The Orlando Pride won their third straight game to start the 2025 season on Saturday afternoon with a 2-1 win over San Diego Wave FC. But what was important wasn’t just the fact that they won again, it’s how and when they scored.

Pride Head Coach Seb Hines places an emphasis on set pieces. It makes sense for the former center back. After all, we’re talking about someone who once scored four headers in a friendly when he played for Orlando City. That focus is showing itself in his team this season and has contributed greatly to the team’s success.

The Pride’s success on set pieces started early this season. In the 41st minute of the Challenge Cup against the Washington Spirit, Marta sent a free kick off the wall. The ball went straight to Rafaelle, who put it in to give her team the lead in her first game back since July 6, 2024.

The following week, in the season opener against Chicago, one of the team’s club-record-tying six goals came off another set piece. This time it was a corner kick. Marta’s cross into the box met the head of Ally Watt, who knocked it in to make it 2-0.

In New Jersey against NJ/NY Gotham FC, it was Marta’s set piece for a third straight game setting up a goal for the Pride. Her free kick from near the top of the Gotham box was flicked on by Barbra Banda. Lilly Reale tried to clear the ball but put it in her own net. In addition to the third straight game Orlando had scored on a set piece, it was the second consecutive game the Pride were the recipient of an opponent’s own goal — the Pride’s co-leading scorer.

The Pride scored off a set piece for the fourth straight game Saturday afternoon. It was Marta from a corner kick again. Her cross to the back post was met by Banda. While Banda couldn’t put the ball on target, it went straight to Haley McCutcheon, who scored her second goal of the season.

“It’s so important. It’s a moment and we really train it,” Hines said about scoring on another set piece. “We are really focused on it. And that can determine an outcome of a game. So, you know, both sides of the game, both boxes can dictate your win or loss. And yeah, it’s great that we’re getting the results, getting the opportunities, but capitalizing on those opportunities as well.”

In addition to scoring off set pieces, the Pride have also been the more attacking team early in games and scoring early in halves. The Pride scored inside the first 10 minutes of the game in each of the first two matches this season. While they didn’t score early Saturday afternoon, they had two early shots and scored within the first 10 minutes of the second half to take the lead.

Putting the opposition on their heels early and scoring first is something Hines said is essential for the success of the team this season.

“We talk about it all the time, how we get that first goal in the game,” Hines said after the win over Gotham. “So, we always want to start fast, whether we’re at home or away. Regardless of the opponent we’re playing against, that first goal is really important to us.”

The focus on scoring early showed in the first two games. McCutcheon scored in just the seventh minute against Chicago in the season opener and the Reale own goal occurred in the second minute in New Jersey. On Saturday afternoon, Banda was sent deep into the San Diego half and took two shots inside the first four minutes of the game.

While the striker didn’t convert on either of those attempts, the Pride came out flying again in the second half. This time they converted early with McCutcheon’s goal coming in the 50th minute.

Saturday afternoon was the second time this year the Pride have scored inside the first 10 minutes of the second half. They scored through an own goal against Chicago to take a 3-0 lead, something Hines pointed out after the game.

“We talked about that at halftime. And then with the team that we have to continue our momentum, our aggressive nature,” Hines said about the goal on March 14. “And getting that third goal so early into the second half really kind of put the game to rest.”

The Pride’s focus on scoring early and from set pieces has been vital to the team’s early success. They’ve gotten games off to a strong start by creating chances, getting players forward, and converting on those opportunities. If the trend continues, they could put together another long run of results, similar to what they did last year when they started with 23 unbeaten.

The Orlando Pride (3-0-0, 9 points) won their third straight game to start the 2025 season with a 2-1 win over San Diego Wave FC (1-1-1, 4 points) this afternoon at Inter&Co Stadium. Haley McCutcheon gave the Pride the lead early in the second half before Chiamaka Okwuchukwu equalized in the 62nd minute. Marta netted a penalty in the 76th minute to give her team the win.

The Pride had only one change from the lineup that defeated NJ/NY Gotham FC 2-0 Sunday night. Rafaelle was out injured and replaced by Cori Dyke. Emily Sams moved over to her natural center back position to make room for the second-year right back.

