The Orlando Pride broke a two-match losing streak late Friday by shutting down and shutting out the North Carolina Courage 1-0 in front of 7,088 fans at Inter&Co Stadium.
Orlando (3-3-2, 11 points) moved back above the NWSL playoff line with the victory, thanks to Barbra Banda’s league-leading eighth goal of the season in the 87th minute. North Carolina (2-3-3, 9 points) is winless in three consecutive matches.
Banda scored the winner off an assist by Rafaelle. Banda worked her way into the box, muscled off a defender and curled a bouncing shot to the far post past Courage goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan.
“Physically, it was very demanding, but we were very compact. We were very disciplined on the defensive side,” Orlando midfielder Angelina said. “And the opportunities that we had, we just were very close. They had good saves, and Barbra was very happy to conclude the last shot.”
The Pride made a few tactical changes in an attempt to shore up the defense. Hailie Mace, who had typically been playing in a central partnership with Rafaelle, moved out to her more natural right-back position. Oihane shifted over to the left, and Cori Dyke moved over to center-back.
The move paid off as Orlando limited North Carolina to just one shot on goal and keeper Anna Moorhouse recorded her third clean sheet of the season. It was Moorhouse’s 30th career shutout. She’s just the eighth goalkeeper in NWSL history to reach 30 regular-season shutouts. Mace and Oihane controlled the wings, stopping the Courage from ever truly threatening.
“We’ve conceded seven goals in (the last) two games, and we needed to make a shift in the back line,” Orlando head coach Seb Hines said. “We just felt we needed to shift a little bit. Not change the personnel, but shift the personnel within the shape. I thought they did a terrific job today, obviously not giving away too many shots and Anna having to make one save all day.”
Orlando player Barbra Banda (middle) battles North Carolina player Uno Shiragaki (right) for the ball during the North Carolina Courage at Orlando Pride NWSL match at Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando on Friday, May 8, 2026. Orlando won the match 1-0. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando player Seven Castain celebrates after a goal during the North Carolina Courage at Orlando Pride NWSL match at Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando on Friday, May 8, 2026. Orlando won the match 1-0. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando player Barbra Banda (left) controls the ball beside North Carolina player Natalia Staude (right) during the North Carolina Courage at Orlando Pride NWSL match at Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando on Friday, May 8, 2026. Orlando won the match 1-0. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse (top) makes a save during the North Carolina Courage at Orlando Pride NWSL match at Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando on Friday, May 8, 2026. Orlando won the match 1-0. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando player Summer Yates (28) heads the ball during the North Carolina Courage at Orlando Pride NWSL match at Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando on Friday, May 8, 2026. Orlando won the match 1-0. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando player Barbra Banda (bottom) falls in the pouring rain during the North Carolina Courage at Orlando Pride NWSL match at Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando on Friday, May 8, 2026. Orlando won the match 1-0. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando players Barbra Banda (11), Marta (10), and Luana (8) celebrate after a goal during the North Carolina Courage at Orlando Pride NWSL match at Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando on Friday, May 8, 2026. Orlando won the match 1-0. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando fans cheer during the North Carolina Courage at Orlando Pride NWSL match at Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando on Friday, May 8, 2026. Orlando won the match 1-0. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando players celebrate after a goal during the North Carolina Courage at Orlando Pride NWSL match at Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando on Friday, May 8, 2026. Orlando won the match 1-0. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando coach Seb Hines reacts during the North Carolina Courage at Orlando Pride NWSL match at Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando on Friday, May 8, 2026. Orlando won the match 1-0. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando player Barbra Banda (left) collides with North Carolina goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan (right) during the North Carolina Courage at Orlando Pride NWSL match at Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando on Friday, May 8, 2026. Orlando won the match 1-0. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando fans enjoy themselves during the North Carolina Courage at Orlando Pride NWSL match at Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando on Friday, May 8, 2026. Orlando won the match 1-0. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando player Barbra Banda (right) kicks at goal past North Carolina player Natalia Staude (12) during the North Carolina Courage at Orlando Pride NWSL match at Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando on Friday, May 8, 2026. Orlando won the match 1-0. