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Orlando Pride vs. NJ/NY Gotham FC: Final Score 1-0 as Pride’s Season Comes to an End

A last-minute goal in second-half stoppage time saw the Pride fall to NJ/NY Gotham FC in the NWSL playoff semifinals.

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1 month ago

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Dan MacDonald, The Mane Land

The Orlando Pride saw their 2025 campaign come to a crushing end in the NWSL playoff semifinals, falling 1-0 to NJ/NY Gotham FC at Inter&Co Stadium. Jaedyn Shaw converted a last-minute free kick for the deciding goal, the difference in a game that seemed destined for extra time with the final whistle just moments away.

Pride Head Coach Seb Hines deployed the same starting XI for the third consecutive game. Anna Moorhouse was in goal behind a back line of Kerry Abello, Rafaelle, Emily Sams, and Cori Dyke. Haley McCutcheon and Angelina were in the defensive midfield behind Jacquie Ovalle, Ally Lemos, and Julie Doyle with Marta up top, though it appeared to play more like a 4-4-2 most of the game.

“We kept the same team, but we moved personnel a little bit,” Hines said about his lineup. “We obviously played Marta as a nine, Julie as an 11, Jackie as a seven. We knew going into this game, Gotham are a very aggressive team. They want to win the ball in the opponent’s half. You know, players like Carter and Sonnett are very front-footed, so using Marta as an extra midfielder and trying to exploit that space that they left in behind was our game plan going into it.”

Chances were few and far between in this one with neither team seeming to want to move on to the NWSL Championship. Only three shots were on target in the entire match and two of those came in the final minute of second-half stoppage time. In the end, a dangerous set piece and a bit of luck were enough to send the eight-seeded Gotham FC to the final where they’ll face the Washington Spirit.

Gotham took the first shot of the game in the second minute when Rose Lavelle received the ball at the top of the Pride box. The defenders did well to stay in front, making it difficult for the attacker to find any space. As a result, Lemos easily blocked her shot.

The Pride created their first chance of the game in the fifth minute when McCutcheon found Marta entering the Gotham box. After spinning to create space from her defender, the captain sent a low pass to the near post where Ovalle was making a run. Gotham goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger blocked the shot wide as Ovalle went down after a hard challenge. When the midfielder got up, the Pride took a corner kick that didn’t cause any trouble for the opposition. It was a sign of things to come, as the Pride’s service on set pieces often served as catching practice for Berger.

Ovalle received a pass in the box again in the 10th minute. Once again, the attacker’s first touch was a shot at goal. However, Midge Purce got in front of this attempt, blocking it away and allowing the visitors to clear.

Doyle found McCutcheon making an overlapping run on the left in the 24th minute. The midfielder sent a cross toward the penalty spot that was knocked over the end line by Jaelin Howell. Lemos sent the ensuing corner kick cross too close to Berger, who punched it beyond the attackers to the far side. Marta took possession, creating enough space for a shot from outside the box. The attempt curled over Berger’s outstretched arms and just over the crossbar.

The Pride came within inches from taking the lead in the 33rd minute when Marta found Doyle on the right. The midfielder immediately sent a low cross to the back post, where Jess Carter lost Ovalle. It was almost a tap-in for the Mexican international, but she couldn’t get her feet set correctly as it deflected off a defender. Ovalle could only get a slight touch on it, sending it out of play in front of a wide-open net.

Gotham created one of its rare first-half chances in the 45th minute when Marta was put under pressure in her own box and lost the ball. Abello seemed to have time to keep the ball in play and avoid a set piece, but she didn’t pursue it and the ball slowly rolled over the end line for a corner kick. The ensuing set piece by Shaw found Emily Sonnett’s head, but she sent the free header well wide of the target.

In the second minute of stoppage time, Marta sent the ball into the box for Ovalle’s run. Carter got a piece of it, but the ball fell into the Mexican’s path. Berger did well to come off her line quickley to collect it before Ovalle could reach the ball.

That was the final dangerous attack for either team as the game went into the break scoreless.

