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Orlando Pride vs. Chicago Red Stars: Final Score 5-0 as Pride Dominate Chicago in Regular-Season Return

The Pride equaled the biggest win in team history with a 5-0 thumping of the Chicago Red Stars.

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3 years ago

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride

The Orlando Pride (7-8-1, 22 points) had their best performance of the year in their first game after the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup break, crushing the Chicago Red Stars (5-10-1, 16 points) 5-0. Rafaelle and Mariana Larroquette both scored on their debuts for the team and Messiah Bright scored the first brace of her young career. The fifth goal was by midfielder Mikayla Cluff.

The return of the World Cup participants meant that Marta and Adriana rejoined the lineup. Rafaelle also entered the lineup at center back, replacing Megan Montefusco and making her Pride debut. The back line in front of goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse was Kylie Strom, Emily Madril, Rafaelle, and Haley McCutcheon. Viviana Villacorta and Kerry Abello were in the defensive midfield behind Julie Doyle, Marta, and Adriana, with Bright up top.

Similar to their first meeting in Illinois on May 27, the Pride dominated this game from start to finish. Other than a brief flurry of blocked shots in the first half, Chicago couldn’t get anything going offensively. However, while the Pride were unable to hit the target in their first meeting, they put five behind Red Stars goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher in this one.

The Pride dominated possession in the opening minutes, creating all of the opportunities in the opposing end. In the 11th minute, Marta attempted to play Bright behind the Chicago defense, but the rookie striker wasn’t expecting it. Two minutes later, Rafaelle sent a terrific ball behind the back line for Bright. Unfortunately, her first touch was too heavy, allowing Naeher to collect it.

The first shot of the game came in the 13th minute, when Doyle, who the Pride were constantly playing to outside early, sent a low cross into the box. It looked like the defense would easily clear, but there was some miscommunication. Marta took advantage, reaching in to put the ball on goal. However, the close-range shot was right to Naeher.

The Pride finally took the lead in the 14th minute from a corner kick. Adriana and Marta stood over the ball, with Adriana stepping over it. Marta’s cross was outside of the six-yard box and beyond the back post, where Rafaelle got her head to it. The newly-signed Brazilian sent the ball towards the opposite post where it beat Naeher for the opening goal.

“Obviously, Rafa is a world class center half,” Pride Head Coach Seb Hines said about the opening goal. “And you know, she’s been threatening in her career off set pieces, and it’s nice to get that early goal. Nice for her to get that goal early on as well.”

Less than a minute later, McCutcheon nearly doubled the Pride’s lead. She attempted to play the ball across for Bright, but it was blocked right back to her. The right back’s second ball was a shot towards the far post that sent Naeher diving, but it went just wide of the post.

Marta came close to scoring in her first game back with the team in the 19th minute, when Doyle’s low cross was cleared out by Kayla Sharples. The clearance went to Marta outside of the box and the Pride captain took an ambitious shot on goal. It was a good strike, but went just over the crossbar.

The Pride doubled their lead in the 24th minute when McCutcheon blocked a long-distance attempt by Penelope Hocking — Chicago’s first shot of the game. She played the ball forward for Doyle, who immediately sent Bright into the Red Stars half. Hocking slid in with a very late challenge on Doyle, but referee Anya Voigt waved play on. Taylor Malham was on the striker, but left her too much space. Bright took advantage of the room, sending the ball inside the far post to give the Pride a 2-0 lead.

“I think when you just think about it in the moment and think it’s just picking your moments, I’m usually more of an attacking player that looks to go in the box,” Bright said about her first goal of the night. “So I think just trusting myself with my shot and knowing that I do have the range to kick it outside of the 18 as well. So I just took a chance and just really just had a good technique on it.”

“I think we’ve had games before where we’ve had those chances in the first 15, 20 minutes and we haven’t put them away,” Madril said about scoring two goals early. “And then it just puts more pressure on us to try to get that goal and then we have to work harder to just get those goals. So I think it’s great to get those two goals early and kind of let things calm down and kind of play or composed soccer and keep the ball and have Chicago chase the whole time.”

Before the Red Stars could restart, Voigt went back to the challenge on Doyle, issuing Hocking a yellow card for the late challenge.

Bright had a chance for a first-half brace in the 29th minute when a quick give-and-go between the rookie and Marta sent Bright behind the Red Stars defense. She got herself in position to shoot as she entered the box with Malham closing in, but the attempt was right to Naeher.

After only taking one shot in the first 34 minutes, the Red Stars had two good chances in the 35th minute. Strom attempted to shield St-Georges from the ball near her own end line, but St-Georges was able to play it back for Ava Cook. The forward took a touch to create space from Rafaelle and shot. Fortunately, Madril was backing her fellow center back up and blocked it. The rebound went right back to Cook, who laid it off for Yuki Nagasato behind her. Nagasato’s shot beat Rafaelle, but was blocked by Strom.

A minute later, the Red Stars forced Moorhouse into her first stop of the game when Casey Krueger found Hocking to her left. Hocking had some space for a shot and tried to beat Moorhouse to her near post, but the Pride goalkeeper got down to block it out of play.

The Red Stars had one more first-half opportunity in the 36th minute, when Nagasato found Julia Bianchi outside of the Pride box. The midfielder took a shot from distance, but Madril stepped in front of it for the block. The small flurry of chances was the only Chicago threat in the first half and the Pride were able to take a 2-0 lead into the break.

