Orlando Pride. vs. Denver Summit FC: Final Score 1-1 as Banda Equalizes in Second Half

For the second straight game, the Orlando Pride created a ton of chances but could only put one of them away. However, this time the Pride limited the opponent to one goal and earned a 1-1 come back draw against Denver Summit FC at Inter&Co Stadium in the first meeting between the two teams.

Melissa Kossler took advantage of a Pride defensive lapse in the first half for Denver (0-1-1, 1 point), and after that it was all Orlando (0-1-1, 1 point), although the home team could only manage a Barbra Banda goal to earn the draw. One other shot found the net but was ruled offside, and another rattled the crossbar on a night when Pride chances were plenty but conversions were few.

“We want to win games at home, but it’s never a lack of effort. I think the effort was there today, “Orlando Pride Head Coach Seb Hines said after the match. “I think there was a good response from last week’s disappointing result. You know, again, we’re creating a lot of chances, but we’re getting punished for errors at the back.

Hines started Anna Moorhouse in goal behind a back line of Cori Dyke, Hannah Anderson, Hailie Mace, and Oihane. Ally Lemos and Haley McCutcheon started in central defense behind an attacking midfield line of Seven Castain, Summer Yates, and Jacquie Ovalle, with Banda starting up top on her birthday.

Orlando started the game quickly but then cooled off almost as fast. Banda created a couple of early shots but couldn’t get them cleanly through on goal. Just two minutes in, her deflected shot causing Denver goalkeeper Abby Smith to scramble to her right to make the stop. Six minutes later, Banda fired in transition but did not clear the first defender.

The visitors won a couple of corners after that and the Pride’s failure to adequately clear their lines gave Denver a foothold in the game. Kaleigh Kurtz had a couple of free header opportunities on the corner kicks but she nodded both wide at the back post.

Orlando fans thought the Pride had broken through in the 13th minute in transition. Banda found Ovalle in front and the Mexican international put the ball in the back of the net behind Smith. Banda, however, was correctly ruled offside in the buildup.

New Denver acquisition Yazmeen Ryan shook free on the right side in the box in the 15th minute, but she fired her shot well wide of the right post. The Summit kept the pressure on and quickly won a free kick but couldn’t pay it off.

Banda blazed forward on another transition opportunity in the 22nd but fired too close to Smith, who made the save. Orlando couldn’t do anything on the ensuing corner kick.

The Summit broke the deadlock in the 23rd minute, breaking the Pride’s lines easily with a ball finding from Natasha Flint finding Kossler as she slipped behind Anderson. The forward easily slotted home past Moorhouse to put the visitors on the board.

“When you give teams an opportunity like we have done in the last two games, they’ll punish us, and they have done,” Hines said. “And so, we have to be more switched on, you know, cut off the angles better and not allow teams any opportunities to get up in the game.”

“I think, like the first 10-15 minutes, I feel like they were a little bit on top of us,” Yates said. “And I think that’s something we need to work on, like just starting games faster.”

Orlando responded well to the goal and started coming more into the game in the final 20 minutes of the half. Ovalle sent a header toward the left post in the 27th minute. Smith came over to make the save to make sure it stayed out.

Ryan got into the box again for Denver three minutes later and fired around Anderson but it went over the bar and looked to take a slight deflection but a goal kick was awarded.

A minute later, the Pride came within inches of tying the game. Yates did well to cut in from the right and firing a left-footed shot that hit the top of the crossbar and went out of play.

The Pride won a couple of corners as the half wound down but couldn’t generate much danger from them. Ovalle created a good opportunity late in the half, stealing the ball in the attacking half and firing a good shot but Smith made a solid save in the 42nd minute. Lemos made a mess of the service on the ensuing corner, sending the cross into the side of the net.

Oihane conceded a set piece in a dangerous spot on the right late in the half, but the Pride survived the free kick and broke the other way. Banda drew a foul on Oke to set up a free kick in stoppage time. Ovalle went for goal with a low shot on the free kick and put it on frame, but Smith had no trouble stopping it to end the half.

Denver held the halftime edge in possession (53%-47%) and passing accuracy (81%-78%), while Orlando finished with more shots (13-8), shots on target (6-2), and corners (7-3).

“We can’t allow teams to get foothold in the game,” Hines said. “I think obviously goals change behaviors. And you know, it’s been that reaction to going a goal down that’s made us react and change our behaviors in that sense. So yeah, when we do score the first goal in the last couple of years, we’ve always gone on to win games. And so, when a team like Denver come to our environment and they get up in the game, you know, it gives them a foundation to go on and get something out of it.”

Hines made two substitutions at the break, sending on Angelina and Solai Washington for Lemos and Castain. Orlando picked up where it left off, with Banda making a good turn and getting forward in the 55th minute. Her shot from the top of the area was straight at Smith, who parried it into the air and caught it on the rebound. A minute later, Banda drew a yellow card on Kurtz, who pulled her down by the arm, but Angelina’s service went straight to Smith.

Anderson came close to her first Pride goal at the hour mark. The Pride recycled a set piece that fell for the defender in the box. Her shot was on target, but Smith made perhaps her best stop of the game, getting down with one arm to keep it out. However, the Pride pulled level a minute later.

Washington made a nice play to send Ovalle down the right channel. The Mexican winger sent in a nice back-post ball to Banda, who headed inside the left post to make it 1-1 in the 61st minute with her second goal of the season. It was the first time the two stars have connected for a Pride goal.

“I’m really proud of Barbra, because she’s spent so much time out to ultimately get two goals in two games and also build that relationship with Jacquie Ovalle as well,” Hines said. “I think that’s a big thing for her as well, because again, it’s only the second time they’ve been able to play on the same field together.”

Washington went for goal herself in the 71st minute but the defense deflected it up in the air for Smith to catch. McCutcheon sent a ball in for Banda in the 82nd minute but it was blocked wide and the Pride couldn’t make the corner pay off as Dyke sent a long-range shot high into the stands.

Orlando pushed for a winner but couldn’t pay off a couple of late set pieces and the teams split the points.

The Pride stuffed the stat sheet with a dominating second-half performance, finishing with the advantage in possession (51%-49%), passing accuracy (76%-74%), shots (23-8), shots on target (11-2), and corners (13-4).

“Denver’s a great team. You know, it’s hard with an expansion team. We do a lot of scout. We prepare for their personnel, but you never really know what you’re going to get,” Dyke said. “So, I think there were a lot of challenges that we faced that we needed to adjust to, but I’m really proud of the group, I think for how we dealt with it. I thought we had a lot of energy tonight, created a lot of chances. Obviously, we really want the three points, so that’s always disappointing, but I think it’s a step in the right direction.”

“I think it was good to build off our last game,” Yates said. “I thought things went really well. I thought we dominated. And, you know, it’s just getting the last piece together, so I think just keep building on this. And you know, we’re going on the right track.”

The Pride are back in action Wednesday in their first road test of the season at the Chicago Stars.