After 45 minutes, Gotham had the advantage in possession (55%-45%), corner kicks (3-2), crosses (9-8), and passing accuracy (80%-77%). The Pride created more shots (5-3) and put more on target (1-0).

“I think in the first half we created probably the best chance of the game,” Hines said. “Some really good combination play, getting out wide, and then, unfortunately, just missing the ball. But I thought we created the better chances throughout the game, and it comes down to that last bit of execution. And, you know, some good defending and goalkeeping as well.”

Hines made one halftime change, replacing Dyke with Oihane in a like-for-like change at right back.

Less than five minutes into the second half, an injury forced another substitution. Doyle collided with Shaw on the right sideline, coming up limping. The next time the ball went out of play, the attacker wetn down and required treatment from the Pride medical staff. In the 54th minute, she was replaced by Simone Charley.

The Pride earned the first shot of the second half in the 60th mintue when a pair of crosses into the box for Charley were cleared. The second one landed at McCutcheon’s foot, but the midfielder’s shot slammed off Purce, allowing Gotham to clear. Charley found Ovalle on the left side of the box minutes later. The attacker cut inside and outside to create space from her defender before sending a shot that sailed over the crossbar.

Hines made his third change in the 75th minute. Carson Pickett came on for Lemos with the Pride looking for a late winner.

Angelina sent a cross into the box in the 79th minute that Carter headed on to the far side of the box. Pickett collected the ball and laid it off for Abello, who took a shot, but sent it straight into Purce, who was right in front of her.

Gotham had a good opportunity to open the scoring in the 83rd minute when Sams committed a foul in the Pride third of the field. Lavelle and Shaw stood over the ball with the latter taking the set piece. Lilly Reale flicked the ball on with Sonnett making a run behind. Rafaelle was on her hip and Moorhouse came out to collect it before Sonnett could tap it in.

A long ball into the Pride box in the 87th minute nearly created an opportunity for the visitors when Oihane was unable to knock it away from Shaw. The attacker kept the ball and looked to be in on goal, but Moorhouse did well to come out and collect it.

In the sixth minute of stoppage time, the Pride failed to clear the ball, creating an opportunity for the visitors. Oihane played it forward for Ovalle, who lost possession to Lavelle before pushing over the midfielder. Referee Alyssa Pennington gave Gotham a free kick near the top of the Pride box.

“We can’t give so easy free kicks like that, especially at the end of the game,” Marta said. “But honestly, my feeling, I’m sorry, I was feeling that the referee was looking to find something like that to mess up. I’m sorry, but that was a mess. That was not a foul. We should lose the game anyways but not in this way.”

Shaw sent the set piece over everyone in the box and just beyond the reach of a charging Purce. Moorhouse played for the Purce redirect, allowing it to bounce inside the far post to give the visitors a 1-0 lead.

There was a brief stoppage as the video assistant referee reviewed the play to see if Purce was offside. While she didn’t touch the ball, Purce impacted the play by forcing Moorhouse to judge whether the ball would be redirected. However, the attacker was deemed onside.

The Pride had one last chance in the dying seconds when Ovalle headed the ball foward and was taken down by a charging Mandy Freeeman, winning a free kick in the final third.

Angelina faked the kick and Marta sent a cross into the box. Oihane got a head on the ball before her defender, sending her shot on target. Berger dove backwards and got a strong hand to the ball, sending it wide with a huge save.

Pennington blew the final whistle immediately after the save, bringing an end to the game. While Gotham moved on to the NWSL Championship in San Jose, CA, the Pride saw the end of another good season that came just short of reaching their goal.

At full time, Gotham had the edge in possession (52.5%-47.5%) and passing accuracy (78.9%-73.8%). The Pride had more shots (10-5), shots on target (2-1), and crosses (25-13). Both teams ended the game attempting four corner kicks.

“The result is, it’s a hard one to take. I don’t think it’s a reflection of the performance. I thought we were brilliant tonight,” Hines said. “I thought we, even towards the end, we were going to be the team that scores the first goal. But it wasn’t meant to be. This is a cruel game. You don’t always get what you deserve, but it’s going to be a motivator for us now. We’ve had so many highs in the last couple of years. Obviously, this is a disappointing result, but it will motivate us to move forward.”