Anna Moorhouse was in goal behind a back line of Kerry Abello, Kylie Nadaner, Sams, and Dyke. Haley McCutcheon and Morgan Gautrat were in the defensive midfield behind Angelina, Marta, and Ally Watt with Barbra Banda up top.

This was a game of two halves. Both teams looked lethargic with the noon kickoff, creating few chances. In fact, only five shots were taken in the first 45 minutes. However, the Pride went on the attack in the second half, scoring inside the first 10 minutes after the break. Add in a little chaos and it was an eventful second 45 minutes.

Pride Head Coach Seb Hines said earlier in the week the Pride needed to start fast and they tried to do so, creating the first chance inside the first minute. McCutcheon found Banda going forward off a throw-in. The striker took a couple of touches inside to create space for a shot, but the attempt traveled wide of the target.

Angelina sent Banda forward in the fourth minute and the striker took her second shot in the early minutes. She dribbled inside again and shot from the top of the box, but Kristen McNabb got in front of the attempt to block it.

The Wave created their first decent chance in the eighth minute when Kenza Dali found Perle Morroni on the far left. The left back sent a cross into the box looking for Adriana Leon, but Abello was there to knock it out of play.

The ensuing corner kick resulted in a pair of shots, first by Leon and then by Delphine Cascarino. However, Watt and Banda got in front of the attempts, ensuring Moorhouse wasn’t challenged by either.

The Pride should’ve had a good chance in the 27th minute when Banda played a cross to the top of the San Diego box. McCutcheon and Angelina both converged on the ball but clearly didn’t speak as they ran into each other, ending the threat.

The Pride won their first corner kick in the 37th minute when Banda’s cross was blocked out of play by McNabb. The ensuing set piece was cleared back out to Angelina, who sent another cross into the box. Banda and Savannah McCaskill collided and the ball fell for Watt. However, the whistle blew as McCaskill went to the ground. Referee Adorae Monroy called the foul on Banda though it didn’t appear there was much in it.

Leon tried to send Maria Sanchez through in the 43rd minute, playing the ball between Dyke and Sams. It initially looked like Sanchez might reach it and get in on goal, but Dyke did well to slide in and win the 50-50 ball.

Cori Dyke with the well-timed tackle 💪

— NWSL (@nwslsoccer.com) 2025-03-29T17:18:11.734Z

The Pride had one last chance in the final seconds of the first half when Kennedy Wesley grabbed Banda near the Wave third of the field. Marta’s free kick into the box found the head of Sams, who tried to redirect it on goal, but sent it wide.

After 45 minutes of action, San Diego had the advantage in possession (57%-43%), crosses (8-6), corner kicks (2-1), and passing accuracy (87%-81%). Both teams took three shots and none were on target.

“We are not the team that we showed in the first half. It was the first thing that I told everybody,” Marta said about the first half. “And second, we need to complete our passes because we kill ourselves all the time. When we take the ball back, we give it so fast back to them and there was a little bit suicide for us.”

“First half, it was a little bit flat, a little bit lethargic,” Hines added. “Misplaced some tackles, misplaced some pressing moments, but we were still in the game.”

The Pride made one halftime substitution as Summer Yates came on for Gautrat. The attacking change saw Angelina move into a more defensive role with Yates entering the attacking midfield.

The Pride came out attacking and Yates sent Banda behind the Wave back line in the 48th minute. The striker was free on goal and tried to beat Wave goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan to her near post, but the Canadian international got down to tip it wide.

A minute later, Watt received the ball about 35 yards from goal. After taking a couple of touches forward, the attacker fired. It was an ambitious attempt and on target, but it was straight down the middle, allowing Sheridan to tip it over the top.

Marta’s ensuing corner kick was to the back post, where Banda ran onto it. The ball bounced off Wesley and went straight to McCutcheon. It was an easy finish for the defensive midfielder, who put it in for her second goal of the season.

