Orlando Pride
Orlando Pride vs. NJ/NY Gotham FC: Preview, How to Watch, TV Info, Live Stream, Lineups, Match Thread, and More
The Pride host Gotham FC with a chance to play for their second consecutive NWSL Championship.
Welcome to your match thread as the Orlando Pride (11-8-7, 40 points, fourth place) host NJ/NY Gotham FC (9-8-9, 26 points, eighth place) in the NWSL playoff semifinals with a chance to advance to their second consecutive NWSL Championship. This is the third time these teams will meet this year after facing off twice during the regular season and the first time these teams have met in the postseason.
Here’s everything you need to know about tonight’s game.
History
The Pride have faced Gotham 26 times since joining the NWSL in 2016. They’re 8-11-7 in all competitions and 4-8-2 at home. The teams split the regular-season series, with the road team winning each by identical 2-0 scores.
The most recent meeting between the two teams took place Aug. 29 in Orlando. Esther Gonzalez gave the visitors the lead early and Jaelin Howell doubled the advantage just before halftime. Gotham defended well in the second half, leaving with a 2-0 win. The first matchup this year was held on March 23 in New Jersey. It was the same score, but the Pride came away with the three points. An early Lilly Reale own goal gave the Pride the lead and Marta doubled it from the spot just after halftime as the Pride won 2-0.
The first meeting of 2024 occurred Sept. 1 in Orlando and was delayed by inclement weather, but the Pride took control when it began. Adriana gave the hosts the lead in the sixth minute and completed her brace in the 19th minute. Those were the only two goals as the Pride won 2-0. On Oct 20, 2024 in New Jersey, Sam Hiatt gave the hosts the early lead before Adriana equalized just past the half-hour mark. However, Gotham scored on either side of halftime with goals by Rose Lavelle and Ella Stevens to win 3-1.
The first meeting of 2023 was a regular-season clash on April 15 in Orlando. It looked to be headed for a draw, but Gotham struck twice in the dying minutes. Midge Purce converted a penalty 10 minutes into stoppage time and then assisted on Lynn Williams’ goal seven minutes later, setting a record for the latest goal in NWSL history as the Pride fell 2-0. They played again on May 14 in New Jersey, where the Pride were the better team and created more chances but couldn’t find the back of the net. The game ended in a scoreless draw.
The Pride and Gotham met twice in the NWSL Challenge Cup following those regular-season matchups. The first was on July 23 in Orlando. A Megan Montefusco header gave the Pride an early lead, but they were unable to hold on. Jenna Nighswonger converted a penalty later in the first half and Gotham took over in the second half with goals by McCall Zerboni and Yazmeen Ryan, beating the Pride 3-1. On Aug. 9 in New Jersey, Messiah Bright gave the Pride the lead in the first half, and the team was in line for all three points until Meleana Shim equalized in second-half stoppage time, resulting in a 1-1 draw.
The two teams met four times during the 2022 season — twice in the NWSL regular season and twice in the Challenge Cup. The first was a Challenge Cup meeting March 30 at Exploria Stadium. It looked to be heading for a 0-0 draw before Purce scored a late winner. The next Challenge Cup meeting was April 23 at Red Bull Arena. Gunny Jonsdottir gave the Pride the lead, but Toni Pressley got tangled up with Ifeoma Onumonu, resulting in a penalty. Kristie Mewis leveled the game from the spot just before the half. Neither team could find a winner and it ended 1-1.
The teams met in the 2022 NWSL regular-season opener on May 1 in Orlando. After two close matchups in the preseason tournament, this one was all Gotham, as goals by Zerboni, Purce, and Mewis lifted the visitors to a 3-0 win. On Aug. 20, they played for the final time in 2022 at Subaru Park in Chester, PA. Celia and Ally Watt built the Pride a 2-0 lead. Mewis got one back for the hosts, but the Pride held on for a 2-1 win.
The Pride and Gotham also met four times in 2021, with the first coming in the Pride’s inaugural Challenge Cup campaign. On April 14, Paige Monaghan’s goal lifted Gotham to a 1-0 win. The first regular-season game that year came on June 20 in Orlando. The visitors took the lead through Caprice Dydasco, but Courtney Petersen equalized for a 1-1 draw.
On Aug. 29, the teams played at Red Bull Arena. Erika Tymrak’s long-range goal lifted the Pride to a 2-1 win. The teams played one final, high-scoring game on Oct. 9. It was a bad start for the Pride as Gaetane Thiney scored a brace and Purce made it 3-0 late. The Pride came storming back with goals by Tymrak and Marta, falling just short in a 3-2 final.
The Pride and Gotham were in different groups for the 2020 Fall Series, so the last time they met prior to 2021 was in 2019, when the New Jersey-based club was still called Sky Blue FC. They first met that year on June 22 at Yurcak Field in Piscataway, NJ. Chioma Ubogagu gave the Pride the lead from the penalty spot and Sarah Killion equalized. The difference was a Gina Lewandowski own goal as the Pride won 2-1.
On July 20 the teams met at Exploria Stadium. Marisa Viggiano’s goal won it for the Pride, 1-0. The final game occurred on Sept. 29 in New Jersey. Shelina Zadorsky gave the Pride the lead, but Carli Lloyd equalized in a 1-1 draw.
