The Orlando Pride (11-8-6, 39 points) won for the third time in the last four games, picking upa a 3-2 victory over the Washington Spirit (12-5-8, 44 points) at Audi Field in Washington, D.C. It was a back-and-forth game with Kerry Abello conceding an own goal and then equalizing on the other end. It looked like the Spirit might claim all three points when Sofia Cantore gave the hosts the lead just before halftime, but a Narumi Miura own goal and Marta’s penalty conversion gave the Pride all three points.
Orlando has won two straight in the league for the first time since June and is unbeaten in four straight NWSL matches (3-0-1) with three wins over teams above the playoff line — two of those on the road — in that span.
Seb Hines deployed the same lineup from the two previous league games — a 1-1 draw against the Houston Dash on Oct. 3 and a 1-0 win over the Portland Thorns on Oct. 10. Anna Moorhouse started in goal behind a back line of Abello, Rafaelle, Emily Sams, and Oihane. Haley McCutcheon and Angelina were the defensive midfielders with Carson Pickett, Ally Lemos, and Jacquie Ovalle in the attacking midfield and Ally Watt up top.
The two teams came into this game in completely different situations. The Spirit have already secured the second position and are unable to finish in first or third. As a result, they have little to play for. Meanwhile, the Pride entered the game in fourth place after Seattle’s win Friday night, just three points ahead of eighth. A win was essential to have a chance to finish in the top four and host a playoff game.
Nearing halftime, it looked like this would be a low-scoring affair, but it quickly escalated. Abello put the ball in her own net in the 35th minute, only to equalize in the 38th minute. Cantore’s backheel in the 42nd minute made the impression that this would be a disappointing result for Orlando fans, but Hines’ halftime addition of Marta changed the game. She created a goal less than a minute after coming on and converted a penalty in the 72nd minute to secure the win.
The Pride got the first chance of the game in the second minute when Kysha Sylla knocked the ball away from Watt and out of play for a corner kick. The ensuing set piece fell to Rafaelle, whose shot was blocked by Kate Wiesner, and Brittany Ratcliffe blocked the follow-up.
The Pride created another chance in the sixth minute when Ovalle lifted the ball into the box from the right. McCutcheon was open just outside the six, but the defensive midfielder jumped a split second late and got under it, sending it over.
The hosts got their first shot in the 10th minute when Ratcliffe cut inside to create space from Oihane. The attacker took a right-footed shot from outside the box, but it was right to Moorhouse for an easy catch.
The Spirit nearly converted in the 20th when Miura found Paige Metayer on the right, and the midfielder sent a dangerous ball into the Pride box. The ball was over Cantore’s head and almost fell to Croix Bethune but went beyond her and out for a goal kick.
The Spirit took the lead in the 35th minute through a set piece. Abello intercepted the ball from Bethune, but Pickett unnecessarily fouled the midfielder behind the play, giving the hosts a free kick. Wiesner sent the ball into the box, looking for Metayer at the near post. Abello got to it first, but headed the ball into her own net to give the Spirit the 1-0 lead.
“As a defender, an own goal is the biggest nightmare,” Abello said. “But as professional athletes, we have to have a short memory. So I was like, forget it.”
The Pride responded quickly from the same player. In the 37th minute, Deborah Abiodun fouled Lemos after the midfielder received a short throw-in. The ensuing set piece was headed out to the top of the box, where Abello controlled and sent an excellent shot past Aubrey Kingsbury to even the game at 1-1.
“My role in the set piece was just to be that kind of second layer for second balls,” Abello said. “And the ball popped out, and I knew I had enough time to get one quick touch on it before a shot off. And I did, and it went in. But I honestly kind of blacked out, because I was just like, I’m gonna score. But it bounced out really well to me, and I was glad I hit it well.”
“There’s no better way to have an effect on the game. You know, by scoring a goal like she did,” Hines added. “It was a hell of a goal, and credit to her, because it’s very tough when she scores an own goal not to go internal. But she made a difference by scoring the equalizing goal. We expect that from all our players. You have to move on quickly. There’s the amount of time in the game to do that sort of resilience, and she showed it in the best way.”
Unfortunately, it didn’t take long for the hosts to retake the lead. In the 42nd minute, Kysha Sylla sent Metayer toward the end line. The midfielder burned past Pickett and reached the ball justt before it crossed the end line. She sent a low cross to the near post, where Cantore beat Rafaelle to the ball and used a backheel to push it inside Moorhouse’s near post, giving the Spirit a 2-1 lead.
The Pride created a pair of opportunities in stoppage time. In the second minute, Sams and Abello combined on a give-and-go to set up Angelina at the top of the box, but her shot was over the target. A minute later, Pickett’s ball into the box was blocked, going straight to Lemos just outside the 18. The midfielder put her attempt on frame, but Kingsbury got down to make the stop.
That was the final attempt for either team as the Pride went into the half down a goal.
While the Spirit had more first-half possession (53%-47%) and better passing accuracy (80%-79%) in the first 45 minutes, the Pride created more chances. However, the hosts were more efficient. The Pride had more shots (6-2), but both teams put two on target. The teams had the same number of corner kicks (2-2).
Hines made two halftime changes, both on the left side of the field, replacing Abello and Pickett with Marta and Cori Dyke.
“She wants to get forward, she wants to score goals, make an immediate impact off the bench,” Hines said about Marta. “We have to manage her and her loads, because she played high minutes on Wednesday night against Pachuca. We felt we needed a bit of a spark, and she certainly brought that.”
It didn’t take the Pride captain long to make an impact, getting her team back into the game in under a minute. The Brazilian dribbled into the box from the right and cut to lose Wiesner before crossing it through the area. Her shot deflecte off Miura and went past Kingsbury to tie things up at 2-2.
