Credit: Orlando Pride
By Luis Carlos Pineda
Home opening day for the pride against Gotham FC. For starters, MDH (Meggie Dougherty Howard) as a game-day surprise, was not on the starting lineup and also not on the bench, she had a small knock against Louisville that was a bit more severe than expected.
The Pride the first half started with good pressing against Gotham FC that tried to find Sodam Lee. Also, Courtney Petersen was eating up that left flank in attack, as well she was helping on defending. Superb job from the 7th pick in the draft. She had 66% accuracy on passes completed. Petersen created more chances in attack while Kornieck missed one clear shot in the 10th minute as well as Leroux missing a 1 vs 1 opportunity with the keeper in the 37th minute and as well in the 42nd minute.
While Orlando’s attack was solid in the first half but they weren’t able to score, Plummer on defense was inconsistent and left huge gaps. The good thing was that the crosses or passes Gotham FC attempted to get through her would end up in a turnover, but this lack of vision as a center back can cost us big time if we play a much better team than Gotham down the road.
In the second half, the Pride started going on the onslaught, as if they were committed to scoring. Turnover from Gotham, Petersen is fouled on the left flank of the pitch, free-kick close to the box, Marta shoots, no good. 53rd minute, Gotham FC foul on Leroux, free-kick was unsuccessful but the rebound was caught by phoebe mcclernon in the box but it was no good. It’s been all Orlando, on set pieces, through the left flank through the middle with Moore trying to find Kornieck.
Gotham started working on pressing Orlando’s defense and turnovers started to come for the pride. Gotham counterattacked unsuccessfully but, Plummer still was inconsistent leaving huge gaps that could’ve costed Orlando to lose their first home game of the season. It was not the CB’s night for sure. Peterson then was subbed out by Tymrak in the 73rd minute. In the 78th minute as predicted Onumonu escaped on the right flank and saw a huge gap left by the pride’s defense (Plummer and Krieger) and crossed it superbly to Monaghan that scored brilliantly, Gotham scored and ruined the Pride’s homecoming. In the 85th minute, a shot by Kornieck came close but was unlucky indeed. Gotham’s pumped the team up and from then on it was their game. Orlando attempted a couple of chances but all were unsuccessful.
Orlando has tied his first game against Racing Louisville and lost against Gotham at home, definitely not a good start for a Pride team that looked very promising during the preseason. This tournament just started and I truly hope Coach Skinner and the players can turn this boat around. No Pride lost. Vamos Orlando.