Orlando Pride vs. San Diego Wave FC: Final Score 1-0 As Pride End Road Trip On A High

The Orlando Pride (4-5-2, 14 points) bounced back from a pair of tough losses by defeating San Diego Wave FC (7-4-1, 22 points) 1-0 tonight at Snapdragon Stadium. Nicole Payne’s first goal in her first start for the Pride was enough to return home with all three points.

The Pride made the unusual decision of staying on the road after leaving Denver. Rather than returning to Orlando, they stayed on the West Coast for the week leading up to tonight’s game in Southern California.

“As the schedule came out, we felt, after going to Denver, was it necessary for us to go back home,” Hines said about the decision. “Sometimes it’s easy to go back home and just being in your own bed. But, being on this side of the country, we felt the need to get to San Diego early. Adapt to the weather, and be together.”

“It was so important,” McCutcheon added about staying on the road. “I think that these games that are coming quick and fast can be a positive when things are going well, and they can be a real challenge when we’re trying to figure things out. And I think that to have a full week of training to really peel back the layers and go back to the basics.”

Pride Head Coach Seb Hines made three changes to the team that lost 3-1 to Denver Summit FC on May 16. Rafaelle, Payne, and Luana entered the starting lineup, replacing Hannah Anderson, Seven Castain, and Summer Yates.

“Part of the three-game road trip is having the ability to manage players and rotate players,” Hines said about the lineup changes. “Even if some things are not always in your control.”

The back line in front of Anna Moorhouse was Oihane, Rafaelle, Cori Dyke, and Hailie Mace. Ally Lemos and Haley McCutcheon were in the defensive midfield behind Julie Doyle, Luana, and Payne with Barbra Banda up top.

Adding to the occasion was a milestone for McCutcheon. It was her 100th appearance for the Pride and her 200th NWSL game.

“I think that when I came to the Pride, we were building something special,” McCutcheon said about her tenure with the team. “And to see that come to fruition, and to continue to push to build something that’s going to be a lasting fortress for us, and a proud organization to represent. It’s something that has just been a dream. So, I hope for 100 more.”

The Pride came into this game looking to display their physicality. They outmuscled the Wave and were willing to give up set pieces in the process. It was a strong defensive effort that earned the Pride their fourth clean sheet of the season. In the end, it was a surprising long-distance goal by Payne and some critical saves by Moorhouse that made the difference.

The Pride created the first chance in the ninth minute when Lemos sent Payne down the right and the midfielder was dragged down by Kiki Pickett. Lemos stepped up to take the set piece, lifting it into the box where Banda was making a near-post run. The striker attempted to flick the ball to the far post, sending her attempt wide.

San Diego’s first chance came in the 11th minute when Dudinha made a strong run to the end line. The attacker initially beat Mace, but the right back caught up and knocked the ball out of play. The ensuing corner kick was to the near post where Kennedy Wesley tried to put it on goal. Rafaelle was in a good defensive position, allowing the center back to block the weak attempt.

Banda won a foul in the 15th minute when she was impeded by Kimmi Ascanio. Lemos again took the set piece, sending it into the box. Banda might’ve gotten a slight touch as she attempted to flick the ball forward with her head, but it didn’t create any trouble for Didi Haracic.

A poor pass by the Wave in the 31st minute allowed McCutcheon to play Banda forward. It looked like the striker would outmuscle Mimi Van Zanten to get in on goal, but the defender got a foot in. Banda went down and the Pride players wanted a foul, but referee Calin Radosav said Van Zanten got enough of the ball.

The Wave had a great opportunity to open the scoring in the 33rd minute when Wesley passed the ball forward for Ludmila. As Banda knocked her over, the striker sent a pass forward for Gia Corley, who was goal side on McCutcheon. Corley was looking for Dudinha, making a back post run, but Moorhouse got a hand to it. Unfortunately, the ball went right to Lia Godfrey at the top of the six. Despite being on her back, Moorhouse was able to make the save without giving up a rebound.

The Pride got a break in the 40th minute when a Lemos cross was headed out by Wesley. As the Wave looked to break the other way, Ascanio brought the ball down with her arm, giving the Pride a free kick just outside of the San Diego box.

Lemos took the set piece and went for goal, aiming her shot inside the near post. However, her attempt was just wide.

In the 43rd minute, McCutcheon sent Banda down the left and into the San Diego box. The striker used her physicality on Wesley, and when that didn’t work, she cut inside to shoot. But Wesley did well to stay in front and deflect the ball out of play.

The ensuing set piece found Rafaelle near the top of the box and the center back put her attempt on goal, but it was right to Haracic.

Kennedy played a great ball forward for Ludmila in the 44th minute, getting the striker into the box. Dyke was able to stay in front to keep Ludmila from getting a free shot, so the Brazilian sent a dangerous ball to the back post. Dudinha was making a run behind Mace, but it was a bit too far in front of the attacker and went out of play.

Luana won a free kick in the 45th minute when Pickett tripped the midfielder in the San Diego third of the field. The set piece to the back post found the head of Rafaelle, but she sent the ball over the target.

Kenza Dali made a strong run into the Pride third of the field in the third minute of first-half stoppage time before finding Corley at the top of the box. The attacker found space for a shot between Rafaelle and McCutcheon, but it was right to Moorhouse.

Seconds later, the Pride broke through. Luana sent a long ball forward for Banda, but Kristen McNabb struck her foot out to knock it down. Unfortunately for the defender, the ball went right to Payne. It looked like Payne would wait for support as she dribbled away from the goal. But she surprised everyone by turning and firing with her right foot from outside of the box, beating Haracic to the far post and giving her team the 1-0 lead.

