Written By: Rafael Morazzani
(Orlando, FL) Orlando Pride lost Saturday afternoon 2-0 at their home stadium, the Orlando City Stadium against Houston Dash. Carli Lloyd and Rachel Daly were in charge of scoring both goals in a disappointing match by Orlando Pride. Orlando Pride came from beating Houston Dash 4-2 at the BBVA Compass Stadium.
Orlando Pride mostly dominated the first half of the match. Pride had two clear chances in the first half. First, in minute 22, striker Rachel Hill received the ball on the verge of the box and shot with at second touch. However, the ball went straight into goalkeeper Jane Campbell’s hands. Then, at the 26th minute, defender Stephanie Catley sent a cross which was finished with a header by forward Marta; her header hit the crossbar and left for a goal kick. Dash had the clearest chance of the match in minute 41 when defender Poliana hit the ball over goalkeeper Aubrey Bledsoe’s head, but Catley was there to clear the ball on the line. First half would go into 3 minutes of added time, which is just how much time was needed for Houston Dash to take the lead. Poliana dribbled down the side drawing out a defender to leave striker Carli Lloyd open at the top of the 18. Poliana waited for the perfect pass then played the ball straight to Lloyd in the 49th minute where she took a one-time shot to sink it in the upper 90 giving Lloyd her first goal of the season for Dash and their first goal of the match. Lloyd’s goal ended the first half leaving Dash with 1 point and Pride with 0. Houston Dash seemed to take control in the second half. In the 62nd minute, Dash could put their second point on the board. Poliana came up big with the assist again drawing the defender wide leaving forward Rachel Daly room to get open inside the box. When Daly was free Polinana played a beautiful pass to Daly where she could one time flick it right past Bledsoe. With Daly’s goal that closed the scoreboard. However, Dash was not done trying in the 79th minute Dash has a corner kick and Polinana almost had her chance standing on the near post she went up for a beautiful header but hit the post, and it was deflected away by Catley. In the 81st minute Dash forward Janie Beckie had her chance one on one with Pride goalkeeper Bledsoe, but she was not allowing it she kept her eye on the ball and was able to make a beautiful save to deflect the ball out of the box. It was a back and forth match until the final whistle blew leaving Dash with 2 and Pride with 0 points. Following the match, we got a chance to speak with Orlando Pride’s head coach Tom Sermanni who said; “Any time you lose a game you are obviously deflated. Losing at home makes it even harder. But losing at home and you do not play well, makes it harder still.” After today’s result, the Orlando Pride fell into the 7th position with 12 points, while the Houston Dash climbed to the 8th with 9 points. Orlando Pride will travel to face Sky Blue FC on June 28th, 2017 at the Yurcak Field. Whereas, the Houston Dash will receive Boston Breakers at their home stadium, the BBVA Compass, on June 28th, 2017.
Orlando Pride Communications
(Houston, TX) – Orlando Pride (3-3-3, 12 points) set a Club scoring record on Saturday night, racking up a 4-2 win over the Houston Dash at BBVA Compass Stadium. The four goals in the match marked the most goals ever scored in a single match for the Pride, while Marta set a single-game scoring record with four points on two goals and two assists, playing a role in each score.
“I’m obviously delighted with the win because we haven’t gotten very many wins on the road. It was a very important result for us and I think the best part of the result was how clinical our finishing was,” Orlando Pride Head Coach Tom Sermanni said. “At four-nil, I don’t think that was necessarily a fair reflection on the play because Houston is a good side and they create chances and play some really great soccer. So, overall, I was just really pleased with the way we finished things.” Though the Pride were outside 15-9 in the match, the visiting side were most efficient in their opportunities, putting in four of their six shots on goal. Despite having been away for two weeks on international duty - and meeting back up with the team only a day prior in Houston - the Pride’s Brazilian contingent showed no hiccups in their game. Sixteen minutes in, Camila put the Pride up 1-0 on a laser-focused shot from nearly 40 yards out. The former Dash player collected a pass from Marta, created some space for herself then blasted a shot into the upper-left corner beyond the best efforts of Houston goalkeeper Lydia Williams. Orlando’s lead jumped to 2-0 shortly after when Marta capitalized on the counterattack. After goalkeeper Aubrey Bledsoe made back-to-back saves on Carli Lloyd at the other end of the field, Marta collected a small push-pass from Camila at the midfield line and drove the length of the field for her fourth goal of the season. On the previous set of plays, Bledsoe punched down a screamer on Lloyd’s dead-center set piece to deny the U.S. international in her first NWSL appearance this season. Just