get much on her header and Moorhouse made the stop.

Portland ended the game with the edge in possession (52.5%-47.5%), corner kicks (5-4), and passing accuracy (81.1%-80.1%), but the Pride had more shots (16-14) and crosses (12-11). More importantly, they scored the game’s lone goal.

“I think we were brilliant from start to finish,” Hines said. “I thought the first half, the intensity of our press, the intensity of how we play, we created some good opportunities. We stayed in the game, which was important as well, because there’s been previous games where we’ve dominated but haven’t got the rewards and been punished, so as long as it stayed nil-nil, we always felt that we were going to score that first goal. And we left it late, but it doesn’t matter. We’re walking away with three points, a clean sheet, and a one-goal victory. So really happy.”

“I feel like our mindset just changed. After those two wins we had in the last three games, it’s big,” Rafaelle said. “It’s huge, especially this time of the season, getting those two wins is going to help us so much looking forward, getting a spot in the playoffs. I feel like everybody is giving everything. We feel the pressure, and we just showed we’re fine, even though there’s a lot of pressure on us. And we’re doing great, great things. Just like, every time we get in front of the goal, the ball is hitting the post and going away. Now I feel like the luck is in our favor. So getting three points here is huge. It was a hard match, but we deserve to win.”

The win gives the Pride three straight NWSL matches without a loss (2-0-1) but snaps a five-match home winless streak in the league.

The Pride moved from sixth to third in the NWSL standings, the highest place they can finish now. However, while they jump NJ/NY Gotham FC and The Seattle Reign, both have yet to play this weekend. While the win is important, the Pride are still just three points ahead of seventh-place Racing Louisville.

Tonight’s win means the Pride could clinch a playoff spot this weekend. If the North Carolina Courage lose Saturday to the Washington Spirit and the Dash drop points Sunday evening against Angel City, the Pride will be in the postseason for the second consecutive year.

The Pride won’t have long to enjoy this win as they host CF Pachuca Wednesday, in a Concacaf W Champions Cup game that will see who joins Club America from Group A in the semifinals.

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Haley Carter Departs the Orlando Pride

The mastermind behind the Orlando Pride’s success is leaving the club to pursue other opportunities.

Published

10 hours ago

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November 18, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Mark Thor

In a surprising move, the Orlando Pride announced today that Vice President of Soccer Operations and Sporting Director Haley Carter is leaving the club to pursue new opportunities. Carter was an integral part of the club’s success during her three-year tenure, architecting the 2024 NWSL Shield and NWSL Championship and bringing in star players like Barbra Banda and Jacquie Ovalle, two of the four largest transfers in league history.

The former Houston Dash goalkeeper joined the Pride as vice president and general manager on Jan. 30, 2023, becoming the first person to hold that position and following Ian Fleming as GM. She signed a new contract that was supposed to keep her in Orlando through 2026 with an option year for 2027 just over a year ago on Aug. 30, 2024.

Carter became an accomplished business executive, coach, licensed attorney, and former U.S. Marine officer following her playing career. She is a certified professional football scout, holding Level I and II Talent Identification certification through the Professional Football Scouts Association. Carter brought a level of professionalism and experience to a Pride club that needed to turn things around, and that is exactly what she did, helping create a new club culture.

With the NWSL’s mandatory 28-day minimum break period starting, Carter and the club did not want the players hearing about the decision from anyone else and held a team call to let them know.

“We’d like to extend our gratitude to Haley for her contributions to the Pride over the past three years,” Orlando Pride Owner and Chairman Mark Wilf said in a club press release. “Haley played a key leadership role with our club, positioning the Pride among the NWSL’s and world’s elite clubs. Our family is incredibly excited about the future of the Pride and we look forward to continuing our commitment to invest in world-class players and building teams that continually compete for championships and positively represent Orlando and our supporters.”

“I’m beyond thankful to Mark Wilf and the entire ownership group for giving me the opportunity to be part of this club and for their unwavering support throughout my time here,” Carter said in the club’s release. “The Wilf family’s continued investment in this team, both on and off the field, is a reflection of their genuine belief in the Pride’s potential and in the future of women’s soccer. Their commitment to leading a world-class club is the foundation for continued success.

In her time here, Carter also made it a habit to lock down players to new contracts before those contracts ended to keep the team’s core together, maintaining continuity and building a leadership group. Obviously, her biggest accomplishment was building the team that won the NWSL double in 2024.

“We have begun a diligent and methodical search for a new soccer leader who will have the opportunity to work with a championship-caliber roster and coaching staff,” Wilf said in the club’s release. “Combined with our clear vision for the future and positive club culture, I am confident that the Pride is well positioned to continue its trajectory of success.”

Per the club, Carter will work with management to ensure a seamless transition.

