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Orlando Pride vs. Washington Spirit: Final Score 3-2 as Pride Win Second Straight NWSL Match

The Pride came back from two deficits to defeat the Washington Spirit in a high-scoring game in the nation’s capital.

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6 months ago

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride

The Orlando Pride (11-8-6, 39 points) won for the third time in the last four games, picking upa a 3-2 victory over the Washington Spirit (12-5-8, 44 points) at Audi Field in Washington, D.C. It was a back-and-forth game with Kerry Abello conceding an own goal and then equalizing on the other end. It looked like the Spirit might claim all three points when Sofia Cantore gave the hosts the lead just before halftime, but a Narumi Miura own goal and Marta’s penalty conversion gave the Pride all three points.

Orlando has won two straight in the league for the first time since June and is unbeaten in four straight NWSL matches (3-0-1) with three wins over teams above the playoff line — two of those on the road — in that span.

Seb Hines deployed the same lineup from the two previous league games — a 1-1 draw against the Houston Dash on Oct. 3 and a 1-0 win over the Portland Thorns on Oct. 10. Anna Moorhouse started in goal behind a back line of Abello, Rafaelle, Emily Sams, and Oihane. Haley McCutcheon and Angelina were the defensive midfielders with Carson Pickett, Ally Lemos, and Jacquie Ovalle in the attacking midfield and Ally Watt up top.

The two teams came into this game in completely different situations. The Spirit have already secured the second position and are unable to finish in first or third. As a result, they have little to play for. Meanwhile, the Pride entered the game in fourth place after Seattle’s win Friday night, just three points ahead of eighth. A win was essential to have a chance to finish in the top four and host a playoff game.

Nearing halftime, it looked like this would be a low-scoring affair, but it quickly escalated. Abello put the ball in her own net in the 35th minute, only to equalize in the 38th minute. Cantore’s backheel in the 42nd minute made the impression that this would be a disappointing result for Orlando fans, but Hines’ halftime addition of Marta changed the game. She created a goal less than a minute after coming on and converted a penalty in the 72nd minute to secure the win.

The Pride got the first chance of the game in the second minute when Kysha Sylla knocked the ball away from Watt and out of play for a corner kick. The ensuing set piece fell to Rafaelle, whose shot was blocked by Kate Wiesner, and Brittany Ratcliffe blocked the follow-up.

The Pride created another chance in the sixth minute when Ovalle lifted the ball into the box from the right. McCutcheon was open just outside the six, but the defensive midfielder jumped a split second late and got under it, sending it over.

The hosts got their first shot in the 10th minute when Ratcliffe cut inside to create space from Oihane. The attacker took a right-footed shot from outside the box, but it was right to Moorhouse for an easy catch.

The Spirit nearly converted in the 20th when Miura found Paige Metayer on the right, and the midfielder sent a dangerous ball into the Pride box. The ball was over Cantore’s head and almost fell to Croix Bethune but went beyond her and out for a goal kick.

The Spirit took the lead in the 35th minute through a set piece. Abello intercepted the ball from Bethune, but Pickett unnecessarily fouled the midfielder behind the play, giving the hosts a free kick. Wiesner sent the ball into the box, looking for Metayer at the near post. Abello got to it first, but headed the ball into her own net to give the Spirit the 1-0 lead.

“As a defender, an own goal is the biggest nightmare,” Abello said. “But as professional athletes, we have to have a short memory. So I was like, forget it.”

The Pride responded quickly from the same player. In the 37th minute, Deborah Abiodun fouled Lemos after the midfielder received a short throw-in. The ensuing set piece was headed out to the top of the box, where Abello controlled and sent an excellent shot past Aubrey Kingsbury to even the game at 1-1.

“My role in the set piece was just to be that kind of second layer for second balls,” Abello said. “And the ball popped out, and I knew I had enough time to get one quick touch on it before a shot off. And I did, and it went in. But I honestly kind of blacked out, because I was just like, I’m gonna score. But it bounced out really well to me, and I was glad I hit it well.”

“There’s no better way to have an effect on the game. You know, by scoring a goal like she did,” Hines added. “It was a hell of a goal, and credit to her, because it’s very tough when she scores an own goal not to go internal. But she made a difference by scoring the equalizing goal. We expect that from all our players. You have to move on quickly. There’s the amount of time in the game to do that sort of resilience, and she showed it in the best way.”

Unfortunately, it didn’t take long for the hosts to retake the lead. In the 42nd minute, Kysha Sylla sent Metayer toward the end line. The midfielder burned past Pickett and reached the ball justt before it crossed the end line. She sent a low cross to the near post, where Cantore beat Rafaelle to the ball and used a backheel to push it inside Moorhouse’s near post, giving the Spirit a 2-1 lead.