After 45 minutes, the Red Stars had more possession (51.7%-48.3%), but the Pride had more shots (9-5), shots on target (4-1), and crosses (11-7), and better passing accuracy (85.5%-81.2%). Both teams had two corners in the first half.

It looked like the Red Stars might get back into the game in the 49th minute when Krueger sent a long ball for Jenna Bike, who came on at halftime for St-Georges. Bike got behind the Pride defense, but Strom slid in to take the ball away. Hocking and Bike, who went down on the play, threw their arms in the air, claiming it should’ve been a penalty. But Voigt decided it was a clean challenge.

The Pride quickly went the other way with Adriana playing it forward for Marta. The Brazilian used the outside of her left foot to send Bright behind the Red Stars defense. Naeher came out of the box to challenge the striker, but Bright remained calm, dribbling around her and putting it in for her second goal of the night.

“The main thing that was going through my mind was just making sure I stayed even with the back line so I wouldn’t be caught offside,” Bright said about the goal. “But also just having that separation as well to break off once she passed. It is quite amazing how she got the ball through there. It’s Marta, so I mean, couldn’t expect nothing less. But my main thing was once she played it, I saw Naeher coming out, so I just went around her and the goal was wide open. I was kind of getting off balance a little bit so my main thing was just placing it, putting a little heat on it, and just redirecting it in the goal.”

It was Bright’s sixth goal of the season, tying her for fifth in the league. It’s also her first career brace, something the rookie says she’s been aiming for.

“I’ve been searching for that career brace for a minute now,” Bright said. “So it was pretty, you know, good to just get that. And I was actually aiming for a hat trick but, you know, take it a game at a time.”

Chicago had a chance to get one back in the 59th minute when Bianchi’s long-distance shot was blocked out of play by Rafaelle. The ensuing corner kick got under the arm and Moorhouse, but, fortunately, the Pride were able to clear.

Hines made his first changes of the game in the 60th minute. Cluff, Larroquette, and Jordyn Listro entered the game for Doyle, Bright, and Villacorta.

It didn’t take long for Larroquette to make an impact as she scored 3:46 into her Pride debut. The new forward received the ball on the left side of the box from Cluff and cut inside to beat her defender. The Argentine placed her shot with her right foot past Naeher and into the top corner to give the Pride a 4-0 lead.

“For Larroquette, you know, coming in and, you know, you can see the hunger that she brings to try and score.”Hines said about the new striker. “Every moment she wants to score.”

Four minutes later, the Pride scored a fifth and it was another substitute. Cluff played Adriana down the right and the Brazilian used some good footwork to beat Amanda Kowalski. Cluff continued her run into the box and Adriana found her. Cluff’s first touch was a soft shot inside the far post to give the Pride a 5-0 lead.

With the game well under control, the Pride made two final changes. Megan Montefusco came on for Rafaelle in the 70th minute and Summer Yates replaced Adriana in the 73rd minute.

The Pride nearly had a sixth in the 82nd minute when Abello beat her defender and sent a cross towards the top of the six-yard box. Naeher tried to knock the ball away, but only put it in front for Larroquette. Unfortunately, the Argentinian couldn’t get her foot on the ball and the Red Stars cleared.

Chicago had a chance to get on the scoresheet in the 85th minute when Ella Stevens sent fellow substitute Ally Schlegel behind the Pride defense. Schlegel’s first touch should’ve been a shot on goal, but it was a heavy one instead. Moorhouse came out to challenge and the two collided, resulting in the ball rolling out of play. Moorhouse was down briefly and required medical attention, but was able to continue.

The fourth official put up six minutes of second-half stoppage time, but the Pride were content with their five-goal lead. The only chance in the dying minutes came in the first minute of added time when Krueger did well to keep possession in the Pride box and send the ball towards the penalty spot. Cari Roccaro met the ball and took a shot, but Madril got in front of the attempt, blocking it wide.

The Red Stars finished the game with more possession (51.1%-48.9%) and corner kicks (6-4), but weren’t able to create much from them. The Pride had more shots (13-9), shots on target (7-1), and crosses (17-15), and better passing accuracy (85.6%-82.8%).

“The players were brilliant today,” Hines said about the performance. “From start to finish, the intensity of how they did everything, from attacking to defending. We talked heavily about taking our opportunities, end product in the final third. And, you know, they were brilliant. I can’t speak highly (enough) of them. You know, we’ve felt like that performance has been coming. But it’s nice to finally get a good score line at the end of it.”

The five goals are the most the Pride have scored in a game since May 26, 2018 when they beat the Red Stars in Illinois, 5-2. It’s their largest win since Aug. 12, 2017 when they won 5-0 over Sky Blue FC at Exploria Stadium. It’s also the first time that the Pride have beaten the Red Stars in Orlando, now with a record of 1-7-1 at home against tonight’s opposition.

In addition to team history, the Pride also set some league history tonight. They did that earlier this year by conceding the latest goals in league history, but this time it was positive. Brazilians Marta, Adriana, and Rafaelle all had a part in goals, the first time in NWSL history that three players from the same country other than the United States had goal contributions in the same game.

It was a clutch performance for the Pride as they attempt to qualify for the NWSL playoffs for the first time since 2017. Racing Louisville lost last night, so the Pride move in front of them into seventh place. The final playoff spot is currently held by San Diego Wave FC, which is three points ahead of the Pride after this weekend’s games.