Haley McCutcheon? More like Haley McCLUTCHeon 😮‍💨

— NWSL (@nwslsoccer.com) 2025-03-29T17:26:41.254Z

Despite her position, McCutcheon has now scored in each of her last four home games.

The Pride should’ve had a second in the 53rd minute when Banda played the ball to the penalty spot where Marta was waiting. The captain slipped as she hit the ball, sending it further to the left for Yates. The halftime substitute had a great chance to double her team’s advantage, but sent her shot over the top.

The Wave made a triple substitution in the 60th minute, including Okwuchukwu. The Nigerian immediately made an impact, creating a chance for her team in the 61st minute. Receiving a pass forward from Morroni, Okwuchukwu beat a sliding Sams and found Morroni continuing her run to the top of the box. The left back tried to find a teammate making a run, but the Pride were able to clear.

Seconds later, Dali lifted a cross into the Pride box. Moorhouse hesitated before coming out to meet the ball, allowing Okwuchukwu to get there first. The San Diego forward headed it in, however, Monroy called a foul and awarded a free kick to the Pride.

The referee was soon called to the monitor to have a second look. After a brief review, the goal was given as Okwuchukwu got there first. It was a good decision and the game was even at 1-1.

A dream debut for 19-year-old Chiamaka Okwuchukwu! 🇳🇬✨The Nigerian nets her first NWSL goal after subbing in under 2 minutes!

— NWSL (@nwslsoccer.com) 2025-03-29T17:38:51.683Z

“I think that sometimes that happens,” Hines said about the goal. “You know, quick throw, delivery, confusion at the back. We’ll review it, we’ll address it, and we’ll make sure it doesn’t happen again.”

The goal was the first conceded by the Pride this season after a pair of clean sheets.

Immediately after the goal, Hines made his second change of the game as Prisca Chilufya came on for Watt.

The Wave had a chance to strike again in the 68th minute when Cascarino played Kimmi Ascanio behind the Pride back line. However, her touch was too heavy, though it went off a Pride defender for a corner. Orlando cleared on the ensuing set piece to escape the danger.

In the 70th minute, Chilufya played the ball wide for Banda who took it into the Wave box. Cascarino challenged the striker from behind, knocking her over. Monroy initially allowed play to continue to see if Chilufya would gain an advantage, but the ball went out of play and the referee pointed to the spot.

Marta stepped up to take the penalty, sending Sheridan the wrong way. However, her penalty was off the inside of the post. It was only the second Marta penalty to be saved or missed since joining the Pride.

“I tried to read which side she would jump,” Marta said about her penalty. “And I read right, but my touch on the ball was so bad. It just hit my ankle and I’ll, I can’t believe, because it was almost perfect. She just jumped to one side and then the ball go to the other side.”

As the Pride tried to build another attack, Monroy stopped play after receiving word from the video assistant referee that Sheridan had come off her line early. Replays showed the goalkeeper was slightly off her line, eerily reminiscent of when Pedro Gallese came off his line against New York City FC in the 2020 MLS Cup playoffs in the same stadium.

“God gave me another chance,” she said about the decision. “He said do better than this one.”

Monroy went to the monitor to make sure the penalty had to be retaken and pointed to the spot for a second time. Marta stepped up again and, as Sheridan dove to her right, the Brazilian sent a panenka towards goal. The ball bounced off the bottom of the crossbar and in to give the Pride a 2-1 lead.

MARTA WITH THE PANENKA ‼️MARTA WITH THE PANENKA ‼️MARTA WITH THE PANENKA ‼️

— NWSL (@nwslsoccer.com) 2025-03-29T17:51:40.926Z

“I was a little bit confused if I go to the right or the left,” Marta said about her second attempt. “So when you are confused, you put it like that, that I did. Just chip in the middle and then expect for the best.”

The players headed to the sidelines in the 76th minute for a hydration break and Hines took the opportunity to make his third substitution. Ally Lemos came into the game for Angelina.