The Pride created a pair of opportunities in stoppage time. In the second minute, Sams and Abello combined on a give-and-go to set up Angelina at the top of the box, but her shot was over the target. A minute later, Pickett’s ball into the box was blocked, going straight to Lemos just outside the 18. The midfielder put her attempt on frame, but Kingsbury got down to make the stop.

That was the final attempt for either team as the Pride went into the half down a goal.

While the Spirit had more first-half possession (53%-47%) and better passing accuracy (80%-79%) in the first 45 minutes, the Pride created more chances. However, the hosts were more efficient. The Pride had more shots (6-2), but both teams put two on target. The teams had the same number of corner kicks (2-2).

Hines made two halftime changes, both on the left side of the field, replacing Abello and Pickett with Marta and Cori Dyke.

“She wants to get forward, she wants to score goals, make an immediate impact off the bench,” Hines said about Marta. “We have to manage her and her loads, because she played high minutes on Wednesday night against Pachuca. We felt we needed a bit of a spark, and she certainly brought that.”

It didn’t take the Pride captain long to make an impact, getting her team back into the game in under a minute. The Brazilian dribbled into the box from the right and cut to lose Wiesner before crossing it through the area. Her shot deflecte off Miura and went past Kingsbury to tie things up at 2-2.

The Pride continued to attack, looking to take their first lead in the 51st minute when an Ovalle cross was blocked out of play by Wiesner. The ensuing set piece found Watt at the top of the six-yard box, but her header was over the crossbar.

The Spirit had a chance in the 53rd minute when Cantore’s cross into the box found Gift Monday, who laid it off for Stainbrook. The midfielder’s first shot was off Ratcliffe, who was on the ground. The ball bounced right back to her and she shot again, but Angelina got in the way of her follow-up attempt.

Free kicks had been dangerous in this game and the Spirit got another one in the 56th minute after Watt gave up possession in her own third of the field. Stainbrook found Abiodun, who won the ball and was fouled by Lemos. Wiesner sent the free kick towards goal with Metayer making a run, but it was right at Moorhouse.

Ovalle sent a cross to the back post for Watt’s run in the 62nd minute for Watt, but the ball was a bit long and Watt couldn’t get around it, sending it wide.

Hines made his third change in the 69th minute, replacing Lemos with Simone Charley.

Right after the substitution, the Pride took their first lead of the day. Oihane sent Watt down the right and into the box between Sylla and Wiesner. Sylla made contact with Watt from behind and the forward went down. Referee Jeremy Scheer pointed to the spot, awarding the Pride a penalty.

Marta stepped to the spot when the video review was complete. The Pride captain stuttered as she approached the ball, forcing Kingsbury to commit to her right, and passed it into the corner to give the Pride the 3-2 lead.

“Showing that sort of composure in front of goal with the penalty. You know, she’s been in those moments many of times,” Hines said. “She’s obviously faced Aubrey many of times in that position as well, and she calmly slots it away. So, really pleased with her. Really happy that we’ve got her back firing in such a pivotal moment in the season.”

“I think the only thing I can say is, don’t forget who she is,” Abello added. “I think we have those moments still constantly of like, that is the GOAT. And she is still very much that. And people love to talk about her age and stuff, but she is still Marta. She can create that magic, and we know that. And we hope the world keeps knowing that. And that was just what she does, and she continues to do it. So, I’m just glad she’s on my team.”

The Pride have struggled offensively this year, so it was a breath of fresh air to see them score three goals. It’s the first time they’ve reached that number since May 23 when they defeated the Utah Royals 3-1 thanks to a Barbra Banda hat trick.

“It’s something that’s been in the works for a long time now, even though the results haven’t been shown with our performances,” Hines said. “We went on that run of not winning in nine games. We’ve sort of turned that around with a couple of wins and draws. But we knew the process, we trusted the process, and now it’s starting to show in such an important time of the season.”

Hines made a defensive change in the 76th minute, lookeing to see out the game. Zara Chavoshi came on as a fifth defender, replacing Watt.

In the 77th minute, Dyke grabbed Gabrielle Carle, pulling back the attacker just before they entered the box. Leicy Santos took the set piece, sending her attempt off target.

The Pride won a free kick on the left in the 80th minute when Charley tapped the ball around Esme Morgan and was fouled by the defender. Angelina and Marta stood over the ball with Angelina taking the set piece. The midfielder’s ball into the box was easily caught by Kingsbury.

Hines made his final change in the 88th minute, replacing Oihane with Julie Doyle.

Monday dribbled into the box from the right in the 88th minute. Rafaelle blocked her shot. Ratcliffe tried to follow up, but the ball took a friendly bounce for Moorhouse, allowing her to collect.

Two minutes later, the Spirit nearly connected for an equalizer in what would’ve been an excellent goal. Miura got down the left before playing it back for Santos. The attacker sent a cross into the box that nearly found Cantore’s head, but the ball was just beyond her reach.