The teams met three times in 2018, starting on June 16 in Orlando, when a Sydney Leroux brace led the Pride to a 3-2 win. They met again in Orlando on Aug. 5, with the Pride giving up a 1-0 lead after Marta’s opening goal. But Dani Weatherholt equalized in a 2-2 draw. The final meeting in 2018 came on Sept. 8 in New Jersey — the final game of the season. There was only one goal in this one as Lloyd won it for Sky Blue FC.
The 2017 season saw the Pride and Sky Blue meet three times. The first was May 27 in New Jersey, where the Pride lost 2-1. They met again in New Jersey on June 28 and the Pride won, 3-2. The final meeting was on Aug. 12 in Orlando and the Pride won by its largest margin in team history to that point, beating Sky Blue, 5-0.
The 2016 season was the first time the two teams met, with the inaugural game coming on Sept. 7 in New Jersey. Alex Morgan and Sam Kerr swapped goals in a 1-1 draw. They met again three days later in Orlando, with Sky Blue winning, 2-1.
Overview
The Pride appeared to be limping into the postseason before a late-season surge saw them claim the fourth seed, allowing them to host the quarterfinal against Seattle Reign FC. Haley McCutcheon did what she does by scoring in the postseason, giving the Pride the lead in the 21st minute. The hosts were defending strong and it looked like they would hold on for the 1-0 win before Marta made a long run from her own third and drew a penalty.
The club captain handed the ball off to her club and country teammate Luana, who returned this year from Hodgkin’s lymphoma treatment. Marta said after the game she had been looking to do something for Luana and took the opportunity. The Brazilian midielder put her penalty away, securing the 2-0 win.
The winner of the Pride-Reign game was on the same side of the NWSL playoff bracket to match up with the winner of eighth-seeded Gotham and the top-seeded Kansas City Current. Kansas City dominated the season and it was expected that the Pride would have travel west for the semifinal. But Gotham had other plans.
Jaedyn Shaw gave the visitors the surprising lead in the 68th minute before Ellie Wheeler equalized six minutes into second-half stoppage time. However, Katie Stengel scored the game-winning goal in stoppage time of extra time, securing the shocking win and ousting the Supporters’ Shield winners.
Reaching their second consecutive championship game seemed like a longshot for the Pride, but Gotham’s win gave Orlando a chance to host a second playoff game, forcing Gotham to travel again. The Pride have played much better in recent weeks and are only a win at home away from having a chance to defend their NWSL crown in what would be a rematch of last year’s final against the Washington Spirit, who dominated the Portland Thorns on Saturday.
While Gotham is the eighth seed and the Pride are at home, it won’t be an easy task. Gonzalez’s 13 goals this year were second most in the league, only trailing MVP favorite Temwa Chawinga. Today’s visitors also have a good back line and arguably the best goalkeeper in the league in German international Ann-Katrin Berger.
Since Gonzalez is coming back from an injury, she likely won’t start. But Gotham still has strong attackers in Shaw, Lavelle and Purce that can make up the difference.
“Obviously, a lot to play for. We’re pleased that we’re able to host another semifinal in front of our own fans. Hoping we get a good crowd there to support the team,” Pride Head Coach Seb Hines said about tonight’s game. “But with any game against Gotham FC, it’s always competitive. It’s always a fun contest against a good team with good players. So, we have to be at our best to get the win.”
The Pride will take the field this afternoon without three key players in Barbra Banda (hip), Kylie Nadaner (excused absence), and Ally Watt (knee). However, Summer Yates is available for selection after being out against Seattle.
Meanwhile, Gotham is missing Tierna Davidson (knee), Geyse (knee), and Taryn Torres (knee). Gonzalez (hip) is questionable, but she was listed as such against the Current and was on the bench. The star striker could come on if the visitors need a goal late.
Official Lineups
Orlando Pride (4-2-3-1)
Goalkeeper: Anna Moorhouse.
Defenders: Kerry Abello, Rafaelle, Emily Sams, Cori Dyke.
Defensive Midfielders: Haley McCutcheon, Angelina.
Midfielders: Jacquie Ovalle, Ally Lemos, Marta.
Forward: Julie Doyle.
Bench: McKinley Crone, Oihane, Zara Chavoshi, Simone Jackson, Viviana Villacorta, Luana, Summer Yates, Carson Pickett, Simone Charley.
NJ/NY Gotham FC (4-3-3)
Goalkeeper: Ann-Katrin Berger.
Defenders: Lilly Reale, Jess Carter, Emily Sonnett, Bruninha.
Midfielders: Gabi Portillo, Jaelin Howell, Rose Lavelle.
Forwards: Jaedyn Shaw, Esther Gonzalez, Midge Purce.
Bench: Shelby Hogan, Josefine Hasbo, Sarah Schupansky, Ella Stevens, Kayla Duran, Sofia Cook, Mandy Freeman, Katie Stengel, Khyah Harper.
Referees
REF: Alyssa Pennington.
AR1: Jennifer Garner.
AR2: Tiffini Turpin.
4TH: Elvis Osmanovic.
VAR: Jaclyn Metz.
AVAR: Brian Marshall.
How to Watch
Match Time: 3 p.m.
Venue: Inter&Co Stadium — Orlando.
TV: ABC.
Streaming: ESPN+.
Social Media: For live updates and rapid reaction, follow @themaneland.bsky.social on Bluesky and the Orlando Pride’s official Twitter feed (@ORLPride).
Enjoy the game. Go Pride!