Orlando Pride’s Dramatic Comeback: A Tale of Resilience and Determination
In a thrilling display of grit and determination, the defending National Women’s Soccer League champions, Orlando Pride, pulled off a stunning comeback to defeat Angel City FC 3-2 on Friday. This victory was crucial for the Pride as it helped them avoid a second consecutive loss, a scenario that seemed likely at halftime.
The match began with Orlando trailing 2-0 at the break, a situation that would have demoralized many teams. However, the Pride showed why they are the reigning champions by mounting a spirited comeback. Orlando forwards Marta and Barbra Banda scored four minutes apart in the second half, leveling the score. The game took a dramatic turn in stoppage time when Angel City defender M.A. Vignola inadvertently put the ball into her own net, handing Orlando the win.
After the match, Marta expressed her relief and gratitude, saying, “Thank God there are 90 minutes,” during the Prime Sports broadcast. Her words encapsulated the essence of the game, where every second counted.
Orlando’s recent form had been a cause for concern, especially after their 1-0 home loss to the Washington Spirit last week. This defeat marked the Pride’s first home loss in over 600 days, a rare occurrence for a team that started the 2024 season with a 23-game unbeaten streak, eventually clinching both the NWSL Shield and the NWSL Championship.
Reflecting on the team’s resilience, Pride defender Carson Pickett stated, “We don’t lower our standards just because we had a loss. The best teams in this league and the best teams in the world find a way to win after a loss, and I think everyone looks at you a little more to see how you’re going to react to a loss. And I think that we did just that.”
Angel City FC had a promising start, with rookie Riley Tiernan opening the scoring in the 9th minute. She managed to beat Pride goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse at the near post. Midfielder Katie Zelem doubled the lead just before halftime, capitalizing on Orlando’s failure to clear the ball during a corner kick.
Pride defender Kerry Abello described the first half as “a weird funk,” highlighting the team’s struggles during the initial 45 minutes.
The game took a pivotal turn around the hour mark with a series of substitutions. Angel City midfielder Alanna Kennedy had to leave the field due to a swollen left eye after an unfortunate elbow to the face. Orlando seized the opportunity to make a triple substitution, bringing on usual starters Ally Watt and Haley McCutcheon, along with newcomer fullback Oihane Hernández, a 2023 World Cup winner with Spain.
Marta’s goal in the 72nd minute, assisted by Oihane, reignited Orlando’s hopes. Banda followed up with the equalizer just four minutes later, delivering a precise header that found the back of the net. The play was set up by Pickett, who had come on as a substitute after Marta’s goal, showcasing her determination by keeping the ball in play and delivering a perfect cross.
Marta praised the team’s mentality, saying, “What I like mostly is about the mentality. We know some games we can’t use everybody, but as soon as we need them, they step in and they give everything. This is the team. We do everything together. When we lose, we lose together and when we win, we win together. We need to keep doing it like that.”
The game-winner came in the third minute of second-half stoppage time, with Pickett and Watt playing crucial roles. Pickett’s left-footed cross aimed for Watt, but Vignola’s attempt to chest the ball away resulted in an own goal, sealing the victory for Orlando.
- Angel City FC had entered the match following a 4-0 home loss to NJ/NY Gotham FC the previous week.
- The Los Angeles side had been unbeaten through their first four games of the season.
Angel City FC interim coach Sam Laity acknowledged the learning opportunity for his young team, stating, “This is a really, really good lesson for this young team. I think it’s hard to take. That wasn’t a game that we deserved to lose. We’ll take the positives from it, and we’ll learn a lot. But look, that’s why that team’s the champions, that’s why they won the Shield, that’s why they won the championship. We will learn from that.”
Originally Written by: Jeff Kassouf