The win makes the Pride’s next match even more essential as they welcome the Wave to Exploria Stadium Friday night with a chance to climb even on points for the sixth and final playoff spot.

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Orlando Pride vs. NJ/NY Gotham FC: Final Score 2-1 as Poor Finishing Costly in Pride Loss

The Pride’s wastefulness in front of goal was costly in a loss that belied a great performance against the league leaders.

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6 days ago

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October 25, 2026

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Marta tries to round Gotham's Ann-Katrin Berger.
Dan MacDonald, The Mane Land

The Orlando Pride turned in one of the team’s best performances in some time but could not translate that performance into conversions in front of goal, falling 2-1 to Gotham FC at Inter.co Stadium in the club’s final home game of 2026. The Pride more than doubled Gotham’s shot total, created numerous breakaway opportunities, and put together a performance that would have been enough on most days, but poor Pride finishing helped first-place Gotham (17-5-7, 58 points) deny Orlando (11-15-3, 36 points) a final win in front of the home fans this season.

Midge Purce and Tierna Davidson built Gotham a 2-0 lead before Solai Washington’s strike spoiled the shutout on a second straight match day in which the Jamaican international could have scored numerous goals.

“The result is tough, but man, we do a lot of things really well, and their goalkeeper had a heck of a game,” Orlando Pride interim coach Yolanda Thomas said after the game. “So, really proud of how we came out and how we competed. And hats off to their goalkeeper.”

Thomas started Cosette Morche in goal behind a back line of Hailie Mace, Rafaelle, Cori Dyke, and Oihane. Angelina and Ally Lemos started in the defensive midfield behind an attacking line of Kerry Abello, Haley McCutcheon, and Washington with Marta up top.

Orlando started brightly, setting up two early chances for Washington, but the rookie struggled in the final third as she has so often during this 2026 season. On the first, Marta did well to get down the left side, using a stop-start run to lose her defender. The captain took the ball to the end line and sent a cross to Washington at the back post with an empty net in front of her, but the Jamaican’s volley attempt was poor and she missed the target from point-blank range in the second minute.

Two minutes later, Washington used her pace to get behind the defense down the right flank, but upon entering the box, she became indecisive and eventually lost control of the ball, allowing Gotham goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger to collect it.

Gotham came close to getting players in behind the defense a few times, but the visitors’ first decent look at goal came in the 14th minute when Orlando allowed Davidson too much space outside the area. The USWNT defender blasted a shot that fizzed just over the crossbar.

Orlando had a nice attacking movement seconds later, but Marta dummied the pass to her between the centerbacks, allowing it to run through. The Pride recycled the attack on the left to Angelina outside the area but she fired well over the bar in the 15th minute.

Abello should have put the ball in the net in the 17th minute. A long ball sent the winger down the middle behind the defense. As she approached goal, she rounded Berger and with the entire net to shoot at, she missed wide of the left post. The flag came up after the play, but it appeared that video review may have overturned the offside. Either way, it was a huge missed opportunity and a costly one.

Denise O’Sullivan was sent behind the defense in the 20th minute but the Pride got away with it when she took a heavy touch that Morche was able to collect. Two minutes later, however, Gotham took the lead.

Guro Reiten wasn’t closed down outside the area on the left, sending in a perfect cross to an uncovered Purce on the right. Purce’s header found the inside of the left post, putting Gotham ahead 1-0 in the 22nd minute.

“The breakdown I was really unhappy with was actually earlier in the the play because we lost our defensive shape,” Thomas said. “So, just a lapse there in positioning and moving and shifting together more so than the final action.”

Orlando continued to get forward in the attack but do little with its chances. McCutcheon found herself in space outside the area in the 24th minute, but sent a shot at Berger that was so little trouble that the Gotham keeper chested it down rather than catching it. Two minutes later, Marta slipped Abello in behind the defense. This time Abello fired on target but right at Berger.

The Pride continued wasting promising chances after the first-half hydration break, starting with Washington firing well over the bar from the right in the 35th minute.

Gotham nearly doubled the lead a minute later. Another good cross in from the left found Sam Kerr in front. Kerr headed her shot on target, but Morche was there. Tess Boade was first to the rebound just a foot or so in front of the goal line, but again Morche got over to block it to keep it at 1-0.

The Pride immediately turned the ball over and Boade fired off target from the top of the box.

Marta sent Washington behind the defense in the 40th minute and the midfielder tried to round Berger but got too close and had the ball taken off her foot. The play was just offside anyway, and Berger needed a visit from the trainers after the play but was able to continue.

Washington, who was dangerous until the final moment all half long, did well to cut inside Davidson in first-half stoppage time, heading toward the box. Davidson pulled her down, earning a yellow card and setting up a Pride free kick just to the right of the area. Angelina touched the ball forward for Marta to drive a low ball in front of goal. Oihane reached it first but sent her shot just wide of the right post, wasting yet another great scoring chance.

Two more late crosses right at Berger — one by Washington and one by Oihane — and the half came to an end with the Pride looking up at a 1-0 deficit that easily could have been a multi-goal lead.

Gotham dominated first-half possession (62%-38%), won more corners (1-0), and passed more accurately (84%-74%). The Pride attempted more shots (8-6), while both teams put three attempts on target.

