**Cary, North Carolina** – The Orlando Pride earned a narrow 2-1 win over North Carolina Courage at WakeMed Soccer Park on Wednesday, leaning on first half goals from forward Sydney Leroux and midfielder Mikayla Cluff to prevail in an impressive outing.
Like in their previous win in the regular season, Orlando scored early on when forward Sydney Leroux put home a rebound from close range in the 4 ^th minute. North Carolina gave the ball away and, settling a ball with her chest just inside the box, Pride midfielder Mikayla Cluff ripped a right-footed effort at Courage goalkeeper Casey Murphy’s goal that the netminder did well to meet. However, Murphy did not clear the ball into safety and the forward Leroux pounced on the opportunity from just a few yards out with her left foot.
In the 20 ^th minute, Orlando came close to doubling their lead after some resolute defending at the other end. After a chance was saved on goal, it was again Cluff on the end of the next attempt though she watched it fall wide to the left of goal from just inside the 18-yard box. A few minutes later, Cluff had another look on goal with a headed chance from a ball out wide via midfielder Abi Kim that she could not keep down to test Murphy.
Orlando continued to poke and prod around the Courage defense and the game’s goalscorer Leroux came as close as anyone in the first half to adding a second goal for the visitors. Played to by teammate Jordyn Listro, Leroux lined up a powerful right-footed shot that nearly clipped the outside of the post on its way wide to the left of goal.
North Carolina was not entirely without chances, though, and flexed a bit of their muscle with a good opportunity in the 41 ^st minute. Swinging the ball out wide to midfielder Debinha, the Brazilian took a touch down field before cutting in and whipping a ball toward the back post that bounced off the head of forward Diana Ordoñez and went out of play.
However, after being involved in most her team’s attacks in the first half, midfielder Mikayla Cluff would end up putting Orlando two-up as she turned home a deflected cross from just a few yards out in the 44 ^th minute to further increase the visitors’ momentum. Leroux was the original target for the ball across goal, but the forward was unable to make solid contact as it ricocheted off her shin and landed in Cluff’s path where she was able to bury the chance.
At the halftime break, Orlando led North Carolina by two goals as Sydney Leroux’s early tally was added to by Mikayla Cluff’s late finish and the visitors’ hard work in front of goal paid off.
The second half started slow but found a spark in the 72 ^nd minute when forward Sydney Leroux chased down a long ball that had broken into the North Carolina defense. On the ball, Leroux swerved in and out before rifling a low shot toward goal that missed just a few inches wide.
North Carolina did well to push for goal late on and saw half-chances for Jaelene Daniels and Ordoñez fall short. However, in the 88 ^th minute, the hosts pulled one back through substitute Brianna Pinto. Receiving a pass in the box from teammate Ryan Williams, Pinto spun outside and fired hard toward the near post with an effort that snuck past Pride goalkeeper Erin McLeod and in. The goal was Pinto’s first in the regular season.
The late goal meant ensuing drama had to occur as North Carolina pushed for a late equalizer. The hosts would even put the ball in the back of the net twice, only to be judged to have been in an offside position. In the end, Orlando defended well in the closing few minutes including a whopping six minutes of added time and were able to hang on for a narrow 2-1 win. The win is Orlando’s second of the year, while North Carolina have lost both of their opening regular season games after losing to Angel City FC in Los Angeles.

Match Highlights

Match Highlights