In the 88th minute, Okwuchukwu lifted the ball over Sams and sent Kyra Carusa behind the Pride back line. It looked like the attacker was free on goal but Abello came flying in from behind and took the ball off of her foot. It likely would’ve been either a goal or red card if Abello got it wrong, but the challenge was successful and the Pride kept their 2-1 lead.

what an absolutely clutch recovery by @AbelloKerry 😮‍💨 pic.twitter.com/bsjITtJCpb

— Orlando Pride (@ORLPride) March 29, 2025

As the fourth official showed eight minutes of second-half stoppage time, Hines made two final changes. Zara Chavoshi and Bri Martinez came into the game for Dyke and Banda.

The Pride controlled possession in stoppage time, seeing out the game. San Diego had more possession (55.6%-44.4%) and better passing accuracy (85.5%-80.1%). However, the Pride had more shots (9-5), shots on target (4-1), and crosses (10-9). Both teams won three corner kicks.

“San Diego are a very good team, very good organized ball possession. I thought we did really well at times. But, you know, they were able to pick us off, but not really create too many opportunities,” Hines said. “So our attitude and the desire to get behind the ball once they did get through our initial press is something that we take a lot of pride in. But goals change games, and to get the first goal was brilliant. Another set piece goal that we worked very, very hard on. Obviously, they get themselves back into the game, which obviously we don’t want to happen, and then show our character again to come back.”

Orlando is off to a blazing start to the 2025 NWSL season. The Pride had never won their first game of the season, but they’ve now won three straight. They’ve outscored their opponents in those games 10-1, placing them atop the NWSL standings.

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The Pride are off next weekend for the international break. They’ll return to action on April 12 when they travel west to take on Seattle Reign FC.

Welcome to your match thread as the Orlando Pride (2-0-0, 6 points) return home to face San Diego Wave FC (1-0-1, 4 points). This is the first of two games these teams will play this season. The return game in San Diego is scheduled for Sept. 26.

Here’s everything you need to know about tonight’s game.

History

The San Diego Wave joined the NWSL in 2022 and have only faced the Pride six times in their existence. The Pride have only lost once in those games, posting a record of 3-1-2 overall and 1-1-1 at home.

The most recent meeting was on June 7, 2024 in San Diego. Julie Doyle gave the Pride the lead in the 36th minute before a second-half equalizer by Makenzy Doniak resulted in a 1-1 draw. On April 19 in Orlando, Summer Yates scored the game’s lone goal in the first half, lifting the Pride to a 1-0 win. It was the Pride’s first home win in the series.

The first meeting in 2023 was at Snapdragon Stadium on April 29 after the Pride’s 0-4-0 start to the season. It looked like it would be a fifth straight loss when Jaedyn Shaw gave the hosts the early lead. But Adriana assisted Mikayla Cluff on the equalizer and Haley McCutcheon scored just before halftime to give the Pride the lead. Adriana scored her first goal of the season in the 69th minute to put the game away as the Pride won 3-1.

On Aug. 25 in Orlando, the Pride got off to a horrible start when San Diego center back Abby Dahlkemper scored in the seventh minute for her first goal since 2016. Marta set up Adriana just before halftime for an equalizer, but Kyra Carusa netted the late winner in a 2-1 San Diego win.

The first-ever meeting was on Aug. 13, 2022  in San Diego. The lone goal in the game came from the penalty spot after a Julie Doyle cross hit the arm of Kaleigh Riehl in the first half. Meggie Dougherty Howard stepped up and buried the penalty. The Pride held on for 67 minutes to beat one of the top teams in the league, 1-0 away.

The second meeting was on Sept. 25 in Orlando and the Pride got off to a great start. Doughety Howard opened the scoring in the first half and Gunny Jonsdottir doubled the advantage in the second. It looked like the Pride were headed for six points out of six against the expansion side, but San Diego came storming back. Doniak cut the lead in half and former Pride attacker Taylor Kornieck equalized late, resulting in a disappointing 2-2 draw.

Overview

The Pride have gotten the NWSL regular season off to a flying start. After drawing 1-1 and falling on penalties to the Washington Spirit in the Challenge Cup, they thrashed the Chicago Stars 6-0 and defeated NJ/NY Gotham FC 2-0 Sunday evening. It’s the first time in club history the Pride have recorded back-to-back shutouts (or wins) to start a season.