What it means for Orlando

The phrase “to pursue new opportunities” in the club’s press release leads one to believe Carter already has her next gig lined up. If that’s within the NWSL, it’ll be a hard pill to swallow for Pride fans. We’ll have to wait for news on that.

Losing Carter is obviously a blow to the club, and it won’t be easy to find a replacement. Whoever comes in will need to maintain and build on the solid foundation Carter leaves behind. The Pride went from being a bottom-of-the-table team for whom players didn’t want to play to one of the more attractive destinations in the NWSL. While average players used to seek trades away from Orlando, now the club can, and has, make record transfers to the Pride happen.

Along with ownership, Head Coach Seb Hines and his staff, and the front office, she created a culture that values the players while remaining focused on winning.

It now falls to President of Business Operations Jarrod Dillon, his staff, and ownership to find the person to take the Pride back to the promised land. The organization is in a better place now than when Carter arrived. This is a position that needs to be filled, but bringing in the right person — even if it takes a little longer — is more important than filling it quickly. That said, the off-season will require some new pieces be brought in and some contract decisions that still need to be made, and someone will need to make those — likely before Carter’s replacement arrives.

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2025 Orlando Pride Season in Review: Cosette Morché

The backup goalkeeper joined the Pride in the summer and appeared in a couple of Concacaf W Champions Cup matches.

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18 hours ago

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November 18, 2025

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Image of Cosette Morche taking a goal kick against Pachuca.
Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

The Orlando Pride signed goalkeeper Cosette Morché on Aug. 6 to a multi-year contract through the 2027 season with a mutual option year for 2028. Morché had spent the previous season with Fort Lauderdale United FC in the USL Super League, but her signing was necessary as a third goalkeeper after Kat Asman was loaned to Lexington FC in the USL Super League on July 2. It was a surprisingly long contract for the former Seattle Reign goalkeeper, considering Asman is under contract with the Pride through 2026.

The Texas A&M product appeared only a couple of times with the Pride in Concacaf W Champions Cup competition in her first year in Orlando.

Let’s look back at Morché’s first season in the City Beautiful.

Statistical Breakdown

Morché did not appear in an NWSL regular-season match or a playoff game. She made her Pride debut on Sept. 16 in Orlando’s 5-0 win at Chorrillo FC, as the Pride won their first game on foreign soil. Morché started two matches in the Concacaf W Champions Cup, going the full 90 in both for 180 total minutes and backstopping the club to a 1-0-1 record in her two starts in the competition. The native of Lawrenceville, GA allowed one goal across the two contests for a stellar 0.50 goals-against average. She faced a total of 27 shots from her opponents with eight of those on target. Morché made seven saves on those eight shots on frame, giving her a save percentage of 87.5%. She passed at a solid 90% rate on 70 attempts but did not attempt a long ball. in her two matches.

Best Game

It would be easy to take her lone win and shutout, but the truth is Morché had a lot more to do in the 1-1 draw against Pachuca on Oct. 15, facing twice as many shots (18) as she faced against Chorrillo (9) and…hahaha, I’m just kidding, I’m going with the shutout. Morché made four of her seven saves on the season in that match, and I felt she could have done a bit better on the shot that got past her against Pachuca — a goal that ultimately knocked the Pride out of the Concacaf W Champions Cup.

Against Chorrillo, Morché stopped all four shots on target that she faced on nine total attempts by the hosts. It was also a road match in international competition, which is a difficult environment for anyone making their first start for their club. She completed 32 of her 35 passes (91%) that night in Panama to effectively distribute the ball as well. It was a small sample size, so I’ve got to go with the shutout and the game with more saves and a better passing accuracy.

2025 Final Grade

Morché fell well short of the required 400 minutes across all competitions to qualify for a season grade after her first season in Orlando. Therefore, The Mane Land staff has no choice but to give an incomplete grade for the 2025 season.

2026 Outlook

With a contract through 2027, Morché doesn’t figure to be going anywhere unless a transfer is arranged, she is sent out on loan, or the player and club mutually agree to terminate the contract. The Pride have Morché, Asman, McKinley Crone, and Anna Moorhouse all under contract in 2026, which more or less settles the goalkeeper situation. It appears the club is happy with Moorhouse as the starter and Crone as the primary backup, although Morché may get a chance to win the backup job in camp. Barring injuries, Morché won’t likely see the pitch much in 2026 unless she is loaned out, but she’ll provide depth at a critical position.

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2025 Orlando Pride Season in Review: Luana

Luana returned from cancer treatment and recovery to make an emotional impact in 2025, culminating in her first goal for the Pride.

