The Orlando Pride fell 1-0 to the host Utah Royals FC on Saturday night.
In a tightly contested game with few clear chances for either side, Narumi scored as the Royals ended a two-match skid. The Pride finished with just three shots, none on target.
Orlando lost its second consecutive match and its third of four since returning from the NWSL summer break. The Pride have been shut out in all three of the defeats.
Ninth-place Orlando fell to 6-8-2 and remains at 20 points in the league standings. Utah, in fifth place, improved to 8-4-3 and 27 points.
“Tough one. A tough defeat,” Orlando coach Seb Hines said in a press release from the team. “I thought the game was quite even. The goal is just one of those that is a cross that goes into the corner.”
Narumi netted the game’s lone goal — her second of the season — in the 36th minute with an assist from Ana Tejada. The Japanese midfielder curled a long-range shot from the edge of the box that dipped just below the bar and into the upper right corner of the goal.
Hines made four changes to his starting 11, with Barbra Banda, Seven Castain, Nicole Payne and Luana entering the lineup. Banda, the league’s leading goal-scorer with 12, has come on as a reserve because of a thigh injury since the break ended.
Banda only managed one shot Saturday and now leaves to compete for her native Zambia in the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations from July 26-Aug. 16. The tournament is the continental qualifier for the 2027 Women’s World Cup. The top four teams will automatically advance to next summer’s event in Brazil.
The result marked Orlando’s first loss to the Royals since August 2019. Mandy McGlynn secured her fourth clean sheet of the season for Utah.
“Players gave absolutely everything,” Hines said. “It is always tough with the turnaround from Wednesday night to coming here and the travel. We have always said, we are not going to look for excuses. We are always going to look at what is in front of us and try our best. I think the players tried their best tonight, but it just wasn’t quite enough today.”
The Pride will return home to host Chicago Stars FC on Friday at 8 p.m. Chicago is 4-11-0 with 12 points, good for 15th in the 16-team NWSL The Stars are coming off a 2-0 loss to Angel City FC.