**ORLANDO, Fla.** – The Orlando Pride produced one of the most dominant displays of the season in the side’s 5-0 win over the Chicago Red Stars on Sunday night, with Messiah Bright scoring a brace and three other contributors on the scoresheet on a commanding evening. The win moves Orlando into 7 ^th place with 22 points from 16 games played, while Chicago remain in 12 ^th place with 16 points from 16 games played.
The hosts Orlando began to threaten the Chicago goal as early as the 13 ^th minute when forward Messiah Bright got in behind the defense to chase a through ball over the top. As the ball broke into the box, Chicago goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher leapt off her line and came to collect the delivery just before Bright latched onto it, ending the move. Not more than 30 seconds later, Marta was denied inside the six-yard box as she attempted to break through the Red Stars defense and a sea of bodies by poking an effort past Naeher, who did well to save the shot in the end.
However, the Pride were only able to be held off for so long with Orlando debutant Rafaelle Souza finding the back of the net via a cross from teammate Adriana from a corner kick in the 15 ^th minute. Adriana had lifted a high ball toward the far side of the six-yard box where Rafaelle was waiting. Rising above her marking defender, Rafaelle produced a looping header that Naeher was able to get a fingertip to, though ultimately unable to keep it out.
Nine minutes later, Bright then got the first of her two goals on the night as she carried a pass forward from just inside the Orlando attacking third, beat a defender one-on-one, and curled an unbelievable goal into the top far corner as the Pride increased their lead to two. Teammate Julie Doyle had played Bright forward down the left side, and Bright had a significant amount of ground to cover between her and the goal. Eventually working her way to the top left side of the 18-yard box, Bright then opened her body and whipped a right-footed effort past Naeher, a shot that the goalkeeper had little likelihood of saving.
The Pride then kept that lead through halftime, but the second half kicked off with a bang as Bright then scored her second goal of the night just four minutes after the break in the 49 ^th minute. Playmaker Marta fed through a sumptuous pass that spun around the defense and into Bright’s path behind the back line. Bright then rounded Naeher and had enough composure still to roll a left-footed effort into the back of the net before the Red Stars defense could make a goalline clearance.
Orlando then scored their third goal on the night in the 64 ^th minute with another debutant getting on the scoresheet as substitute Mariana Larroquette scored just three minutes after coming onto pitch. Larroquette was fed down the left side of the box by teammate Mikayla Cluff, and she cut onto her right foot and opted to blast a ball toward the roof of the net past Naeher as the Pride’s celebrations continued to roll on.
Finally, a fifth and final goal on the night came just four minutes later when Cluff turned from provider to scorer, receiving a pass from Adriana on the right flank and putting home a first time effort into the bottom far corner. Adriana had been sent down the right side of the field when she faced a one-on-one in defense and beat her marker to cut toward the endline. Picking her head up, the Brazilian picked out the run of Cluff just inside the top of the box in a central position, and Cluff produced a fine finish to put the final ink on the page of the evening.

Match Highlights

Match Highlights