Published

2 days ago

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November 17, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

The Orlando Pride signed Brazilian international midfielder Luana on Dec. 14, 2023, inking her to a two-year deal with an additional option year. Along with fellow Brazilian international Angelina, the Pride had high hopes for a solid central midfield that could not only break up opposition play, but also break lines with quick, incisive passes to transition quickly from defense to attack.

Unfortunately, after only three matches in 2024, Luana was forced off the pitch by a health crisis after being diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The club made the announcement public on April 29 after Luana had a string of excused absences, placing the midfielder on the Season-Ending Injury (SEI) list as she began treatment.

Luana made it through treatment and spent a lot of time recovering and regaining her strength, returning to the pitch in early September of this year, capping an emotional time for both her and her teammates. She was rewarded for her perseverance and her play with a new one-year contract for 2026 with a mutual option year for 2027 just four days ago.

Let’s look back at Luana’s abbreviated second season in Orlando.

Statistical Breakdown

In NWSL play, Luana appeared in four regular-season games (all off the bench), totaling just 38 minutes. She did not contribute to a goal or attempt a shot in the regular season, completing 18 of her 24 passes for a 75% success rate, but she did not misplace a single pass in her final two outings of the regular season, going 12/12. She created one scoring chance in her limited playing time with one key pass, and she had one successful cross on three attempts and three complete long balls on five attempts (60%). On the defensive end, Luana contributed two tackles, two interceptions, and one clearance. She committed two fouls, drew one on her opponents, and she was booked once, receiving a yellow card against Portland late in the season.

In the playoffs, Luana appeared in one of Orlando’s two matches, coming off the bench against the Seattle Reign in the quarterfinals. The Brazilian played only seven minutes, but she made an impact. Luana scored her first Pride goal from the penalty spot deep in stoppage time to put the match out of reach as Orlando won 2-0. The goal was Luana’s only shot attempt, so she put her one shot on target for her lone goal contribution of the season. She completed two of her three passes (66.7%) without a key pass or a cross attempt, hitting one of her two long balls (50%). On the defensive end, Luana contributed a tackle and a clearance to Orlando’s winning effort, and she did not commit or draw a foul and she was not booked.

Luana appeared in four Concacaf W Champions Cup matches with the Pride this year, starting three and playing 171 minutes. She did not register a goal contribution in the tournament and neither of her two shots were on target. Luana completed 74.1% of her 85 passes, contributed three tackles, and committed eight fouls without drawing one on an opponent. She was booked once, receiving a yellow card against Club America.

Best Game

There aren’t many matches to choose from, as Luana made only nine appearances. However, two stand out and they were both in the Concacaf W Champions Cup. Luana came off the bench and played 20 strong minutes in her 2025 debut against Alajuelense. However, I’ll go with her 45 minutes as a starter in the team’s next game in the competition, a 5-0 win over Chorrillo on the road on Sept. 16. It equaled her second-longest outing of the year. Luana did not record a goal contribution or put her only shot attempt on target, but she was a stabilizing force in the middle for the Pride. She completed 76% of her 25 passes, recorded a tackle, and provided plenty of grit in Orlando’s midfield, breaking up play and committing three fouls without picking up one of the Pride’s three yellow cards on the night. The 32-year-old made way for Ally Lemos at halftime but turned in a good performance on the night.

2025 Final Grade

Luana fell 22 minutes shy of earning the minimum 400 total minutes to earn a rating from The Mane Land this season. This comes after she also received an incomplete rating for 2024 after missing the bulk of the season for her treatment and recovery. It’s safe to say that due to her unfortunate diagnosis last year, we still haven’t really seen what Luana can bring to the club. Hopefully that will change next season.

2026 Outlook

Luana signed a new contract through 2026 just days ago, and her new deal includes a mutual option year for 2027. While she will have an opportunity to earn a starting spot in preseason training camp, it will be difficult to unseat either member of the current central midfield pairing of Haley McCutcheon and Angelina. One would expect her to be a key backup, however, if she can continue to work her way back to the form she had prior to her Hodgkins lymphoma treatment in 2025. There is precedence for athletes returning to their previous form after such treatment — most notably NHL legend Mario Lemieux.

With a full off-season to continue getting stronger and working her way back, Luana may have an opportunity to make an incredible comeback and become an impact player in 2026. This would be a boost for an Orlando team that needs to improve to get back to the top and could use Luana’s bite in the midfield, her great vision, and her ability to unlock opposing defenses and break lines.

This is the first of our 2025 Orlando Pride Season in Review articles. Every player who played minutes this past season and who finished the year on the club roster (i.e., not Ally Watt, who is technically on loan from Denver) will be reviewed.

Players who logged more than 400 minutes (combined regular season plus playoffs and Concacaf W Champions Cup) will receive a composite score between 1 and 10 as determined by a panel of The Mane Land writers, while those who did not reach that threshold will receive an incomplete grade.

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