“It was a hard game, but I think we had very good moments, and if we had put the ball in the net in those moments, those situations that we created, especially in the first half — we had a couple in the second half too — the game probably should be like very different for us,” Marta said.

Orlando fashioned the first look at goal in the second half in the 51st minute. Mace intercepted a ball and bombed forward. She didn’t like her options and wasn’t closed down, so the fullback sent a weak shot at Berger that didn’t trouble the keeper.

A minute later, Kerr blasted a shot just over the crossbar from close range but the flag came up anyway.

Marta got into the box after a Pride takeaway in the 56th minute and went down in the box from contact she sustained while shooting a soft shot at Berger. The referee took a look but awarded nothing despite the Brazilian’s protests.

Reiten fired just wide of the left post from the right on a corner Gotham took short in the 58th minute.

The back-and-forth play continued at the other end with Marta getting into the area again and she again tried and failed to round Berger.

“Of course, she is a very good goalkeeper,” Marta said. “We just need to read a little bit faster the situation and do better. I think like she’s so confident in so many moments, and we need to be more confident in them.”

“A player like Berger is why they are where they are in the table and why they are teeing themselves up to not just win the shield but compete for a championship when you have performances like that,” Thomas said. “We were prepared and our forwards knew what they were facing, and (Berger) makes incredible plays, and that changes the momentum. If we score early on, it’s a different game, right?”

Gotham went back the other way and Morche did well to tap a shot onto her crossbar and out for a corner. But the Pride’s shoddy set piece defending throughout the season appeared again on the ensuing corner. The ball went right to left to a completely unmarked Jaelin Howell, who headed it on frame. Morche got a touch to it to keep it out but Davidson tapped in the rebound to make it 2-1 in the 62nd minute.

“The second goal is a set piece, and they’re always going to be dangerous,” Thomas said. “But the way we reacted when the ball drops down is not good enough.”

Orlando pulled the goal back three minutes later. A poor back pass from Howell ended up on Washington’s foot, and the attacker used her pace to blaze behind the Gotham back line. This time, Washington picked out her spot before Berger could come out to challenge her and found the inside of the left post to make it 2-1 in the 65th minute.

“She’s found a way to to figure out how to be an impactful player for 90 minutes now,” Thomas said of Washington’s emergence the last few games. “Earlier in the year, she had periods and then she she dropped off. So, she’s a young player with incredible potential and it bodes well for the Pride organization going forward.”

Gotham did its best to slow the game down from that point on but the Pride had their chances. Second-half sub Jacquie Ovalle made a nice switch of play in the 68th minute, picking out Lemos on the right. Lemos likely fired way too early in the amount of space she had, and the midfielder sent her shot well over the goal and up into The Wall.

Washington tried to beat Davidson right to left again in the 81st minute. She got a shot off but it took a deflection and was an easy collection for Berger.

Defender Kylie Nadaner and midfielder Viviana Villacorta made their 2026 season debuts down the stretch as the Pride looked for an equalizer.

The two best chances to equalize were sent off target on good crosses. On the first, Washington made her best cross of the day to pick out McCutcheon, who sent her header wide of the right post in the 88th minute. A minute later, Ovalle sent a gorgeous back-post ball from the left to Washington at the right post, but she made poor contact with it and sent it wide.

A final mad scramble in the box fell at McCutcheon’s feet but a defender on the ground blocked it. It fell to Luana, who couldn’t pull the trigger in traffic and Gotham eventually cleared, ending the final attack.

At full time, Gotham FC held the advantage in possession (60%-40%), corners (4-1), and passing accuracy (82%-76%). Orlando fired far more shots (19-9) and put more on target (8-6).

“I feel like we played well. We just couldn’t like capitalize,” Rafalle said. “We had a few chances, but I think like the goalkeeper did a great job today, not letting us score more than one goal.”

Despite not having much left to play for, the Pride’s performance against the league’s best team was not lost on their coach.

“Where we are right now isn’t good enough for this club, but for us, the journey we’ve been on, I was just incredibly proud because not just of what they were able to produce footballing-wise, but I know what it took, energy and emotionally for them to put that together,” Thomas said. “And so,I’m happy for them because they can walk away feeling like this is who we are. We’re capable of playing and they needed that.”

The Pride will close out their 2026 season on the road at Seattle Reign FC a week from today.

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Orlando Pride vs. NJ/NY Gotham FC: Preview, How to Watch, TV Info, Live Stream, Lineups, Match Thread, and More

The Pride wrap up their 2026 home schedule as they welcome NJ/NY Gotham FC to Orlando.

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6 days ago

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October 25, 2026

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

Welcome to your match preview and live thread as the Orlando Pride (11-14-3, 36 points) complete their home schedule against NJ/NY Gotham FC (16-5-7, 55 points) in a matinee at Inter.co Stadium (3 p.m., CBS Sports Network). This is the second and final time these teams will meet this year.

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

History

The Pride have faced Gotham 29 times since joining the NWSL in 2016, facing each other 23 times in the regular season. The Pride are 9-8-6 all-time in the regular season series, with a 4-5-2 record at home. Counting all competitions, Orlando is 9-12-8 against today’s visitors, including a 4-9-2 home mark.

The most recent meeting between the two teams took place on March 29 in New Jersey. With the exception of Gotham’s 61% possession, it was an even game. In the end, neither team was able to convert, resulting in a scoreless draw.