The fourth official showed eight minutes of stoppage time, and the hosts came close to converting in the second. Cantore received the ball on the right and sent it towards the near post, where Monday and Dyke were converging. Dyke got to the ball first, sending it out of play. The Pride cleared the ensuing set piece to maintain their lead.

A Rafaelle injury added more time, and the Spirit tried to take advantage. In the 10th minute, Monday shielded two defenders near the corner flag, earning a free kick when Chavoshi unwisely fouled her from behind. Moorhouse punched away the ensuing set piece into the box. It fell to Carle just outside the 18. The second-half substitute shot, but she couldn’t get much on it and sent the ball well wide of the target.

That was the final chance of the game as the Pride came away with a crucial — and quite surprising — three points away from home.

Washington ended the game with the edge in possession (59%-41%), shots (13-11), crosses (25-17), and passing accuracy (82%-76%). However, both teams put three shots on target and the Pride had more corner kicks (5-4).

“Great game, great result,” Hines said. “We were disappointed with the goals that we conceded, but we showed a lot of resilience to come back and win the game. Credit to all the players and staff. It’s been a journey to get here. We now hold our own destiny, trying to reach that top four spot. I think anytime we play Washington, it’s always an emotional game. It’s very competitive. Both teams are going after it. So, for the neutrals, it was a good game today.”

“It’s a huge win for the club, top win nearing playoffs,” Abello added. “This was a huge test for us going into the playoffs, and obviously we have a lot to play for still. We’re trying to clinch that home spot for the first playoff game. So this was important and a huge test against a top team and a team who knows we might see again in the playoffs. So really happy with the result.”

The back-to-back league wins couldn’t come at a better time for the Pride. After going nine games winless following the summer break, the Pride take a four-game unbeaten run into the final game of the season.

The three points ensure the Pride will finish the penultimate weekend of the regular season in third place, regardless of what other teams do this weekend. But if the Thorns, San Diego Wave, or NJ/NY Gotham FC win this weekend, it will come down to the final day to see if the Pride host a playoff game.

That final game is scheduled for Nov. 2, when the Pride welcome the fourth-place Seattle Reign to Inter&Co Stadium.

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Orlando Pride vs. Racing Louisville: Preview, How to Watch, TV Info, Live Stream, Lineups, Match Thread, and More

The Pride return to action after an extended break as they face Racing Louisville in Kentucky.

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1 hour ago

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April 24, 2026

By

Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

Welcome to your preview and match thread as the Orlando Pride (2-1-2, 8 points) travel to Kentucky where they’ll play Racing Louisville FC (0-3-1, 1 point) in a late afternoon affair (5:30 p.m., Victory+). It’s the first of two meetings between the teams this season, with the return game in Orlando scheduled for Aug. 7.

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

History

This is the fifth season of existence for Racing Louisville, and the Pride have played the Kentucky-based side 13 times in that span, with Orlando going 3-4-4 in NWSL games and 3-4-6 in all competitions (0-0-1 in both the NWSL Challenge Cup, and the NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup). The Pride are winless in Louisville all-time in league matches (0-4-1) and in all competitions (0-4-2).

The most recent meeting between the two teams occurred on Aug. 9, 2025, in Orlando. Marisa DiGrande scored against her old team just before halftime to give Louisville the halftime lead. It looked like the visitors would claim all three points until an Ary Borges own goal in second-half stoppage time resulted in a 1-1 draw. On June 20 last year in Louisville, Arin Wright gave the hosts the lead at the half-hour mark and former Pride midfielder Taylor Flint doubled the advantage in the second half as the Pride fell 2-0 to end the first half of the season.

The first game in 2024 between the two took place on March 16 in Louisville. The season opener for both teams looked like it would be a long day for Orlando, as Elexa Bahr and Uchenna Kanu gave the hosts a 2-0 lead inside 20 minutes. The Pride got on the board in the 24th minute with an own goal by Elli Pikkujämsä, but the task was made more difficult when Kylie Strom received her second yellow card in the second half. However, Amanda Allen and Summer Yates combined on a late goal by Yates, as the Pride pulled out an unlikely 2-2 draw.

On May 5, 2024, in Orlando, an Emily Sams cross in the 17th minute found Barbra Banda’s head at the back post, and she nodded home the game’s only goal in a 1-0 Pride win. On Aug. 1, 2024, in the Summer Cup, Evelina Duljan scored her lone Pride goal to give the Pride the lead. However, Reilyn Turner equalized, sending the game into penalties. The Pride took the early shootout lead when Jaelin Howell missed, but saves by Jordyn Bloomer on Morgan Gautrat and Ally Watt saw Louisville take the extra point.

