Pride End Spirit’s Four-Month Undefeated Streak; What’s Next for Orlando?
Yesterday afternoon, the Orlando Pride defeated the Washington Spirit FC 3-2 at Audi Field. While they tied with plenty of teams, this will be the Spirit’s first loss in four months; their last loss took place on June 15th against the Portland Thorns. The Washington Spirit are currently second in the league, behind the KC Current, while Orlando silently follows them from behind in third place. Washington’s loss tightens the top of the potential playoff bracket, giving Orlando momentum and an opportunity to close the gap as the playoffs approach.
Throughout the season, Orlando’s standing has fluctuated, moving from the top of the bracket to lower positions at different points. One contributing factor has been Barbra Banda’s absence following her significant injury in August. However, yesterday’s win gave Orlando the momentum they needed to push forward, showing that they can continue climbing the standings as the playoffs approach. This marks their second win in three games, demonstrating their determination to challenge Washington and their hopes to secure the second-place spot.
During the match, Washington maintained the majority of the game’s possession as they worked to create multiple scoring opportunities. Despite their control and composure, when it came down to the final whistle, it wasn’t enough to defeat Orlando. Yesterday’s game served as a wake-up call for Washington, highlighting the specific areas they might need to polish before the playoffs begin. They made 13 recorded goal attempts, but only three were on target, proving that although great attempts were made, their finishing needs more precision in upcoming games. Still, the Spirit demonstrated clean possession, confident passing, and strong teamwork throughout the match. With a week before their next match, they have an opportunity to refine these skills and attempt to stay at the top of the bracket.
Overall, yesterday proved that the Orlando Pride are striving toward second, even possibly first place. Only five points behind Washington in the league’s bracket. Orlando is proving, again, that they are a powerful and aggressive team to challenge. Their recent momentum and resilience following the absence of their key player, Barbra Banda, demonstrate that Orlando has both the skill and determination to climb the standings and is returning to make a serious playoff push.
