Photo Galleries
Orlando Pride vs. NJ/NY Gotham FC: Photo Gallery
An album of images from the Pride’s season-ending playoff loss to Gotham FC at the death.
The Orlando Pride couldn’t quite grit out a victory in the NWSL playoff semifinals, ending their 2025 season one game shorter than they’d hoped. The Pride went toe-to-toe for most of the game with Gotham in a cagey match, but the opposition finally converted a free kick in the last minute of stoppage time to end the Pride’s run at repeating as NWSL champions.
Gotham managed to control the first few minutes of the game, but once the Pride started getting organized, they were the team pressing the attack, although the final product was often missing, sending set pieces straight at Gotham goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger and turning the ball over around the edges of the penalty area.
Orlando produced the best chance of the first half just past the half-hour mark, with Julie Doyle finding Jacquie Ovalle in the box, but the Mexican international was unable to make good contact on the shot and it trickled wide. The teams played back-and-forth soccer for the rest of the half without creating anything too dangerous.
Second-half substitutes Oihane and Simone Charley did well to help tip the field against Gotham, but as in the first half, neither team could not fashion anything more than half-chances.
As the teams seemed destined to play extra time, the Pride made a critical error deep in their own end. Ovalle’s heavy touch on a takeaway attempt gave the ball away and a soft (given the way the game had been called) foul was given in a dangerous area near the left corner of the box. Jaedyn Shaw sent in a dangerous ball over the top that forced Orlando goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse to make a decision on whether to play the set piece service or guard against a redirect. She chose the latter, but Midge Purce failed to get a touch on the ball, leaving Moorhouse helplessly watching the free kick tuck inside the right post.
The Pride had almost no time to respond, but nearly did so anyway. Ovalle won a free kick and Marta delivered good cross into the box. Oihane headed the ball on frame but left it just a bit too central. Berger still had to make a good save to keep it out, and she did so, preserving Gotham’s 1-0 lead and sending the Pride home instead of to the final.
Despite the final outcome, the Pride overcame an arduous second half of the year to once again prove they belong among the NWSL powerhouses. We hope you enjoy these photos of a hard-fought NWSL semifinal.