The first game of 2023 was held on May 6 at Exploria Stadium. Messiah Bright gave the Pride an early lead, and the hosts held on for 69 minutes for the 1-0 win. It was the first home win of 2023 for the Pride and their second win of the season. The second meeting took place on Oct. 6, 2023, in Louisville. The Pride got off to a great start with goals by Marta from the spot early and an excellent individual effort by Kerry Abello to make it 2-0. However, Bright took Savannah DeMelo down in the box just before halftime and Nadia Nadim converted the penalty. A five-minute swing with a goal by Kristen Davis and an own goal by Pride goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse resulted in the Pride losing the critical game 3-2.

The first meeting between the two teams in 2022 took place Sept. 16 in Louisville. Racing struck first when Nadim was left open in front of goal for a tap-in. The hosts doubled their lead on a great strike by DeMelo from outside the box, and the Pride fell 2-0.

The first meeting of 2022 was in a unique setting, taking place at Daytona International Speedway on July 3. The game was a part of the 2022 Daytona SoccerFest and was the first time a professional soccer game was played at a racetrack. Emina Ekic gave Louisville a halftime lead and DeMelo doubled the lead shortly after the break. However, the Pride fought back with goals by Strom and Darian Jenkins, pulling out a 2-2 draw. The game launched a seven-game unbeaten run that pulled the Pride back into the playoff race.

The first year the two teams met was in 2021 during the NWSL Challenge Cup in Louisville. CeCe Kizer gave the hosts the lead early, but Taylor Kornieck equalized just before halftime. It looked like the Pride would win when Abi Kim scored late, but Brooke Hendrix equalized in second-half injury time and the teams drew 2-2.

The teams played three times in the 2021 regular season, with the first meeting coming on July 9 in Orlando. Ebony Salmon gave Louisville the lead, but Sydney Leroux scored to force a 1-1 draw with a goal in second-half injury time. The second meeting was held Sept. 11 in Orlando. The Pride took a 2-0 lead into the break with goals by Leroux and Marta. Kizer got one back, but Alex Morgan’s conversion sealed three points for the Pride.

The final meeting of 2021 came in the penultimate game of the year for both teams. The Pride needed a win to keep their playoff hopes alive and they got off to a good start when Jodie Taylor scored in the third minute. However, the game slipped away as Salmon and Katie McClure scored on either side of halftime and Yuki Nagasato made the final 3-1.

Overview

The Pride got the season off to a tough start, claiming just one point from a two-game, season-opening homestand. However, they turned things around away from home, defeating Chicago Stars FC 3-0 and playing to a scoreless draw against NJ/NY Gotham FC. They kept that momentum going by defeating Angel City FC 2-1 at Inter&Co Stadium on April 3, just before the international break, when the league halted for two weeks.

While some teams welcomed the two weeks to regroup, the Pride likely aren’t one of them. The team was playing much better than it had in the first two games and the new players were getting acclimated to their new club.

However, the break comes after a flurry of games. Since the start of the season, the Pride haven’t gone more than five days between games. The rest was surely welcomed by the players before they get back into the run-up to the FIFA World Cup break.

The back line has been a strength for the Pride, which has only conceded multiple goals in the season opener. Hailie Mace and Rafaelle have been the primary center backs and have gotten better since the first homestand. When Hannah Anderson was inserted while Rafaelle was injured, she performed well, netting her first goal for the Pride and helping the team to a clean sheet.

After looking unfamiliar with each other in the season opener, Banda and Jacquie Ovalle connected for the lone Pride goal in the team’s 1-1 draw against Denver Summit FC. They followed that up with a game in which both scored and Ovalle added an assist on Anderson’s goal. Unfortunately, Ovalle is out for this game with a thigh injury. As a result, the Pride will be looking elsewhere to provide service for Banda.

The most recent scoring threat has been an unlikely source. After the team played to a scoreless draw in New Jersey, Haley McCutcheon scored twice against Angel City, including the winning goal in the eighth minute of second-half stoppage time.

Tonight, the Pride take on a team that’s struggled to open the season. Louisville has claimed just one point in its first four games, a 2-2 draw at home against the Washington Spirit. Racing is coming off a 4-3 defeat to the Houston Dash in Texas.

Louisville is led from the back by veteran goalkeeper Bloomer, who’s been with the club since 2022. The back line features two former Pride players in Flint and Courtney Petersen. While Petersen has been primarily a left back throughout her professional career, it’s a new role for Flint, who was previously a midfielder. The team’s leading scorers are striker Sarah Weber and Flint, each with two goals. Meanwhile, Emma Sears, Kayla Fischer, and Macy Blackburn each have scored one.

Sears has been the leading provider with two assists, while Weber and Fischer each have one.

“It’s always a tough environment to go play (in). Bev (Yanez) has done a great job in the last couple of years, really installing an identity,” Pride Head Coach Seb Hines said about today’s opponent. “They’re physical, they’re fast, they’re direct, and we’ve got to face those challenges whilst also trying to play our own game. We want to build on the first five games. We’ve had a nice break and just start to kick on now.”