a minute after, off a corner kick, Lloyd had another go with a hard, left-footed volley but Bledsoe was up to the task. She denied the back-to-back FIFA World Player of the Year with a diving save to her left. Bledsoe picked up her second consecutive win, making four saves in the outing. Marta bolstered the Pride lead again in the 57th minute, from nearly the same spot as her first, after Jasmyne Spencer used her speed up the middle lane and picked out her teammate on the left hand side. The Pride’s fourth goal came on Alanna Kennedy’s first in purple, with the Australian rising high above the Dash defense and heading in Marta’s corner kick service in the 68th minute. Saturday’s win marked Orlando’s first road win since May 20, 2016, when the Pride earned three points in the same city, defeating the Dash 1-0 on a late goal from Kristen Edmonds. The Pride and Dash will see a quick turnaround before their next meeting, wrapping up a back-to-back series next Saturday at Orlando City Stadium. Tabbed as the NWSL’s Lifetime Game of the Week, the match will kick off at 3:30 p.m. ET from Orlando. Tickets are available at orlando-pride.com/tickets or by calling (855) ORL-CITY. NWSL Match Report Match: Houston Dash vs. Orlando Pride Date: June 17, 2017 Venue: BBVA Compass Stadium Kickoff: 8:30 p.m. ET Attendance: 5,918 Weather: Clear Scoring Summary Goals 1 2 F Houston (2-7-0) 0 2 2 Orlando (3-3-3) 2 2 4 ORL - Camila (Marta) 16’ ORL - Marta 22’ ORL - Marta (Jasmyne Spencer) 57’ ORL - Alanna Kennedy (Marta) HOU - Poliana (Andressinha) 89’ HOU - Nichelle Prince (Andressinha) 90+6’ Lineups: Orlando Pride: Aubrey Bledsoe; Kristen Edmonds, Ali Krieger ©, Toni Pressley, Steph Catley; Kristen Edmonds; Rachel Hill, Monica, Marta (Jamia Fields 80’), Alanna Kennedy, Camila (Chioma Ubogagu 70’); Jasmyne Spencer (Danica Evans 84’) Substitutes Not Used: Caroline Stanley; Laura Alleway; Maddy Evans, Dani Weatherholt Houston Dash: Lydia Williams; Poliana, Cari Roccaro, Janine Van Wyk, Cami Levin; Amber Brooks, Janine Beckie, Morgan Brian (Denise O’Sullivan 83’); Rachel Daly (Andressinha 56’), Carli Lloyd (Nichelle Prince 73’), Kealia Ohai © Substitutes Not Used: Jane Campbell; Claire Falknor, Cami Privett; Sarah Hagen Stats Summary: HOU / ORL Possession: 48.8% / 51.2% Shots: 15 / 9 Shots on Goal: 6 / 6 Saves: 2 / 4 Corner Kicks: 4 / 2 Fouls: 13 / 10 Offside: 6 / 1 Misconduct Summary: HOU - Janine Beckie (Yellow Card) 65’ ORL - Camila (Yellow Card) 65’ HOU - Janine Van Wyk (Yellow Card) 80’ Officials: Referee: Rebecca Pagan Assistant Referee 1: Amanda Ross Assistant Referee 2: Diego Blas Fourth Official: Mike Arrington About Orlando Pride: With three major professional teams, Orlando City Soccer Club (OCSC) has established itself as one of the preeminent Clubs in professional soccer. The Orlando Pride, OCSC’s National Women’s Soccer League franchise, began league play in 2016 – breaking the league’s single-match attendance record in its first home game with 23,403 fans in attendance. The team is led by renowned Head Coach Tom Sermanni, former manager for the Australian and U.S. women’s national teams. For more information on the Orlando Pride, visit www.Orlando-Pride.com or follow us on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.
Orlando Pride Communications
Morgan to rejoin Pride after stint with Olympique Lyonnais
(Orlando, FL.) – After a UEFA Women’s Champions League championship run with Olympique Lyonnais, U.S. Women’s National Team forward Alex Morgan will return to Orlando Pride pending the receipt of her International Transfer Certificate (ITC) and completion of rehabilitation for an existing hamstring injury. The forward, who was evaluated by team doctors at Orlando Health, is expected to be available in approximately three to four weeks. Morgan, 27, joined Lyon in December and helped lead the French side to the 2016-17 Champions League and French league title. Morgan sustained a hamstring injury in the championship match on June 1. Once medically cleared, Morgan will be eligible to be added to the Pride’s roster. After a bye week, Orlando returns to play on June 17 at the Houston Dash. The Pride return to Orlando City Stadium on June 24 to finish a back-to-back series with the Dash. That game will kickoff at 3:30 p.m. ET and will be aired on Lifetime. Tickets are available at orlando-pride.com/tickets or by calling (855) ORL-CITY. About Orlando Pride: With three major professional teams, Orlando City Soccer Club (OCSC) has established itself as one of the preeminent Clubs in professional soccer. The Orlando Pride, OCSC’s National Women’s Soccer League franchise, began play in 2016 – bringing professional women’s soccer to Orlando for the first time. The team is led by renowned Head Coach Tom Sermanni, former manager for the Australian and U.S. women’s national teams. The Pride play at Orlando City Stadium, which is also home to Orlando City of Major League Soccer and Orlando City B of the United Soccer League. For more information on the Orlando Pride, visit www.Orlando-Pride.com or follow us on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.