The first matchup of 2025 was held on March 23 in New Jersey. An early Lilly Reale own goal gave the Pride the lead and Marta doubled it from the spot just after halftime as the Pride won 2-0. On Aug. 29 in Orlando, Esther Gonzalez gave the visitors the lead early and Jaelin Howell doubled the advantage just before halftime. Gotham defended well in the second half, leaving with a 2-0 win.

The teams met again in the NWSL playoff semifinal on Nov. 16 in Orlando. The game was a scoreless draw heading into injury time and appeared to be headed into an extra 30 minutes — so much so that Marta admitted postgame she was preparing for extra time. But Jaedyn Shaw put a stop to those thoughts by converting on a set piece in the seventh minute of stoppage time, ending the Pride’s season and their quest for a repeat NWSL Championship.

The first meeting of 2024 occurred Sept. 1 in Orlando and was delayed by inclement weather, but the Pride took control when it began. Adriana gave the Pride the early 2-0 lead with a brace inside the first 20 minutes. Those were the only two goals, as the Pride won 2-0. On Oct 20, 2024 in New Jersey, Sam Hiatt gave the hosts the early lead before Adriana equalized just past the half-hour mark. However, Gotham scored on either side of halftime with goals by Rose Lavelle and Ella Stevens to win 3-1.

The first meeting of 2023 was a regular-season clash on April 15 in Orlando. It looked to be headed for a draw, but Gotham struck twice in the dying minutes. Midge Purce converted a penalty 10 minutes into stoppage time and then assisted on Lynn Williams’ goal seven minutes later, setting a record for the latest goal in NWSL history as the Pride fell 2-0. They played again on May 14 in New Jersey, when the Pride were the better team and created more chances but couldn’t find the back of the net. The game ended in a scoreless draw.

The Pride and Gotham met twice in the NWSL Challenge Cup following those regular-season matchups. The first of those took place July 23 in Orlando. A Megan Montefusco header gave the Pride an early lead, but they were unable to hold on. Jenna Nighswonger converted a penalty later in the first half and Gotham took over in the second half with goals by McCall Zerboni and Yazmeen Ryan, beating the Pride 3-1. On Aug. 9 in New Jersey, Messiah Bright gave the Pride the lead in the first half, but Meleana Shim equalized in second-half stoppage time, resulting in a 1-1 draw.

The two teams met four times during the 2022 season — twice in the NWSL regular season and twice in the Challenge Cup. The first was a Challenge Cup meeting March 30 at Exploria Stadium. It looked to be heading for a 0-0 draw before Purce scored a late winner. The teams next met in the Challenge Cup on April 23 at Red Bull Arena. Gunny Jonsdottir gave the Pride the lead, but Toni Pressley got tangled up with Ifeoma Onumonu, resulting in a penalty. Kristie Mewis leveled the game from the spot just before the half. Neither team could find a winner and it ended 1-1.

The teams met in the 2022 NWSL regular-season opener on May 1 in Orlando. After two close matchups in the preseason tournament, this one was all Gotham, as goals by Zerboni, Purce, and Mewis lifted the visitors to a 3-0 win. On Aug. 20, they played at Subaru Park in Chester, PA. Celia and Ally Watt built the Pride a 2-0 lead. Mewis got one back for the hosts, but the Pride held on for a 2-1 win.

The Pride and Gotham also met four times in 2021, with the first coming in the Pride’s inaugural Challenge Cup campaign. On April 14, Paige Monaghan’s goal lifted Gotham to a 1-0 win. The first regular-season game that year came on June 20 in Orlando. The visitors took the lead through Caprice Dydasco, but Courtney Petersen equalized for a 1-1 draw.

On Aug. 29, 2021, the teams played at Red Bull Arena. Erika Tymrak’s long-range goal lifted the Pride to a 2-1 win. The teams played one final, high-scoring game on Oct. 9. It was a bad start for the Pride as Gaetane Thiney scored a brace and Purce made it 3-0 late. The Pride came storming back with goals by Tymrak and Marta, falling just short in a 3-2 final.

The Pride and Gotham were in different groups for the 2020 Fall Series, so the last time they met prior to 2021 was in 2019, when the New Jersey-based club was still called Sky Blue FC. They first met that year on June 22 at Yurcak Field in Piscataway, NJ. Chioma Ubogagu gave the Pride the lead from the penalty spot and Sarah Killion equalized. The difference was a Gina Lewandowski own goal as the Pride won 2-1.

The teams met at Exploria Stadium on July 20, 2021. Marisa Viggiano’s goal won it for the Pride, 1-0. The final meeting of 2021 occurred Sept. 29 in New Jersey. Shelina Zadorsky gave the Pride the lead, but Carli Lloyd equalized in a 1-1 draw.

The teams met three times in 2018, starting on June 16 in Orlando, when a Sydney Leroux brace led the Pride to a 3-2 win. They met again in Orlando on Aug. 5, with the Pride giving up a 1-0 lead after Marta’s opening goal. But Dani Weatherholt equalized in a 2-2 draw. The final meeting in 2018 came on Sept. 8 in New Jersey — the final game of the season. There was only one goal in this one as Lloyd won it for Sky Blue FC.

The 2017 season saw the Pride and Sky Blue meet three times, with the New Jersey-based club winning at home, 2-1 on May 27, and the Pride winning 3-2 in New Jersey on June 28 and 5-0 at home on Aug. 12 in Orlando.