The Pride will take the field today without Kerry Abello (hip), Zara Chavoshi (lower leg), Cosette Morche (ankle), Ovalle (thigh), Kylie Nadaner (maternity leave), and Viviana Villacorta (knee). Louisville will be without DeMelo (illness), DiGrande (maternity leave), and Olivia Sekany (knee). Erynn Floyd (hand) and Mirann Gacioch (quad) are listed as questionable.

Projected Lineups

Orlando Pride (4-2-3-1)

Goalkeeper: Anna Moorhouse.

Defenders: Cori Dyke, Rafaelle, Hailie Mace, Oihane.

Defensive Midfielders: Ally Lemos, Angelina.

Midfielders: Solai Washington, Haley McCutcheon, Marta.

Forward: Barbra Banda.

Racing Louisville FC (4-2-3-1)

Goalkeeper: Jordyn Bloomer.

Defenders: Courtney Petersen, Taylor Flint, Ellie Jean, Lauren Milliet.

Defensive Midfielders: Macey Hodge, Katie O’Kane.

Midfielders: Ella Hase, Kayla Fischer, Emma Sears.

Forward: Sarah Weber.

Referees

REF: Alyssa Pennington.
AR1: Jacob Little.
AR2: Jackson Krauser.
4TH: Thomas Snyder.
VAR: Anya Voigt.
AVAR: Karsten Gillwald.

How to Watch

Match Time: 5:30 p.m.

Venue: Lynn Family Stadium — Louisville, KY.

TV: None.

Streaming: Victory+.

Social Media: For live updates and rapid reaction, follow @themaneland.bsky.social on Bluesky and the Orlando Pride’s official Twitter (@ORLPride) or Bluesky (@orlpride.com) feed.

Enjoy the game. Go Pride!

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Orlando Pride vs Angel City FC: Final Score 2-1 as McCutcheon’s Brace Lifts Pride to Win

Three goals in the last 15 minutes thrilled the crowd in Orlando as the Pride picked up their first home win of the season and ended Angel City’s perfect start.

Published

3 weeks ago

on

April 3, 2026

By

Dan MacDonald, The Mane Land

The Orlando Pride shut down March NWSL Player of the Month Svendis Jonsdottir and got a brace from Haley McCutcheon in a 2-1 win over Angel City in front of 8,040 fans at Inter&Co Stadium tonight. Orlando (2-1-2, 8 points) picked up its first home win of the season, extended its unbeaten run to four games (2-0-2), and snapped the perfect start to the season for Angel City (3-1-0, 9 points)

“If we have a good defensive structure, that makes us have more possibilities of winning games, of having more chances in the front,” midfielder Angelina said after the match. “We’re going to be confident on the back and gaining the ball high up the field. The last few games, we’ve done a good job of that — lowering the chances of the opponent to just hit the target.”

The Pride came out the aggressors in the first half but it wasn’t enough to put anything on the scoreboard. The second half was heading toward a scoreless draw until the last six minutes of normal time, when the teams engaged in a mad scramble to see who could put the decisive winning goal in after trading opening goals in an eight-minute span.

Pride Head Coach Seb Hines rolled out the same lineup as Sunday in the scoreless draw against NJ/NY Gotham FC. This was the first time this season the Pride were able to put together a grouping that had played together in a match in 2026.

Anna Moorhouse started in goal behind a back line of Cori Dyke, Hailie Mace, Rafaelle, and Oihane. Ally Lemos and Angelina lined up in the defensive midfield behind an attacking midfield line of Jacquie Ovalle, Haley McCutcheon, and Solai Washington. Barbra Banda started up top looking to add to her total of three goals.

“Chemistry is always helpful” McCutcheon said. “It helps to be able to get that communication and trust that people are going to do their jobs.”

Both teams traded empty possessions for the first 10 minutes of the game until Angelina turned Banda loose on a long ball for the first shot of the game. The Zambian got behind the back line but did not make good contact on her shot, sending it at Angel City goalkeeper Angelina Anderson. McCutcheon got on the end of an Ovalle cross but headed it over the bar one minute later. There was a scramble off a free kick that Lemos fired off a defender and, on the rebound, Banda put it well wide in the 13th minute.

Angel City had its first significant offensive chance when Rafaelle fouled Jonsdottir in the 20th minute, leading to a free kick from 30 yards out. However, Kennedy Fuller sent it into the defense.

Savy King was booked holding back Ovalle in the 21st minute, giving the Pride a 30-yard free kick, but Angelina sent it straight into the wall. It was into the head of Maiara Niehues, who needed a couple of minutes after to recover.

Shortly after that, Dyke was fooled on a dummy by Gisele Thompson that turned Fuller loose into the box. However, Rafaelle blocked Fuller’s attempt on goal. Banda won a corner kick in the 30th and Ovalle sent the ball across the goal mouth to Rafaelle, who put the header on goal, but Anderson made a big save, deflecting it out for another corner. Angelina took the next corner, which Rafaelle put into the net but the Pride center back was called for a push on the play, nullifying the goal.