It’s a devastating way to end the season for the Pride, who looked like they would have to spend the postseaosn on the road before things fell their way, allowing them to host the semifinal. The team was getting ready to play an extra 30 minutes and looking for a way to break through before Shaw’s late goal broke their hearts.

“At the end of the game, I was pretty sure that we were going to play 30 more minutes,” Marta said. “And I was talking to my players to be smart, not doing stupid things. Because they were tired. We were tired, but I thought they were more tired than us. So, for me, it was more comfortable to play 30 more minutes and take a risk and to go and score a goal.”

The Pride entered the season looking to defend their title, but a lack of offensive prowess made it more of a challenge than expected. It got worse when Barbra Banda suffered a season-ending injury and the team went winless for nine games after the summer break. But a late surge saw Orlando host a quarterfinal and semfinal before coming up just short of playing in their second consecutive NWSL Championship.

“It’s bittersweet because we’ve done so much great things this year,” Hines said. “We’ve faced so much adversity. One thing that I’ll speak highly of this team is we’ve got grit. We’ve got some grit about this team, and we have to continue that. That’s part of the culture, that’s part of the togetherness, and that will never end.”

With the season now in the rearview mirror, the team will look to the future. The Pride still have a solid nucleus and must shore up some of the team’s weaknesses to make a run at another title, and that will be the goal when they take the field again in the spring.

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Orlando Pride’s Biggest Off-Season Needs

Here are the most critical needs for the Pride as they look to build on their 2025 campaign.

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2 days ago

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December 15, 2025

By

Dan MacDonald, The Mane Land

The Orlando Pride regressed slightly in 2025, which isn’t a surprise after a historic 2024 campaign. Still, they finished fourth in the NWSL and were only knocked out of the semifinal after a last-minute goal.

The year showed some of the Pride’s strengths and weaknesses, including what the team needs to obtain during the off-season to get back to the mountaintop. The starting lineup is intact, but the team certainly needs some depth, something that hindered Pride in 2025.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the moves the Pride might make before the start of the 2026 season.

Striker Depth

The biggest need for the Pride was apparent during the 2025 season — striker depth. The team has lived offensively off of the presence of Barbra Banda, the team’s star striker. But the Zambian international suffered a hip injury that ended her season early. Head Coach Seb Hines played several players up top looking to replace the production but with little success.

The closest the Pride had to a replacement for Banda was Ally Watt. However, the Colorado native is returning home to play for Denver Summit FC. Aside from Banda, the closest player to a true striker currently on the roster is the young Simone Jackson. The 22-year-old attacker showed promise, but she’s not ready to take a leading role if necessary.

The Pride ended the 2025 season with 33 goals scored — seventh fewest in the league and the second fewest among playoff teams. A slightly better attack would’ve seen the Pride fighting for the NWSL Shield instead of a playoff spot.

This off-season, the Pride need to acquire backup depth that can fill in as a starter if necessary. It will take pressure off Banda, provide the striker with rest, and ensure the team doesn’t struggle to score as much as it did this year if she gets injured.

Backup Number 10

Something else that became obvious this season was the Pride’s lack of a true number 10 other than Marta. The legendary attacker, who has one year left on her contract, will be 40 years old when the 2026 season begins.

Hines has multiple options for the creative midfielder role, none of which is the ideal solution. Ally Lemos was the most commonly chosen option, but the young midfielder is more of a distributor and better in a defensive midfield position. However, with Angelina and Haley McCutcheon already filling those roles, there was no place for her. So she spent most of the season in the attack.

The other option is Summer Yates. The former University of Washington standout slipped to the fourth round of the 2023 NWSL Draft, allowing the Pride to select her. The 25-year-old has shown signs of being the possible eventual replacement for Marta, but she struggled to stay healthy in 2025 and was inconsistent throughout the year as a result.

The Pride signed Mexican star Jacquie Ovalle, but she’s a wide player. Hines might still decide to use Lemos and Yates in the backup No. 10 role, but the Pride really need someone who can create in the attack and support Banda up top.