The 2016 season was the first time the two teams met, with the inaugural game coming on Sept. 7 in New Jersey. Alex Morgan and Sam Kerr swapped goals in a 1-1 draw. They met again three days later in Orlando, with Sky Blue winning, 2-1.

Overview

The Pride entered last weekend on the verge of being officially eliminated from playoff contention. They were given a gift on Saturday night when both the North Carolina Courage and Denver Summit FC lost. They took advantage of that opportunity by defeating the Houston Dash 2-1 on Sunday in Texas. However, a 3-1 Seattle Reign win over the Chicago Stars saw any hope of a third-straight playoff appearance dissipate.

The 2026 season has been a huge disappointment with the Pride struggling to maintain any consistency. They only won multiple games in a row once, defeating San Diego Wave FC on May 24 and Bay FC on May 29. In all but two cases, a win was followed by a loss. That’s what’s kept the Pride below the playoff line and, heading into this game, in 11th place.

The primary bright spot this season has been the play of striker Barbra Banda. The Zambian led the league in goals for the first half of the season until North Carolina’s Ashley Sanchez went on a hot streak. Despite playing five fewer games, Banda’s 17 goals place her just three behind Sanchez’s 20. However, due to representing Zambia against Uganda, Banda is banned by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) from re-entering the country for 21 days, keeping her out for this game.

Banda’s absence will be noticeable as the Pride have only scored 38 goals this year and she’s scored nealy half of those. In most cases, the other goals have come from unlikely sources, such as Haley McCutcheon’s eight goals. In Houston, Luana converted a penalty and Solai Washington scored her first professional goal to lift the team to three points.

The Pride have also struggled defensively, conceding 44 goals. That’s largely due to Kylie Nadaner’s absence on maternity leave and Emily Sams departing for Angel City FC during the off-season. The front office did little to replace those key pieces, resulting in the team conceding the fourth-most goals in the league.

Fortunately for the Pride, tonight’s opponent isn’t one of the top attacking teams. They’ve scored 35 goals this year, ranking 13th in the league. Gotham is led by Shaw with 10 goals this year. She’s followed by Gonzalez (no longer with the club) with six, Lavelle, Kerr, and Jordynn Dudley with four each, and Purce with three goals.

Gotham’s strength has been its defense. The club has only conceded 22 goals this year, topping the NWSL. German number one goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger is second in the league with a goals-against average of 0.88 through 25 games. However, that success is largely due to the team’s defense. Berger’s only made 74 saves, ranking 10th in the league.

The team’s defensive success is largely due to the center back pairing of Jess Carter and Tierna Davidson, who have started 28 and 27 games this season, respectively, giving Berger a consistent pair in front of her.

Today’s opponent has the added incentive of fighting for the NWSL Shield. The league leaders sit just one point ahead of San Diego Wave FC and three ahead of the Washington Spirit, making three points essential in the quest.

“We’re competitors. So, if we can’t compete for playoffs, we want to compete for something else,” Pride interim head coach Yolanda Thomas said about tonight’s game. “We want to play games that matter, and while they may not matter for our destiny, they matter. So, it absolutely adds just a bit of additional motivation.”

The Pride will play tonight without Banda (excused absence), Sanne Lekven (ankle), and Zoe Matthews (hip). Gotham will be without Bruninha (knee), Dudley (foot), Kayla Duran (knee), Lavelle (neck), Shaw (knee), and Emily Sonnett (knee). Sofia Cook (ankle) is listed as questionable.

Official Lineups

Orlando Pride (4-2-3-1)

Goalkeeper: Cosette Morche.

Defenders: Hailie Mace, Rafaelle, Cori Dyke, Oihane.

Defensive Midfileders: Angelina, Ally Lemos.

Attacking Midfielders: Kerry Abello, Haley McCutcheon, Solai Washington.

Forward: Marta.

Bench: Cara Martin, Hannah Anderson, Zara Chavoshi, Kylie Nadaner, Luana, Viviana Villacorta, Julie Doyle, Summer Yates, Jacquie Ovalle.

NJ/NY Gotham FC (4-2-3-1)

Goalkeeper: Ann-Katrin Berger.

Defenders: Leila Auahabi, Tierna Davidson, Jess Carter, Mandy Freeman.

Defensive Midfielders: Denise O’Sullivan, Jaelin Howell.

Attacking Midfileders: Guro Reiten, Tess Boade, Midge Purce.

Forward: Sam Kerr.

Bench: Shelby Hogan, Teagn Wy, Sofia Cook, Talia Sommer, Andrea Kitahata, Taryn Torres, Savannah McCaskill, Meredith Speck, Olivia Wingate.

Referees

REF: Jaclyn Metz.
AR1: Max Smith.
AR2: Sharon Gingrich.
4TH: Jorge Escobar.
VAR: Joshua Encarnacion.
AVAR: Seun Yinka-Kehinde.

How to Watch

Match Time: 3 p.m.

Venue: Inter.co Stadium — Orlando.

TV: CBS Sports Network.

Streaming: None.

Social Media: For live updates and rapid reaction, following @themaneland.bsky.social on Bluesky and the Orlando Pride’s official Twitter (@ORLPride) or Bluesky (@orlpride.com) feed.

Enjoy the game. Go Pride!

