**ORLANDO, Fla.** – The Orlando Pride extended their impressive league unbeaten run to four straight games with a 2-1 win over the Washington Spirit, who entered the night as the last unbeaten team in the league only to leave with a loss against a rolling Pride side. After Orlando’s Marta buried a spot kick only for Spirit defender Sam Staab to equalize within five minutes in the first half, a 77 ^th minute headed effort at the back post from defender Kylie Strom lifted Orlando ahead for good.
The early goings continued plenty of back and forth action as both teams tested the opposition goalkeepers with respective efforts. In the 17 ^th minute, Washington attacker Ashley Sanchez received a pass from teammate Paige Metayer at the back post and settled possession well amidst pressure from the defense. In position to fire on goal, Sanchez rocketed a shot at Orlando goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse that she did well to parry away to safety. Then, two minutes later, it was Orlando forward Messiah Bright to take a crack at goal after she had collected her own rebounded cross and unleashed from a tight angle at the near post. However, Spirit goalkeeper Aubrey Kingsbury was able to get low and smother the shot to end the chance.
As the match’s intensity heated up, Orlando was then awarded a penalty in the 23 ^rd minute as forward Adriana was brought down inside the box by Spirit defender Amber Brooks in what was a clearly seen foul to lead to the opportunity. Up to take was the Brazilian Marta, who had not scored in regular season play since October 2021. The superstar buried her penalty attempt, though, and sent Exploria Stadium wild as Orlando jumped in front.
However, Washington demonstrated why they were unbeaten through seven games entering in as defender Sam Staab took just five minutes to equalize following a recycled ball from out wide. Washington was reloading to send another cross into the penalty area when Inès Jaurena curled a finessed ball in that landed squarely on Staab’s head from just a few yards out. Powering her effort past Moorhouse, Staab brought the Spirit level once more as the match continued its even flow.
As the first half continued on, chances for Bright and Washington forward Trinity Rodman both failed to break the deadlock again as the pair went into the halftime interval scoreless.
Opening the game back up early on, Washington had a slew of chances inside a three-minute span that could have easily sent them ahead if not for some heroic goalkeeping from Moorhouse. First, in the 53 ^rd minute, Sanchez was played in behind the Orlando back line and dribbled her way all the way down toward the face of goal where Moorhouse was able to leap off her line and smother the ball as Sanchez attempted to round her. Then, in back-to-back moves, Washington’s Andi Sullivan and Dorian Bailey had strong shots from outside the 18-yard box pushed away by Moorhouse to safety as the visitors just could not find a way in.
Orlando was able to respond with a chance for Adriana in the 63 ^rd minute that fell wide, but the real action came in the 76 ^th minute with the Brazilian again on the ball. Adriana was cutting down the left flank when she danced around a defender and turned her path back toward the endline where she opted to shoot. Her ball whistled across goal and took a deflection on the way out, though, resulting in a corner kick for Orlando. Up on corner kick duty was Marta, and her delivery towards the back post found the head of teammate Kylie Strom, who buried the opportunity in the back of the net to restore Orlando’s lead.
A free kick chance for Adriana that was saved by Kingsbury in the 84 ^th minute was the closest either team would get to finding another goal on the night, meaning Orlando has now won three of their last four (D1) in handing Washington their first loss of the season. The Spirit remain on top of the table still, pending other results around the league, while Orlando is up to 7 ^th place, also pending other results around the league.

Match Highlights

Match Highlights