A True Center Back

Hines has spoken at length over the past two years about wanting players with versatility. Most of the roster can play two, three, or even four positions with varying degrees of success. But that’s not always the best option.

The Pride currently have four true center backs — Emily Sams, Kylie Nadaner, Rafaelle, and Zara Chavoshi. Other players, like Cori Dyke and Kerry Abello, have filled in at times but neither are true center backs.

Four center backs on the roster is typically enough, but the Pride have had trouble. Rafaelle has been injured several times since joining the club, and Nadaner missed the final third of the season with an “excused absence.” It’s unknown when the veteran vice captain will return, and another Rafaelle injury would leave the Pride with two true center backs.

The Pride addressed the situation slightly this off-season by signing free agent Hailie Mace. The right back can also play in the middle if necessary but will likely start at fullback for the Pride. That creates some depth, because Hines started Sams at right back five times during the regular season, leaving the rookie Chavoshi as the lone center back on the bench. Sams was in her natural center back position in nearly all of the other games, replacing Nadaner or Rafaelle.

Another issue is Rafaelle’s age. While the Brazilian signed a new contract at the end of October, keeping her in purple through 2028, her age could result in a decline in the coming years.

Adding another natural, veteran center back would give the Pride some much-needed depth and prepare the team for any unforeseen injuries.

One More Left Back

The Pride’s roster construction has been somewhat questionable, being overloaded in some positions and bare in others. For example, the Pride have three natural right backs — Dyke, Oihane, and Mace — and no natural left backs. Abello has been the starter the last two seasons after joining the club as an attacking player. Carson Pickett was the lone natural left back but is out of contract and appears to be departing the team.

Even if Abello continues to start at left back, it would be wise to have someone comfortable in that position behind her. Nadaner was the former starter in the position before moving central, a position where she’s proven to be superior.

While Abello has been good at the left back position, the question is the same as center back — what if she gets hurt? Right now, the backup would either be right footed or unfamiliar in that role. Acquiring a natural left back would offer support, allowing the Pride to give Abello a rest without losing too much at the position.

The Pride won’t be able to address all of these issues this off-season. The current NWSL roster rules allow teams to have a maximum of 26 players and the Pride currently sit at 23. So, it really comes down to which are most important. The far and away biggest concern is a striker to back up Banda. Next is probably getting a number 10 to back up Marta and replace her when the Brazilian decides to retire.

The defensive additions are less critical, as the Pride still have one of the best defensive teams in the NWSL. That’s unlikely to change with the current roster. Instead, they need to figure out how to score more goals if they want to get back to being the dominant team in the league.

While the Pride have some needs, the roster is in pretty good shape compared to some other teams. The starting lineup will return next year and the bulk of the roster has had significant success over the past two years. With some additional depth, the Pride could once again be the team to beat in the NWSL.

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2025 Orlando Pride Season in Review: Marta

The captain once again provided the competitive spark for the Pride in 2025.

Published

6 days ago

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December 11, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride

Marta signed with the Orlando Pride way back in 2017. She has been the constant for the club through ups and mostly downs. That all changed last season as she captained her club to two trophies. In 2022, she signed a new two-year contract, taking her through 2024. She then signed yet another two-year contract through 2026.

Marta didn’t have the same type of year as she did in 2024, but she was still one of the better players for the Pride. She remains the heart of this team, showing the others what passion and effort looks like even as she edges closer to the end of her playing career. Let’s take a look at the GOAT’s 2025 season.

Statistical Breakdown

Marta started and played the full 90 minutes in the 2025 Challenge Cup match. She did not record a goal contribution and took two off-target shots. However, her free kick was blocked, resulting in Rafaelle’s opening goal. Marta also set a shot up for the defender in the match but the effort was off target. The Brazilian legend completed 26 of her 37 passes (82%), took four corner kicks, and she did not record a completed long ball. Defensively, she recorded three tackles and won three headed duels. She committed one foul, drew one on the Washington Spirit, and was not booked.