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Orlando Pride

Orlando Pride vs. Houston Dash: Final Score 2-1 as Pride Ride Big First Half to Road Win

The Pride avoided postseason elimination today by defeating the Houston Dash 2-1 in Southeast Texas.

Published

2 weeks ago

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October 18, 2026

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Justin Glatt

The Orlando Pride (11-14-3, 36 points) went on the road and snatched three valuable points, defeating the Houston Dash (8-14-6, 30 points) 2-1 this afternoon at Shell Energy Stadium in Houston, TX. Luana gave the visitors the lead with a 16th-minute penalty and Solai Washington doubled the advantage in the 31st minute. Daniele Colaprico pulled one back for the hosts in the 55th minute, but it wasn’t enough as the Pride staved off postseason elimination — at least for the moment — pending the result of the Seattle-Chicago match tonight.

Pride interim head coach Yolanda Thomas made four changes to the team that lost 2-1 to San Diego Wave FC on Oct. 2. Rafaelle, Kerry Abello, Luana, and Marta entered the lineup, replacing Hannah Anderson, Ally Lemos, Jacquie Ovalle, and Barbra Banda.

The back line in front of goalkeeper Cosette Morche was Hailie Mace, Rafaelle, Cori Dyke, and Oihane. Angelina and Luana were the defensive midfielders behind Abello, Haley McCutcheon, and Washington with Marta up top.

The Pride dominated the first half of the game, creating nearly all of the dangerous chances. It was a much different second 45 minutes, as Houston looked to erase a two-goal deficit and Orlando struggled to break out of its end for stretches. Thomas’ substitutions didn’t make the impact she hoped they would, and it took a strong effort to hold onto the three points. In the end, the two first-half goals were enough to get the win.

The Pride started the game on the front foot, creating multiple chances early. In the second minute, they kept a short clearance in the Dash third. Angelina sent McCutcheon into the Houston box, but Leah Klenke knocked the ball out for a corner kick.

Marta’s ensuing set piece curled on target, forcing Houston goalkeeper Jane Campbell to punch it away. It was headed further out but to an oncoming Luana, who headed the ball over the crossbar.

The Pride kept the ball in the Houston half, creating a second opportunity in the fourth minute. Washington played Angelina into the box from the right and the defensive midfielder immediately sent the ball centrally for Abello. However, Natalie Hammond deflected Abello’s shot, allowing Campbell to collect it.

The Dash created their first shot in the sixth minute. Kat Rader received a pass forward in the Pride third of the field and had plenty of space to approach the top of the box. Since nobody stepped up to defend the attacker, she took a shot, sending the ball into Morche’s arms.

Oihane pushed forward in the 11th minute, sending Washington toward the Houston box. The attacker avoided a slide tackle from Paige Nielsen and got into the box before Miljana Ivanovic clipped her foot and brought her down. Referee Shawn Tehini immediately pointed to the spot, awarding the Pride an early penalty.

As Luana stood over the ball, there was a lengthy video review to ensure there was contact and to see if the play was onside. The video assistant referee eventually sent Tehini to the monitor, and after another unnecessarily lengthy review, the referee confirmed the penalty..

Despite Marta being the team’s primary penalty taker, Luana remained over the ball and took the spot kick. 

“We always have conversations, so players are ready, and we make sure that we train them,” Thomas said about Luana taking the penalty. “But really, in those moments, it’s about having multiple players ready and then letting them make those decisions.”

Campbell guessed correctly, but it was a quality attempt by the Brazilian, sending the ball just beyond Campbell’s reach and into the left corner. It was the second time in the last three games that the Pride have taken the lead inside the first 20 minutes.

“I actually said in the locker room, we are going to score inside the first 15 minutes. I think the goal clocked after 15 because of the VAR review, but that was my expectation,” Thomas said. “I told them I know we have the quality to go out and put this team under pressure, and we did.”

“That’s huge. And I think that catapulted us to having the rest of the first half be so well played,” Washington added. “I think we’re able to play so freely as a team. And all credit to Luana for being able to step up and bury it in the back of the net. Super special for her, and I’m just really glad that she was able to bury that and then you know give us a lead early.”

The Dash attempted a quick response, sending Clarissa Larisey over the top. While the striker had a step on Rafaelle, the center back got enough contact on Larisey to force the shot wide.

On the other end, Washington created another opportunity in the 19th minute. The attacker used her change of pace to create space from Allysha Chapman before sending a low cross to Abello. Unfortunately, Hammond was in front of Abello, forcing a weak shot that didn’t cause much trouble for Campbell.

Angelina sent the ball over the top in the 25th minute for Abello on the left. After entering the box, Abello laid the ball off for Washington, who sent a somewhat weak shot on goal. It looked like Campbell was in position to stop the attempt, but it somehow beat her, rolling just inside the left post. However, she was saved by Tehini’s whistle as Abello was offside on the initial ball.

Luana received a throw-in in her own third in the 31st minute, immediately playing the ball forward for Marta. The Pride captain spun to beat Klenke and sent Washington into the Houston half. Chapman put a body on Washington, but the attacker did well to shield her and beat Campbell, scoring her first professional goal.

“I saw Marta face up, and I know that when she can face up, she can play a perfect ball. And so my job is to run, create the space,” Washington said. “And when I saw that there was so much open space in the second half, I wanted to exploit it. She played a perfectly weighted ball, and I was just able to fight back with it. I mean, all glory to God. I wouldn’t be here without him. And I think it’s just a surreal feeling, kind of like a weight off my shoulders. And it just feels awesome.”

