ORLANDO, Fla. (June 22, 2021) - Orlando Pride (3-0-3, 12 points) heads out on the road for its next two contests, first set to take on Kansas City NWSL (0-4-2, 2 points) on Wednesday, June 23 at Legends Field. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. ET with the match available to stream on Paramount+ and internationally on Twitch.
“It’ll be a different game [on Wednesday]. I think what we can continue to do is try and create the same chances. If we keep creating chances, we’re going to score goals, there’s no doubt. We have the best forwards, we have a unit of complete quality, different qualities, and I think we have players at the moment that will come into the game in Kansas and especially looking ahead to these two games, and they’ll add something different,” Head Coach Marc Skinner said. “What we need to expect is a tighter game, a game which will be very few and far between with chances and [capitalize on] the quality moments. Same spaces, same aggressive nature, getting in behind when the opponents allow us and then playing in front when they don’t and that’s what we’ve got to do.”
Wednesday will serve as the second matchup between the Pride and Kansas City within a month’s time, the first taking place on May 30 at Exploria Stadium. The home side took the victory in that contest, a 1-0 result thanks to a 16th-minute game-winner from Alex Morgan. The match served as the first clean sheet of the regular-season for goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris, with the Pride captain not having to make a save to preserve the shutout.
Orlando faces a quick turnaround heading into the match, last playing to a 1-1 draw against NJ/NY Gotham FC this past Sunday. Caprice Dydasco opened the scoring just before the halftime break, with a 90th-minute equalizer from second-year defender Courtney Petersen erasing the deficit for the Pride’s sixth-consecutive result to start the regular season.
Alex Morgan remains atop the NWSL with four goals on the year, while teammates Taylor Kornieck and Marta sit tied for the league lead in assists at two apiece.
Kansas City enters Sunday’s contest after dropping a 1-0 decision to the Portland Thorns at Providence Park. Despite a five-save effort from goalkeeper Abby Smith, the Thorns took the victory thanks to a finish in first half stoppage time from Simone Charley.
Taylor Leach and Amy Rodriguez have each found the back of the net for Kansas City this campaign, with Mariana Larroquette and Mallory Weber accounting for the assists on those two finishes.
Following Wednesday’s match, the Pride wrap up a stretch of three games in seven days with a visit to BBVA Stadium to take on the Houston Dash on Saturday, June 26. Kickoff for that match is set for 8 p.m. ET.