During the regular season, Marta made 22 appearances (18 starts), playing 1,599 minutes. She contributed four goals and an assist, putting 13 of her 27 shots on target. She completed 519 of her 731 passes (71%), 13 crosses, and two of her four long balls (50%) with 43 chances created. On the defensive end, the Brazilian contributed 22 tackles, 19 interceptions, and one blocked shot. She committed 14 fouls, drew 28 on the opposition, and was not booked.

Marta started both playoff games, playing all 180 minutes. She took one shot but did not record a goal contribution, although she was involved in both goals against the Reign, working a give-and-go with Julie Doyle prior to Haley McCutcheon’s opening goal and drawing the penalty that handed Luana the late insurance tally. The captain completed 52 of her 69 passes (75.4%), including three of her six long balls (50%) and four key passes. She recorded one tackle, two interceptions, and one clearance defensively while committing one foul, drawing six on her opponents, and being booked once.

Marta participated in one of the Concacaf W Champions Cup matches against Pachuca. She played all 90 minutes and scored the Pride’s only goal on two shots, one of which was on target. She completed 27 of 34 passes (79%). Defensively, she recorded three tackles, while committing two fouls, and suffering two fouls. She was not booked.

Best Game

While Marta had several good games, I think her best game was the Pride’s 3-2 victory over the Washington Spirit on Oct. 18. Marta was named Player of the Match by both Michael Citro and myself on SkoPurp Soccer: An Orlando Pride PawedCast. The captain caused an own goal and scored on a penalty kick to give the Pride an important road win heading into the playoffs. Washington scored first on a Kerry Abello own goal, but Abello then corrected that mistake by scoring one for her own team minutes later. The Spirit took the lead again and held it at halftime. Seb Hines substituted Marta in at the start of the second half, and it’s a good thing he did. It literally only took her 52 seconds to even the score.

In the 70th minute, Ally Watt was fouled in the box, setting up a penalty for the Pride. There was no doubt who would take the kick, and it turned out there was no doubt Marta would bury it in the back of the net for the winning goal.

Marta might have only played 45 minutes plus stoppage but her impact was monumental. In this match, she took one shot, which was on target, scoring the aforementioned goal. She had 27 touches, completed nine of her 13 passes (70%), two of her three long balls (67%) and took one corner kick. Defensively, she contributed one block and one clearance. She committed one foul, did not suffer any fouls, and was not booked.

2025 Final Grade

The Mane Land staff gave Marta a composite rating of 7 out of 10 for her ninth season with the club. This was a point lower than the 8 we gave her last year. Much like many of the Pride’s players, Marta’s 2025 wasn’t as good as her 2024, but she was still a critical part of the successes of the team. In 2024, she had a banner year, but despite being a year older, she was still productive in 2025.

2026 Outlook

The 39-year-old is entering the last year of her contract, and it would be surprising — though not totally inconceivable —that she will get another. Despite the fact she will turn 40-years-old before the beginning of the season, she will remain the Pride’s captain as long as she can take to the pitch. Assuming she’s healthy, there’s no reason to assume she can’t contribute to at least the same level as she did in 2025. There’s even a possibility that she finds something closer to her 2024 form. No one plays with more passion than Marta, and I will not doubt what she can do when she has the look in her eye.

Previous Season in Review Articles (Date Posted)

This concludes our 2025 Orlando Pride player-by-player Season in Review series. We hope you’ve enjoyed looking back on the players’ performances from the past year as we move closer toward seeing what lies ahead in 2026.

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2025 Orlando Pride Season in Review: Jacquie Ovalle

The Pride broke the world transfer record to land the Mexican international in 2025.

Published

7 days ago

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December 10, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

The Orlando Pride signed Mexican international winger Jacquie Ovalle for a then-world record transfer fee on Aug. 21, acquiring the attacker’s services from Tigres UANL in Liga MX Femenil. While the club did not announce the transfer fee, it was reportedly around $1.5 million. That transfer record has since been broken a couple of times since, but it was an ambitious move by the Pride to try to provide Barbra Banda a playmaking wing of the highest caliber.

The move ultimately didn’t pay many dividends in 2025, as Banda went down with a season-ending injury before Ovalle arrived, and the Mexican international struggled to get comfortable with her new team, the new league, and a new culture in what could best be described as an inconsistent performance after she joined the Pride.