“She’s a forward that wants to score goals and is capable of scoring goals. So, you score a goal, you feel confident, and we wanted to ride that wave,” Thomas said. “So, I’m really happy for her. She worked so hard. She had the early one too that was pulled back. So, credit to her. She created a ton, and I think as she continues to work, she’ll walk out of these games with multiple goals.”

The penalty review and first-half hydration break resulted in seven minutes of stoppage time, allowing the Dash to create a couple of final first-half shots. But neither Kiki Van Zanten or Ivanovic’s chances were on target, giving the Pride a 2-0 lead at the break.

The Pride ended the first 45 minutes with the advantage in possession (58%-42%), shots (7-5), shots on target (3-1), crosses (13-6), corner kicks (5-1), and passing accuracy (84%-83%). Most importantly, they converted on two chances, giving them a commanding halftime lead.

“We wanted to go after them. We wanted to be confident on the ball, take space, play, and move off of each other,” Dyke said. “And I think we did. We did that. We did a really good job of that. And then, defensively, we wanted to put the pressure on them as well — pick our moments to go. And when we go, fully commit to that. And I think we did well with that as well in the first half.”

Thomas made two changes during the break, replacing Luana and Abello with Lemos and Julie Doyle.

Nielsen played a poor pass to Klenke near midfield in the 51st minute, giving the Pride a great chance to make it 3-0. Washington challenged Klenke for the ball, allowing McCutcheon to take possession. As her teammate collected it, Washington made a run forward and was sent on goal. Campbell came off her line to challenge Washington, blocking the shot to keep her team’s deficit at two.

Halftime substitute Khyah Harper intercepted a poor Angelina pass in the 54th minute, sending the ball up the right side for fellow substitute Kate Faasse. Rafaelle got in possession to shield the attacker but knocked the ball out for a corner kick. It was a costly error.

Washington blocked Rader’s initial set piece over the end line, but the second corner resulted in a goal. Hammond beat Angelina and sent the back across the face of goal from the back post. Colaprico got in front of Rafaelle to put the ball off Morche and in to cut the Pride lead in half.

“We obviously are disappointed not to get the clean sheet, Dyke said. “We always want to get that, and it shouldn’t take us a goal against to get going again. But when that happens, for sure, you’ve got to get the group together, refocus, get the energy up for the rest of the half, get that full commitment from the group to make sure we’re getting three points.”

The Pride should have had a third goal in the 57th minute when Lemos intercepted a Nielsen pass that Colaprico whiffed on. She sent a long ball over the back line for Washington making a run into the Houston box. For the second time, Washington had a breakaway, but this time she shot right at the goalkeeper. The rebound fell to the top of the box where Marta got to it first, but the Brazilian also sent her shot right at Campbell.

A giveaway at the back in the 65th minute was nearly costly for the Pride. Harper laid the ball off for Linda Ullmark 25 yards away from the goal. The substitute took a touch inside before unleashing a shot that looked like it might be on target. But she wasn’t able to keep it down, sending her attempt over the crossbar.

It appeared as though Houston tied the game in the 71st minute when Harper received a pass forward on the right. The attacker sent Faasse behind the back line and she did well to finish behind Morche. However, Faasse didn’t hold her run enough, resulting in her being just offside.

Thomas made two more changes in the 74th minute as Ovalle and Sanne Lekven replaced Angelina and Washington.

Lekven received a pass down the left in the 80th minute. She tried to beat Hammond, but her touch was too heavy, allowing the defender to gain position. As the two challenged for it and went down, Lekven rolled her left ankle. She had to be helped off the field and was replaced by Nicole Payne.

Quick passing by Lemos and Doyle in the 83rd minute sent Ovalle toward the end line. The attacker cut inside to lose Hammond and found Marta at the penalty spot. The Pride attacker tried to wrap the ball around Campbell to seal the win but sent her attempt wide.

Rader made a long run in the 86th minute before sending Faasse behind the Pride back line. Morche made the quick decision to come off her line, forcing Faasse to shoot earlier than she wanted, and the attempt rolled wide of the near post.

The Pride did well to see out the seven minutes of stoppage time, keeping possession and preventing the Dash from getting any decent looks.

Orlando ended the game with the advantage in possession (55%-45%), corner kicks (6-5), and shots on target (6-3), but both teams attempted 12 shots during the contest. Houston attempted more crosses (20-15) and had slightly better passing accuracy (81%-80%).

“Really happy with three points,” Thomas said. “So, I think that’s the most important thing. We get out of here with a win. We had a really fantastic first half. Not a great performance in the second half, but finding a way to win is what matters.”

“Always stoked to get three points, so we’re really happy about that,” Dyke added. “We were super encouraged by our performance in the first half. I think there’s a lot of positives to take away from that. Didn’t come out as strong in the second half, and we know that kind of let the level drop a little bit. But we still found a way to win, which at the end of the day is what matters.”

For the time being, the Pride remain in 11th place with 36 points, two behind Denver, four behind the Seattle Reign, and six behind the North Carolina Courage with two games remaining.

The Pride will look to build on this win as they return home a week from today to face NJ/NY Gotham FC in their home finale at Inter.co Stadium.

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