The Pride left Jonsdottir alone at the top of the 18 in the 35th minute, but she shot the ball well high. In the 41st, McCutcheon fouled Thompson on the right side, leaving a 25-yard free kick, which Fuller sent long and it turned into nothing.

Banda worked herself free outside the left corner of the box in the 45th minute, but she wasn’t able to get anything on the attempt to Anderson. The two teams closed out the half without any significant action and headed into the locker room scoreless.

Even though Angel City dominated possession in the first half (66%-34%), the Pride were certainly the more dangerous team. The Pride attempted more shots (9-3), with seven of those from inside the box but couldn’t score on any. Banda continued to prove to be her dangerous self with four shots (two of them forcing a save) and had support from her teammates, yet nothing ended up on the scoreboard. On the other side of the matchup of league-leading forwards, Orlando limited Jonsdottir’s touches in dangerous areas.

After a long kickoff out of bounds by Angel City to open the half, McCutcheon put Banda through on goal, but she was on the right from a difficult angle, and her shot was straight at Anderson. Oihane won a corner a minute later, but Ovalle sent it too long and over the goal line. In the 49th minute, Ovalle crossed the ball to McCutcheon, but she couldn’t put it on frame, sending it well wide.

Lemos sent a dangerous pass forward in the 52nd minute to Banda, who put it across the goal mouth and McCutcheon put it into the goal, but the flag came up immediately as the ball went in, as the Pride midfielder was a step offside. Washington was held by Thompson on the left side of the box at the 55-minute mark, leading to an Orlando free kick. Angelina sent a hard cross to Banda in the box on the set piece, and it deflected out to Dyke, who saw her shot easily blocked, igniting the Angel City counter.

Jonsdottir picked up the loose ball and sprinted down the field, muscling her way past Ovalle and then nutmegging Mace before turning a shot loose that went wide of the right post. It was a disastrous play for the Pride, as Ovalle remained down for a while after grabbing her hamstring. She was carried off the field by trainers and replaced by Summer Yates.

In the 60th minute, Oihane and Jonsdottir banged heads, leading to a long free kick by Angel City, which turned into a harmless header over the end line.

Angelina received a yellow card in the 62nd minute 40 yards, out but Kennedy Fuller wasn’t able to connect with anyone on the set piece. Banda picked up a booking of her own in the 65th trying to swim past Sarah Gorden.

Both teams brought on a sub in the 66th minute, with Marta taking Washington’s place and Taylor Suarez subbing in for Nealy Martin.

Shortly after the restart, Oihane worked her way into the box and King knocked the ball out for a corner in the 70th minute. Marta had her first significant contribution with the corner delivery, which sent the ball pinging around, leading to an open shot at the penalty spot by Angelina, who was wide open but put it over the bar, wasting a golden opportunity to open the scoring.

Jonsdottir floated a ball from deep left that almost caught Moorhouse off her line, but she scrambled back and just got a hand to it. It came off yet another deep throw-in, where Angel City interestingly has Jonsdottir take, even though she’s clearly the team’s most dangerous attacker.

Oihane went down injured in the 75th minute, leading to an eventual substitution with Hannah Anderson replacing her. It was deemed a concussion substitution due to the previous contact, sparing Orlando a sub.

At this stage of the game, Orlando was getting sloppy with its passing and struggling to keep possession, and all the attacking pressure started to come from Angel City. However, it was the Pride that broke the scoreless deadlock.

Banda worked in from the left side and put the ball across the goal mouth where it bounced around and ended up in front of McCutcheon, who put one in that counted. It was a team effort as Lemos, Rafaelle, Marta, and Hannah Anderson all moved the ball around and kept Angel City from escaping with it. McCutcheon’s 84th-minute strike was reviewed for a possible offside, but the replay was inconclusive and the goal stood.

“We brought in Marta, put her at the 9, and shifted Barbra wide,” Hines said about his late-game tactics, which led to the goal. “Get her directness dribbling at people, receiving the ball facing forward, taking players on. A great cross into a dangerous area with her left foot. We discussed as a staff that it’s a great idea to put her more on that left side to receive it and get away from players like Gorden and Emily (Sams).”

Dyke picked up a booking in the 89th minute for a tough challenge that the referee let play on and came back to give her the caution. Angel City then subbed Evelyn Shores on for King and Prisca Chilufya for Fuller.

Rafaelle was given a yellow card for a handball near the left sideline in the first minute of added time, leading to a free kick from next to the sideline. Shores put the kick in front of the goal, which Tiernan passed out to the top of the box. Thompson then blasted the ball off the underside of the crossbar and just over the goal line to even the score up. It was Angel City’s only shot on target, tying the game in the second minute of stoppage time.