Let’s take a look at Ovalle’s first season in the City Beautiful.

Statistical Breakdown

Ovalle was signed well after the season-opening NWSL Challenge Cup, so she saw no action in the competition. She made her Pride debut in the regular season on Sept. 7 off the bench. It was an inauspicious start, as Orlando got flattened 5-2 at Chicago that day, with all of the goals happening in the second half. Ovalle played in eight regular-season matches with Orlando, starting seven and logging 666 minutes. She contributed a goal and two assists in her time on the pitch with the Pride, attempting 20 shots and putting seven on target. She completed 84% of her 201 passes during the regular season, with 18 key passes. Ovalle was accurate on 19 of her 48 crosses (39.6%) and three of her seven long balls (42.9%). Defensively, Ovalle chipped in 13 tackles, three interceptions, and five clearances but no blocks during the regular season. She committed six fouls, drew five, and received one yellow card.

In the playoffs, Ovalle started both of the Pride’s matches and played 173 minutes. She did not log a goal contribution in the postseason, putting one of her six shot attempts on target. The winger completed 34 of her 42 passes (81%) with two key passes but completed just three of her 13 crosses and neither of her two long balls. On the defensive end, Ovalle recorded three tackles, one clearance, and two interceptions. She committed three fouls, drew two on her opponents, and was not booked.

Ovalle appeared in two of Orlando’s games in the Concacaf W Champions Cup, logging 57 minutes off the bench without a goal contribution, attempting one off-target shot. She completed 10 of her 13 passes (76.9%) without a key pass, chipping in three tackles on the defensive end. She committed two fouls, drew two on her opponents, and she wasn’t booked in the competition.

Best Game

There were a few possible games to choose from in this category, and while I was close to choosing the match with her lone goal of the season (Sept. 26 in a 2-1 road win over San Diego), I ended up going a different route. Still, she scored a nice goal, so here it is:

Instead, I’m going back to her first NWSL start. Ovalle started for Orlando for the first time on Sept. 13 in a 1-1 home draw against Bay FC. She was excellent all game long, but her best moment came in the 70th minute, when La Maga sent in a perfect cross for Ally Watt to flick home with a header to equalize, rescuing a point for Orlando.

Ovalle was Fotmob’s highest rated player in the match from either side with a rating of 8.4 and was a danger all night. She fired eight shot attempts, putting three on target and one off the woodwork. She also completed six of her nine crosses in the game, creating four scoring chances in the game with key passes. One of those should have been an assist on a Marta goal on a beautiful back-post ball, but the captain hit the left post with her shot. She chipped in two tackles, one interception, a clearance, and a recovery on the defensive end, committing two fouls and drawing one in what was a standout performance.

2025 Final Grade

The Mane Land staff gave Ovalle a composite rating of 6.5 out of 10 for her 2025 season. While the Mexican winger played inconsistently, that was to be expected after a midseason move to a new team that was missing its attacking focal point with Banda out. There were signs of the kind of magic moments Ovalle can bring to the Pride attack, they were too few and far between. In fairness, in most of the matches she played there was no one close to her level in the attack with her, and she looked at times too eager to make something happen. Three goal contributions isn’t bad for her first eight NWSL games, but Ovalle clearly needs another threat up top with her to help provide her the space she needs to shoot or deliver one of her lethal passes.

2026 Outlook

Ovalle will be a starter next season and will get to go through a full preseason training camp with the club, which should help her get a better understanding of both what Seb Hines wants from her and how her teammates like to play. She should also get to play with Banda (finally), which could create one of the most dynamic attacking tandems in the league, because some of Banda’s struggles were due to poor service, which Ovalle can help with, and some of Ovalle’s issues were down to a lack of the kind of quick, decisive attacking movements that Banda provides. I expect Ovalle’s production in both goals and assists to jump in 2026 for multiple reasons, but with a healthy Banda, there will be a lot more room for her (and Marta) to operate. A front line of Marta, Banda, and Ovalle is tantalizing.

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