Orlando Pride vs. Angel City FC: Photo Gallery

Orlando Pride hosted Angel City FC at Inter&Co stadium for a Friday night game, eventually coming away with a 2-1 victory on two scrappy, late goals from Haley McCutcheon. It was a hard-fought affair, with excellent matchups all night with Barbra Banda vs. Sarah Gorden in one direction, and Sveindis Jónsdóttir vs. Hailie Mace and Rafaelle in the other.

The Pride did a good job of stifling the visitors through the first 75 minutes of the game, pressing well when their shape dictated, but executing a solid block when they couldn’t. As a result, the possession stats favored the visitors. Orlando did well with chance-creation however, generating the majority of their opportunities both line skipping to find Banda and advancing through the midfield via Jacquie Ovalle. Banda got in behind in the 10th minute but didn’t get a great shot off. Later, Rafaelle got a good look in the 30th minute but Angel City goalkeeper Angelina Anderson was there to make a good save for another corner.

On the ensuing set piece, Ovalle and Rafaelle executed an almost mirror image of the same combination, with Rafaelle finding the net this time, but a foul was called and the play was blown dead early, preventing the play from going to review. Banda managed to open space and get off a well-placed shot just inside the post in the 45th minute, but she didn’t get enough on it and it was saved by Anderson.

The second half continued with more of the same, with more physical play and smart defensive matchups. Banda got in behind immediately off the restart, but she was at a tight angle on the right and sent her shot straight at Anderson. McCutcheon netted in the 52nd minute off a great cross from Banda, but it was called back for offside.

Unfortunately, the trainers are going to have some new additions to the already significant injury list, as Ovalle needed assistance off the pitch in the 55th minute after trying to run down a break by Jónsdóttir, and Oihane was replaced on a concussion sub in the 75th minute due to head contact from earlier in the game.

As the game wore on and legs started to tire, the match loosened up and play was not as sharp, with both sides creating more set pieces and chances. Eventually, Banda fed in a dangerous cross from the left that pinged around the box. McCutcheon pounced on it in the defensive confusion for the final touch in the scrum, scoring the opening goal in the 84th minute. After a lengthy review, the goal was upheld.

Unfortunately, the lead did not stand long, as Angel City evened the score early in stoppage time. Giselle Thompson rattled the bottom of the crossbar on a recycled set piece, and the ball fell behind the goal line on the only shot on target of the night for the visitors.

But the Pride showed the grit that has been the hallmark of the Seb Hines era, earning a corner in the eighth minute of added time. The ball rattled around the box in traffic until McCutcheon eventually poked home her second goal of the night. The referee allowed a few more minutes beyond the originally allotted 10, but the teams mostly played aerial balls back and forth until the final whistle.

We hope you enjoy these photos of Orlando’s hard-fought victory over the (formerly) last unbeaten team in the NWSL.