Angel City stayed on the front foot after the goal, looking for a late winner. But again, it was Orlando that went the other way and found the back of the net.

The Pride won a corner on a drive into the box. Marta put the corner on the far post, where Hannah Anderson kept it alive, knocking it back in front. The ball pinged off a couple of bodies before falling to McCutcheon again, who poked it home in the eighth minute of stoppage time.

There were 10 minutes of stoppage time originally added, but the game went 14 minutes beyond the 90th. However, the Pride were able to see out one final scramble in front of goal, in which Moorhouse came off her line but was beaten to the ball by former Pride striker Chilufya. Angel City could not work through the traffic in front, and Orlando held on for the win.

At full time, Angel City held the advantage in possession (63%-37%) and passing accuracy (83%-77%), but the Pride had more shots (17-15), shots on target (6-1), and corner kicks (5-3).

It was a big win for Orlando, which finally sent the supporters at Inter&Co Stadium home happy. The Pride continue to play standout defense, limiting Angel City to one shot on target and only a few threatening looks at goal for a team that entered with a top-tier attack.

The Pride are off for three weeks for the international break before traveling to Kentucky to take on Racing Louisville on April 24. Orlando has never won at Louisville.

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Orlando Pride

Orlando Pride vs. Angel City FC: Preview, How to Watch, TV Info, Live Stream, Lineups, Match Thread, and More

The Pride return home looking to keep up their positive momentum after a strong road trip.

Published

3 weeks ago

on

April 3, 2026

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

Welcome to your preview and match thread as the Orlando Pride (1-1-2, 5 points) welcome league-leading Angel City FC (3-0-0, 9 points). This is the first of two meetings between these two teams this year, with the return game in California scheduled for July 3.

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

History

Angel City was one of the NWSL’s two expansion teams entering the league in 2022. As a result, the Pride have only played tonight’s opponents eight times. The Pride are 4-2-2 in those games, all in NWSL regular-season play. While the Pride have a 3-1-0 record against Angel City in Los Angeles, they’re only 1-1-2 at home.

The most recent matchup between these two teams took place on Aug. 21, 2025 in Los Angeles. The hosts dominated possession and the number of chances as the game appeared to be heading to a scoreless draw. But Alyssa Thompson converted in the 86th minute as Angel City took all three points.

The first game last year between the two teams occurred on April 25 in Orlando. The visitors got off to a great start with first-half goals by Riley Tiernan and Katie Zelem. But the Pride took over in the second half. Marta got one back midway through the second period, and Barbra Banda equalized four minutes later. An own goal by M.A. Vignola in the third minute of stoppage time gave the Pride a 3-2 win.

The first of two meetings in 2024 took place on March 22 in Orlando. Former Pride attacker Claire Emslie gave the visitors the lead from the penalty spot, and it looked as though the Pride would drop their first game of the season. But Marta volleyed home an equalizer from an Angelina corner kick late, pulling out a 1-1 draw. On June 30, 2024 in Los Angeles, Adriana gave the Pride the lead early and scored a second goal six minutes later. Banda netted a goal of her own six minutes into stoppage time, leading the Pride to a dominating 3-0 win.

The first meeting of the 2023 season took place April 2 in Orlando. Emily Sams took down Thompson in the first half, giving the visitors a penalty. Emslie stepped up and converted to give her team a 1-0 lead. Messiah Bright responded just after halftime to make it 1-1, and the game appeared to be heading for a draw. But Katie Johnson scored the winner in the 10th minute of second-half injury time. On Oct. 2, 2023 in Los Angeles, an Adriana volley beat Angel City goalkeeper Angelina Anderson to her near post for the only goal as the Pride won a crucial late-season game.

The first-ever game between the teams took place on May 8, 2022 in Los Angeles. In the third minute, Gunny Jonsdottir’s cross was tipped by Angel City goalkeeper DiDi Haracic, but it went right to Sydney Leroux. The Pride striker fired right at Morgan Reid standing in front of goal. The ball bounced off the defender and went in to give the Pride an early lead. The hosts controlled the final hour, but the Pride held on for 87 minutes to claim their first win of the season.

The teams met again on Aug. 7 in Orlando. Former Pride defender Ali Riley opened the scoring with a wonderful strike from the left side. The Pride responded in the second half through Julie Doyle, three minutes after she entered the game, to even it at 1-1. The visitors took another lead when Cari Roccaro beat Viviana Villacorta to a corner kick, putting it past Erin McLeod. The Pride equalized for a second time in the 90th minute when Doyle and Paige Nielsen raced for a Thais Reiss cross, with the defender reaching it first. But Nielsen’s attempted clearance went into her own net, allowing the Pride to claim a 2-2 draw and extend their unbeaten run to five games.

