**Chester, Pennsylvania** – The Orlando Pride extended their unbeaten streak to seven games when they defeated Gotham FC, 2-1, at Subaru Park thanks to a goal from defender Celia and a debut goal from attacker Ally Watt.
The opening 20 or so minutes of the first half saw both teams attempt to get in behind the defense of the other as each side registered a pair of shots on target, though Orlando outshot the hosts 6-3 at this stage in the game. In fact, just four minutes in, Orlando managed to rattle the post through forward Kerry Abello as they put a scare in the Gotham defense. Played in on goal with a through pass toward the left side of the box, Abello was able to latch on and produce an effort that carried with it plenty of power. However, she could only watch on as her effort toward the near post ripped off the post and eventually out of danger.
It wasn’t all Orlando early on, though, with a giveaway by Pride goalkeeper Erin McLeod nearly leading to a phenomenal scoring opportunity for Gotham. As Orlando attempted to move the ball around the back, it came to the feet of the goalkeeper McLeod who was unable to connect with a teammate and instead found Gotham midfielder Nicole Baxter just a few feet in front of her in the penalty area. As Baxter sought a route around McLeod, she fired toward goal with the netminder making an impressive save as she held the effort and kept the match scoreless. In the 32 ^nd minute, Gotham pressed ahead again as this time forward Ifeoma Onumonu got in behind goal and worried the Orlando defense. As she snuck in though, Onumonu was unable to hit the target with her effort as it sailed over the crossbar.
Perhaps the biggest chance of the first half came Gotham’s way in the 39 ^th minute. Streaking down the field attempting to counter, Gotham worked the ball forward down the right side of the field as two players approached goal. The ball was then slid in toward the path of a run from midfielder Paige Monaghan in the box, who did well to settle it and got a shot away. However, the onrushing McLeod was able to get big and get the ball away with Monaghan just a foot or two away from her to prevent the goal.
At the break, the sides remained scoreless despite multiple attempts for both.
Into the second half, despite the later shift in momentum Gotham’s way at the end of the first half, it was instead Orlando who would take the lead near the restart as defender Celia bundled the ball over the line after a broken play to help the Pride go one-up. The ball was sent in from the left side of the field and bounced around the box as Gotham was unable to get the danger clear, which ultimately resulted in the ball being left in the middle of the 18-yard box for Celia to jump onto. Stretching to get her left foot on the ball, Celia then watched as the ball bounced off a teammate on the way in for the game’s opening goal.
As both sides attempted to grow into the half, it was Orlando who would pad their lead less than ten minutes after bringing on debutant and attacker Ally Watt. In the 73 ^rd minute, midfielder Meggie Dougherty Howard clipped a ball forward for Watt to latch onto, which she did as she cut inside the box toward goal. Sweeping at the ball with her right foot, Watt then pushed her shot to the far post and in to help the visitors go up a second goal and create some space against Gotham.
However, Gotham would not go away and midfielder Kristie Mewis ended up pulling a goal back in the 75 ^th minute as the hosts attempted to climb back into contention. In possession on the left side of the field, teammate Nahomi Kawasumi whipped a ball into the center of the penalty area where Mewis was rushing in toward. Meeting the ball with her head, Mewis then powered home an effort from close range to help her side gain momentum.
In the end, though, it wouldn’t be enough as the visiting Pride escaped with three points in impressive fashion and extended their unbeaten run to seven games. Gotham, meanwhile, has now suffered six straight defeats ahead of a trip to face Angel City next weekend.

Match Highlights

Match Highlights