Orlando Pride Communications
NWSL implements increased measures for Hydration Breaks and Extreme Heat
(Orlando, FL.) – In an effort to ensure player and fan safety, the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) announced today new kickoff times for 23 games throughout the remainder of the 2017 season. The new schedule reduces the number of games during times of the day where potential environmental conditions such as high temperatures, humidity, and solar radiation would be more prevalent throughout the summer months in the United States. The NWSL is also implementing increased measures for Hydrations Breaks and new guidelines for Extreme Heat, including procedures for match delays, effective immediately. Click here to view the complete guidelines. "The safety of everyone involved with the execution of NWSL matches, including players, referees and fans, is paramount," NWSL Managing Director of Operations Amanda Duffy said. "These are important measures that will help to ensure the safest environment possible at all league matches, and we will continue to evaluate steps that can be taken in the future." After a successful implementation on June 3, the NWSL Game of the Week on Lifetime will now be listed at 3:30 p.m. ET on the schedule with kickoff slated for 3:50 p.m. ET to accommodate for Hydration Breaks. In addition, the NWSL has released the other 4 p.m. ET games, providing teams not part of the Game of the Week more flexibility to reschedule games into the late afternoon and evenings. See below for a complete list of new kickoff times: Bold = Game of the Week on Lifetime * = To be determine Game of the Week on Lifetime
About Orlando Pride:
With three major professional teams, Orlando City Soccer Club (OCSC) has established itself as one of the preeminent Clubs in professional soccer. The Orlando Pride, OCSC’s National Women’s Soccer League franchise, began play in 2016 – bringing professional women’s soccer to Orlando for the first time. The team is led by renowned Head Coach Tom Sermanni, former manager for the Australian and U.S. women’s national teams. The Pride play at Orlando City Stadium, which is also home to Orlando City of Major League Soccer and Orlando City B of the United Soccer League. For more information on the Orlando Pride, visit www.Orlando-Pride.com or follow us on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.
Orlando Pride Communications
Orlando looks to grab second win at home
(Orlando, FL.) – After three weeks away, Orlando Pride (1-3-3, 6 points) returns to Orlando City Stadium on Saturday evening, hosting the Boston Breakers (2-3-2, 8 points) at 7:30 p.m. ET. The match will mark just the third home game for the Pride, which played five of its first seven matches away from Central Florida. Saturday’s match will livestreamed at NWSLsoccer.com, go90.com and on the go90 app. Live updates can also be followed on the Pride’s official Twitter page, @ORLPride. “It’s not just the significance of this game. It’s the significance of turning our season around and getting results,” Pride Head Coach Tom Sermanni said. “There’s still another 17 games to go so you don’t pin everything on one game. But what is important is that we pick up points and that we start moving up the table and we start getting in contact with the teams in the top half.” Orlando heads into Saturday’s match looking to repeat magic from its last home game when the Pride earned its first win of the season, taking down undefeated North Carolina Courage, 3-1, in front of the home crowd. The Pride burst into the second half of that match with two quick goals, scoring in the 49th and 50th minute, as well as a late insurance goal, en route to the three points. Most recently, the Pride traveled to New Jersey where they fell, 2-1, to third-place Sky Blue FC. Orlando jumped on the board first through Jasmyne Spencer’s second goal of the season but the home side scored a goal on each side of halftime to take the win. The Pride also posted the highest possession total by any team this season. After controlling over 70 percent of the ball in the second half, Orlando finished with 66.7 percent possession for the game. In addition, the Pride saw a passing accuracy - which has been one of the team’s strongest categories this year - of 82.57 percent. That number ranks as the second best passing accuracy by any team so far this year. Midfielder Camila continues to be the Pride’s strongest contributor in that category, and one of the keys to Orlando’s offense, with an 84.58 percent passing accuracy through seven games. Camila has two goals and two assists in her 628 minutes. After finishing the 2016 season at the bottom of the table, the Breakers used the offseason to rebuild, adding U.S. Women’s National Team midfielder Rose Lavelle, New Zealand international Rosie White and defender Megan Oyster. Like the Pride, the Breakers will be looking to get back on track after going winless in all four of their May games. Last week Boston fell, 2-0, to Portland Thorns FC after the home side scored both of its goals in the opening five minutes. Just one minute in, the Thorns went ahead on an own goal then Armandine Henry made it a two-goal game in the fifth minute. Following Saturday’s match, the Pride have bye week for the FIFA window. Orlando will return to action on June 17, kicking off a home-and-home season with the Houston Dash. The Club first travels to BBVA Compass Stadium for a 8:30 p.m. ET match, then turning around to host the same side on June 24 at 4 p.m. at Orlando City Stadium. The latter match will be broadcast as the NWSL Game of the Week on Lifetime. Tickets for all Pride home matches are available at orlando-pride.com/tickets or by calling (855) ORL-CITY. About Orlando Pride: With three major professional teams, Orlando City Soccer Club (OCSC) has established itself as one of the preeminent Clubs in professional soccer. The Orlando Pride, OCSC’s National Women’s Soccer League franchise, began league play in 2016 – breaking the league’s single-match attendance record in its first home game with 23,403 fans in attendance. The team is led by renowned Head Coach Tom Sermanni, former manager for the Australian and U.S. women’s national teams. For more information on the Orlando Pride, visit www.Orlando-Pride.com or follow us on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram. |
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