Overview

The Pride return home tonight after a two-game road trip in which they claimed four points. They had a dominant performance in Chicago on March 25, defeating the Stars 3-0. Banda, Jacquie Ovalle, and Hannah Anderson scored in the first half and the Pride held onto that lead in the second 45 minutes to claim their first win of the season.

It was a quick turnaround as they played defending champion NJ/NY Gotham FC Sunday night in New Jersey. The hosts dominated possession in the game, but the Pride were able to keep the opposition from creating too many opportunities, pulling out a scoreless draw.

Sunday night’s draw saw Banda’s three-game goal streak come to an end. However, after conceding three goals in the first two games, the Pride recorded their second consecutive clean sheet, something Head Coach Seb Hines is very happy with.

Another positive was that Rafaelle played all 90 minutes. The Brazilian has had constant injury issues since joining the Pride in 2023, which seemed to return when she was listed as questionable for the game in Chicago. The center back came on in the second half of that game and started against Gotham, providing a solid performance.

While the Pride are pleased with their performances away from home, they need to play better at home. The team has now played four games with new players like Hailie Mace and Hannah Anderson, so they’ll be expecting better results than the first two games, although they dominated those matches and created lots of scoring chances.

That will be difficult tonight as the Pride welcome the league-leading Angel City. The California-based team had an eventful off-season, losing Thompson to Chelsea FC and Riley and Christen Press to retirement. Meanwhile, they added Ary Borges and former Pride center back Emily Sams.

Angel CIty has been terrific offensively this season, scoring multiple goals in all three games. However, tonight’s visitors have only played Chicago, Bay FC, and the Houston Dash, three of the worst teams in the league. Additionally, two of those three games were at home and the other was in California.

Tonight will be a much harder challenge. The Pride are widely expected to be a team challenging for at least a top four spot. They’re a stronger team offensively and defensively than the teams Angel City have played this year.

Angel City is led in the attack by Sveindis Jonsdottir, who has three goals in her first three games of the season. She’s the only player on the team with multiple goals. Tiernan, Gisele Thompson, Evelyn Shores, Maiara Niehues, Kennedy Fuller, and Ary Borges each have scored one goal. Jonsdottir and Fuller lead the team in assists with two each.

Defensively, Angel City has a solid center back pairing of Sams and Savy King, who returns after missing most of last season after suffering a cardiac issue on the field. They’ll line up in front of Anderson, who returns as the starting goalkeeper.

“I think with Angel City, they’re a team that’s got a lot of good momentum right now,” Hines said ahead of the match. “Obviously, sitting top of the table. Three wins after three games. They’ll come with the expectation that they’ll go four for four, and we want to stop that of course. We want to get off to a good start as well, being back at home in front of our own fans. We’ve had a good road trip as well, four points in two games. So, to finish this part of the season with a win at home is where our minds are at right now.”

The Pride are still without Kerry Abello (hip), Zara Chavoshi (lower leg), Cosette Morche (ankle), Kylie Nadaner (maternity leave), and Viviana Villacorta (knee). Angel City will be without Karsyn Cherry (thigh), Emslie (maternity leave), Jun Endo (knee), Leroux (excused absence), Rajanah Reed (ankle), and Hina Sugita (knee).

Official Lineups

Orlando Pride (4-2-3-1)

Goalkeeper: Anna Moorhouse.

Defenders: Cori Dyke, Rafaelle, Hailie Mace, Oihane.

Defensive Midfielders: Ally Lemos, Angelina.

Midfielders: Jacquie Ovalle, Haley McCutcheon, Solai Washington.

Forward: Barbra Banda.

Bench: Cara Martin, Hannah Anderson, Reagan Raabe, Luana, Summer Yates, Seven Castain, Marta, Julie Doyle, Simone Jackson.

Angel City FC (4-2-3-1)

Goalkeeper: Angelina Anderson.

Defenders: Savy King, Sarah Gorden, Emily Sams, Gisele Thompson.

Defensive Midfielders: Ary Borges, Nealy Martin.

Midfielders: Riley Tiernan, Maiara Niehues, Kennedy Fuller.

Forward: Sveindis Jonsdottir.

Bench: Hannah Seabert, Faith Nguyen, Sophia Mattice, Evelyn Shores, Carina Lageyre, Taylor Suarez, Casey Phair, Prisca Chilufya.

Referees

REF: Jeremy Scheer.
AR1: Kendall McCardell.
AR2: Race Williams.
4TH: Stefan Perri.
VAR: Elijio Arreguin.
AVAR: Karen Coulson.

How to Watch

Match Time: 8 p.m.

Venue: Inter&Co Stadium — Orlando.

TV: None.

Streaming: Prime Video.

Social Media: For live updates and rapid reaction, follow @themaneland.bsky.social on Bluesky and the Orlando Pride’s official Twitter (@ORLPride) or Bluesky (@orlpride.com) feed.

Enjoy the game. Go Pride!

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