As you might expect, Barbra Banda has been a problem for opponents so far this season. She netted a brace in the season opener and created issues for Gotham, even though she didn’t get on the scoresheet.

Unfortunately, the Pride lost another key player with center back Rafaelle listed as out for this game. The Brazilian only played 45 minutes against Washington and moved up to 62 minutes against Chicago. It was expected she would play even more against Gotham, but her time was scaled back to 45 minutes again due to injury.

In all three games, the Pride went back to the back line that was the best in the league last year. Emily Sams moved over the center back alongside Kylie Nadaner and Cori Dyke came in at right back. You can expect that back line to start today.

Another issue is the knee injury to Doyle, suffered in the win over Chicago. While Ally Watt had already taken her spot in the attacking midfield, Doyle was a key substitute. However, her absence leaves a substitution spot open for Prisca Chilufya, who we’ve heard a lot about but have yet to see play much with the Pride.

Today, the Pride look to make it three wins out of three as they welcome the Wave to the City Beautiful. The Wave had to figure out what to do when their leading striker, Alex Morgan, retired during last season. They traded for Mexican international Maria Sanchez last year and made a possibly bigger move this off-season by acquiring Canadian international Adriana Leon.

Both Sanchez and Leon have gotten on the scoresheet this season, but they’ve been topped by 22-year-old Tacoma, WA native Gia Corley. The young attacker joined the Wave from German club TSG Hoffenheim this off-season and has quickly made a name for herself in Southern California.

While the Wave have plenty of attacking threats, they’ve yet to scare anyone. They drew 1-1 in their season opener against Angel City FC and won 3-2 in their home opener against the Utah Royals. With the Wave traveling across the country and playing a noon kickoff, the Pride are expected to handle today’s opposition.

“We’re at home. We want to set the tone early,” Pride Head Coach Seb Hines said about today’s game. “I know San Diego have had a lot of goals early on in games. We have to negate that with our defensive responsibilities and our pressing triggers, but also play our game, which is ball possession, trying to create opportunities to score, and so it leads us to an exciting game on Saturday.”

The Pride will play this game without Simone Charley (ankle), Luana (illness), Amanda Allen (shoulder), Aryssa Mahrt (knee), Doyle (knee), and Rafaelle (thigh).

Meanwhile, the Wave are only missing Hillary Beall (thigh) and Trinity Byars (knee).

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Official Lineups

Orlando Pride (4-2-3-1)

Goalkeeper: Anna Moorhouse.

Defenders: Kerry Abello, Kylie Nadaner, Emily Sams, Cori Dyke.

Defensive Midfielders: Haley McCutcheon, Morgan Gautrat.

Midfielders: Angelina, Marta, Ally Watt.

Forward: Barbra Banda.

Bench: McKinley Crone, Carson Pickett, Summer Yates, Bri Martinez, Zara Chavoshi, Ally Lemos, Viviana Villacorta, Grace Chanda, Prisca Chilufya.

San Diego Wave FC (4-3-3)

Goalkeeper: Kailen Sheridan.

Defenders: Perle Morroni, Kristen McNabb, Kennedy Wesley, Hanna Lundkvist.

Midfielders: Kenza Dali, Maria Sanchez, Savannah McCaskill.

Forwards: Gia Corley, Adriana Leon, Delphine Cascarino.

Bench: Trinity Armstrong, Kimmi Ascanio, Melanie Barcenas, Kyra Carusa, Chiamaka Okwuchukwu, Favour Emmanuel, DiDi Haracic, Quincy McMahon, Makenzy Robbe.

Referees

REF: Adorae Monroy.
AR1: Joe Suchoski.
AR2: Jeremy Smith.
4TH: Kyle Cividanes.
VAR: Corbyn May.
AVAR: Maggie Short.

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How to Watch

Match Time: 12 p.m.

Venue: Inter&Co Stadium — Orlando.

TV: ESPN.

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).

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Enjoy the game. Go Pride!