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse (bottom) makes a stop beside Orlando player Ragaelle (4) during the North Carolina Courage at Orlando Pride NWSL match at Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando on Friday, May 8, 2026. Orlando won the match 1-0. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando coach Seb Hines reacts during the North Carolina Courage at Orlando Pride NWSL match at Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando on Friday, May 8, 2026. Orlando won the match 1-0. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando player Barbra Banda (11) runs over North Carolina player Uno Shiragaki (bottom) during the North Carolina Courage at Orlando Pride NWSL match at Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando on Friday, May 8, 2026. Orlando won the match 1-0. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando player Barbra Banda (middle) collides with North Carolina goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan (right) beside North Carolina player Uno Shiragaki (left) during the North Carolina Courage at Orlando Pride NWSL match at Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando on Friday, May 8, 2026. Orlando won the match 1-0. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando player Summer Yates chases the ball during the North Carolina Courage at Orlando Pride NWSL match at Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando on Friday, May 8, 2026. Orlando won the match 1-0. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando player Barbra Banda (right) chases the ball in front of North Carolina player Uno Shiragaki (behind) during the North Carolina Courage at Orlando Pride NWSL match at Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando on Friday, May 8, 2026. Orlando won the match 1-0. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando players Julie Doyle (left) and Seven Castain (right) celebrate after a goal during the North Carolina Courage at Orlando Pride NWSL match at Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando on Friday, May 8, 2026. Orlando won the match 1-0. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando fans cheer in the rain during the North Carolina Courage at Orlando Pride NWSL match at Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando on Friday, May 8, 2026. Orlando won the match 1-0. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando fans cheer during the North Carolina Courage at Orlando Pride NWSL match at Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando on Friday, May 8, 2026. Orlando won the match 1-0. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
North Carolina goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan (right) stops a goal attempt by Orlando player Barbra Banda (11) during the North Carolina Courage at Orlando Pride NWSL match at Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando on Friday, May 8, 2026. Orlando won the match 1-0. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse (top) makes a save during the North Carolina Courage at Orlando Pride NWSL match at Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando on Friday, May 8, 2026. Orlando won the match 1-0. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando player Barbra Banda (middle) hugs teammates in celebration after scoring a goal during the North Carolina Courage at Orlando Pride NWSL match at Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando on Friday, May 8, 2026. Orlando won the match 1-0. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
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Orlando player Barbra Banda (middle) battles North Carolina player Uno Shiragaki (right) for the ball during the North Carolina Courage at Orlando Pride NWSL match at Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando on Friday, May 8, 2026. Orlando won the match 1-0. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
A driving rain helped keep the match scoreless through the first half. The weather cleared in the second half as the Pride upped the pressure. Marta took a pass from Banda in the 61st minute but Sheridan got a hand on it and parried it wide as Orlando stayed on the attack.
Marta came on as a substitute in the 55th minute and didn’t take long to make her mark on the game. Banda had a breakaway in the 61st minute where she laid the ball off for Marta to fire at goal. Sheridan came up with an excellent save for the Courage, but it was a sign of life that the Pride desperately needed.
Orlando’s attack noticeably improved after Marta came on. The Brazilian made her second-longest appearance of the season as she continues to work her way back to full match fitness.
“She brings such an aura, that leadership, the calmness on the ball. I think that was a game-changing moment for us,” Hines added. “You bring someone on with that much quality, it puts a little bit of fear into the opposing team, the defenders, and then it elevates our game as well.”
With three-fourths of the season remaining, there’s still a long way to go, but Orlando moved into sixth in the league standings. The top eight teams advance to the NWSL postseason.
Next up for Orlando is a trip to New England take on expansion side Boston Legacy FC at 7 p.m. Tuesday. It’s the first of three consecutive away games for the Pride.