The Pride continued to attack, looking to take their first lead in the 51st minute when an Ovalle cross was blocked out of play by Wiesner. The ensuing set piece found Watt at the top of the six-yard box, but her header was over the crossbar.
The Spirit had a chance in the 53rd minute when Cantore’s cross into the box found Gift Monday, who laid it off for Stainbrook. The midfielder’s first shot was off Ratcliffe, who was on the ground. The ball bounced right back to her and she shot again, but Angelina got in the way of her follow-up attempt.
Free kicks had been dangerous in this game and the Spirit got another one in the 56th minute after Watt gave up possession in her own third of the field. Stainbrook found Abiodun, who won the ball and was fouled by Lemos. Wiesner sent the free kick towards goal with Metayer making a run, but it was right at Moorhouse.
Ovalle sent a cross to the back post for Watt’s run in the 62nd minute for Watt, but the ball was a bit long and Watt couldn’t get around it, sending it wide.
Hines made his third change in the 69th minute, replacing Lemos with Simone Charley.
Right after the substitution, the Pride took their first lead of the day. Oihane sent Watt down the right and into the box between Sylla and Wiesner. Sylla made contact with Watt from behind and the forward went down. Referee Jeremy Scheer pointed to the spot, awarding the Pride a penalty.
Marta stepped to the spot when the video review was complete. The Pride captain stuttered as she approached the ball, forcing Kingsbury to commit to her right, and passed it into the corner to give the Pride the 3-2 lead.
“Showing that sort of composure in front of goal with the penalty. You know, she’s been in those moments many of times,” Hines said. “She’s obviously faced Aubrey many of times in that position as well, and she calmly slots it away. So, really pleased with her. Really happy that we’ve got her back firing in such a pivotal moment in the season.”
“I think the only thing I can say is, don’t forget who she is,” Abello added. “I think we have those moments still constantly of like, that is the GOAT. And she is still very much that. And people love to talk about her age and stuff, but she is still Marta. She can create that magic, and we know that. And we hope the world keeps knowing that. And that was just what she does, and she continues to do it. So, I’m just glad she’s on my team.”
The Pride have struggled offensively this year, so it was a breath of fresh air to see them score three goals. It’s the first time they’ve reached that number since May 23 when they defeated the Utah Royals 3-1 thanks to a Barbra Banda hat trick.
“It’s something that’s been in the works for a long time now, even though the results haven’t been shown with our performances,” Hines said. “We went on that run of not winning in nine games. We’ve sort of turned that around with a couple of wins and draws. But we knew the process, we trusted the process, and now it’s starting to show in such an important time of the season.”
Hines made a defensive change in the 76th minute, lookeing to see out the game. Zara Chavoshi came on as a fifth defender, replacing Watt.
In the 77th minute, Dyke grabbed Gabrielle Carle, pulling back the attacker just before they entered the box. Leicy Santos took the set piece, sending her attempt off target.
The Pride won a free kick on the left in the 80th minute when Charley tapped the ball around Esme Morgan and was fouled by the defender. Angelina and Marta stood over the ball with Angelina taking the set piece. The midfielder’s ball into the box was easily caught by Kingsbury.
Hines made his final change in the 88th minute, replacing Oihane with Julie Doyle.
Monday dribbled into the box from the right in the 88th minute. Rafaelle blocked her shot. Ratcliffe tried to follow up, but the ball took a friendly bounce for Moorhouse, allowing her to collect.
Two minutes later, the Spirit nearly connected for an equalizer in what would’ve been an excellent goal. Miura got down the left before playing it back for Santos. The attacker sent a cross into the box that nearly found Cantore’s head, but the ball was just beyond her reach.
The fourth official showed eight minutes of stoppage time, and the hosts came close to converting in the second. Cantore received the ball on the right and sent it towards the near post, where Monday and Dyke were converging. Dyke got to the ball first, sending it out of play. The Pride cleared the ensuing set piece to maintain their lead.
A Rafaelle injury added more time, and the Spirit tried to take advantage. In the 10th minute, Monday shielded two defenders near the corner flag, earning a free kick when Chavoshi unwisely fouled her from behind. Moorhouse punched away the ensuing set piece into the box. It fell to Carle just outside the 18. The second-half substitute shot, but she couldn’t get much on it and sent the ball well wide of the target.
That was the final chance of the game as the Pride came away with a crucial — and quite surprising — three points away from home.
Washington ended the game with the edge in possession (59%-41%), shots (13-11), crosses (25-17), and passing accuracy (82%-76%). However, both teams put three shots on target and the Pride had more corner kicks (5-4).
“Great game, great result,” Hines said. “We were disappointed with the goals that we conceded, but we showed a lot of resilience to come back and win the game. Credit to all the players and staff. It’s been a journey to get here. We now hold our own destiny, trying to reach that top four spot. I think anytime we play Washington, it’s always an emotional game. It’s very competitive. Both teams are going after it. So, for the neutrals, it was a good game today.”
“It’s a huge win for the club, top win nearing playoffs,” Abello added. “This was a huge test for us going into the playoffs, and obviously we have a lot to play for still. We’re trying to clinch that home spot for the first playoff game. So this was important and a huge test against a top team and a team who knows we might see again in the playoffs. So really happy with the result.”
The back-to-back league wins couldn’t come at a better time for the Pride. After going nine games winless following the summer break, the Pride take a four-game unbeaten run into the final game of the season.
The three points ensure the Pride will finish the penultimate weekend of the regular season in third place, regardless of what other teams do this weekend. But if the Thorns, San Diego Wave, or NJ/NY Gotham FC win this weekend, it will come down to the final day to see if the Pride host a playoff game.
That final game is scheduled for Nov. 2, when the Pride welcome the fourth-place Seattle Reign to Inter&Co Stadium.