It was a big moment for Payne as she has recently returned from an ACL injury that kept her out for over a year. It was also her first professional goal in her first start for the Pride.

“It’s been a long time. It’s been over a year, so I didn’t really know how everything was going to play out,” Payne said about her emotions after scoring the goal. “But a lot of it just goes to my teammates, the staff, everyone for believing in me and giving me the confidence to be able to be back and just play confidently.”

“Always looking to run in behind and a well taken goal,” Hines said about Payne. “She obviously came as a right back and developed her into a more of a winger. And really pleased for her, because it’s been quite a journey for her, coming back from an ACL, Great goal and great performance from her.”

The hosts immediately went on the attack, looking for an equalizer before the break. Dudinha dribbled to the top of the Pride box before firing on goal, forcing Moorhouse to block the attempt. Ludmila and Doyle raced for the ball with both missing it. As a result, it rested for Van Zanten, but her shot went wide.

San Diego ended the first half with more possession (59%-41%), but both teams recorded eight shots and put three on target. The teams also each won one corner kick and the Wave had better passing accuracy (84%-73%).

“We just really wanted to focus on putting in a really good defensive shift,” Payne said about the halftime message. “Obviously, we don’t like to concede goals, so we just really were focused on trying to set a tone in the second half and really continue to control the game.”

The Wave began the second half on the front foot, creating the first chance inside the first minute. Dali played the ball square for Godrey outside of the box and the attacker fired from distance. However, the ball was always curling left and sailed wide of the near post.

The Pride were forced into their first substitution of the game in the 51st minute when Doyle landed awkwardly after being pushed down by McNabb. After receiving treatment on the field, it was determined she couldn’t continue and was replaced by Kerry Abello.

Ludmila tried to make something happen herself in the 55th minute as the striker carried the ball across the top of the box. The Brazilian found enough space to turn and shoot, but she was unable to put her attempt on target.

A minute later, the Pride created their first shot of the second half when Lemos played Payne on the right and continued her run to the top of the box. The first-half goal scorer sent the ball right back to Lemos, who fired from the top of the 18. Unfortunately, she was never balanced and the ball sailed wide of the goal.

Hines made his second change in the 62nd minute as Yates entered the contest, replacing Payne.

Second-half substitute Tatum Wynalda tried to lift the ball out of the back in the 67th minute, but she couldn’t get it over the head of Abello. The Pride midfielder brought it down with her chest and sent a long shot towards goal, sending it over the crossbar.

In the 75th minute, Mace pushed over Dudinha, giving San Diego a free kick just inside the Pride half. Before the set piece could be taken, Luana went down and required attention. During the stoppage, Hines made his final two changes as Seven Castain and Simone Jackson came on for Oihane and Luana.

The ensuing set piece was headed to the top of the six-yard box where Gabi Portilho was making a run. The substitute got her head on it, but sent the attempt wide of the near post.

Banda made a long run off the restart, earning a corner kick when Wynalda blocked her cross out of play. The ensuing set piece was just over the head of Banda and McCutcheon and went out of play for a goal kick.

Jackson sent a long ball down the field for Banda in the 83rd minute, giving the striker a one-on-one with Wesley. The center back did well to knock it off of Banda’s foot, allowing McNabb to get back into position. Banda played the ball square for Castain entering the box, but her shot was wide of the near post.

San Diego nearly had a chance in the 85th minute when Wynalda found Van Zanten making a free run to the penalty spot. The defender should’ve been able to take a shot, but she was off balance and missed the ball completely.

The Wave stayed on the attack and nearly found an equalizer when McNabb sent a ball into the box that connected with the head of Portilho, jumping between Castain and Abello. The header was heading just inside the far post before the diving Moorhouse got her fingertips to it, redirecting the ball wide.

As the game reached stoppage time, Lemos fouled Melanie Barcenas just outside of the Pride box. Barcenas took the free kick and sent her attempt into the arms of Moorhouse.

In the seventh minute of stoppage time, San Diego created their final attack. A cross by Wynalda was headed out by Rafaelle to Laurina Fazer, whose shot was blocked by McCutcheon. The ball went to Trinity Byers for a second attempt, but this one was blocked by Abello.

The Pride players and coaching staff’s appeal for the final whistle fell on deaf ears. Barcenas received a throw-in and fired from long distance, sending her shot well over the crossbar.

That was enough for Radosav to blow the final whistle and the Pride held on for the 1-0 win.

At full time, San Diego had more possession (58%-42%), shots (17-14), shots on target (5-3), crosses (15-6), corner kicks (3-2), and better passing accuracy (84%-76%). But the Pride defended strongly to hold onto their slim lead and claim all three points.

“Incredible game. Great effort as well from start to finish,” Hines said about the performance. “I thought we managed the game really well. We brought a little bit more intensity with our press. We were a lot calmer on the ball as well, and we talked about that going into the game. Getting back to who we are as Orlando Pride team, and it was fully on show tonight in San Diego.”

“We put it all together today,” McCutcheon added. “This was definitely more than just three points for us. It’s a shift in our season and our momentum, and I’m just so proud of the group.”

The three points sees the Pride end the weekend in eighth place, holding the final playoff spot with one game remaining until the World Cup break. They’re one point behind the North Carolina Courage for seventh and four points behind three teams for fourth. It’s a much better position than if they had lost or even drew.

The team will return home for one final game before the league stops for over a month, facing Bay FC Friday night at Inter&Co Stadium.