On Saturday, the Orlando Pride made NWSL history by going undefeated for the 17th time in the 2024 NWSL regular season. The Pride recorded a 2-1 victory over the Kansas City Current, who also came into the match undefeated in the regular season.
The Orlando Pride made NWSL history by going undefeated for the 16th time in the 2024 NWSL… [+] They ended the regular season with a 2-1 win over the Kansas City Current.
Orlando Pride
“Coming into this situation, we knew it was going to be a tough game,” Pride head coach Seb Hines said. “We had the same number of points, the same number of wins, the same number of draws and nothing was between us in this game. And I think we showed our level on the day, our character and our personality. Everyone contributed to this win today and it’s really good to go into this break with three valuable points.”
Orlando breaks the scoreline
The Pride had previously set an NWSL record with eight straight wins, but their first matchup against the Current marked a significant milestone in front of a capacity crowd at CPKC Stadium.
With both teams’ records even, the Pride wasted no time, leading the way for the visiting Pride with a goal from forward Barbara Banda. Banda’s goal was her 12th, making her the first player in NWSL history to reach 12 goals in fewer than 16 games. With a goal in every game she has played, Banda also leads the NWSL Golden Boot race.
Minutes after the goal, international player Themwa Chawinga followed up Banda’s goal to level the score at 1-1 in the 39th minute. The Pride also suffered a blow when defender Carey Lawrence picked up a second yellow card for a collision with Chawinga. The Pride were now down to 10 men, but they fought hard under difficult circumstances to earn a penalty kick in the 63rd minute.
Kansas City Current forward Temwa Chawinga (left) and Orlando Pride forward Marta (right) compete for the … [+] Ball at CPKC Stadium.
Orlando Pride
At the top of the spot, Brazilian forward Marta put a smooth ball into the left side of the net to give the Pride the lead again. The Current pressed harder and tried to turn the game around, but Orlando eventually shook off the pressure to secure three solid points away from home.
“I think it speaks to our mentality,” midfielder Kelly Avello said. “Obviously it’s not the best situation when a guy goes down, but you can still get points. The key is making good decisions and being persistent defensively, to be honest. We were on the defensive end for a long time in that game, and our defensive line is great. I think our success on the field reflects a lot on the culture of our team as a whole. Again, I’m really happy for our team and you could see that through the way we all played today.”
Following the 2-1 win against the Current, the NWSL will go on an Olympic break while players join their national teams for the Paris 2024 Olympics. However, the players who will remain in the United States will take part in the inaugural NWSL x Liga MX MX Summer Cup, which begins on Friday, July 19.
