KANSAS CITY, Ks. (June 23, 2021) - Orlando Pride (4-0-3, 15 points) extended its unbeaten streak to seven matches on Wednesday afternoon, earning a 3-1 win over host Kansas City (0-5-2, 2 points). The match marked the second time the two sides have met in the last three weeks, with the Pride earning a 1-0 win over KC on May 30 at home.
The Pride earn the three points in the midst of a three-match week, with Wednesday’s game marking the second of the trio. Going down 1-0 in first-half stoppage time, Sydney Leroux responded quickly, just two minutes later, with her first of two goals on the night. The forward would score again minutes into the second half, with Marta adding Orlando’s final goal on a long-range attempt that caught the goalkeeper off her line.
Erin McLeod made her second start of the year between the pipes, making three saves and earning her second win, as well. Gunny Jónsdóttir totaled two assists, her first as a member of the Pride, with Chelsee Washington picking up her second all-time helper on Leroux’s first goal.
Orlando Pride Head Coach Marc Skinner:
“I’m feeling wonderful for different reasons. We were able to put players into a team, able to rotate, able to show that we can be competitive and also show that whenever the chips are down we can be counted on. I think it’s the psychology of each game at the moment. I said before the game that it’s going to be a grind because for some reason we have all these weeks breaks and then we have three games in six, seven days so it doesn’t make sense. It’s not physically right for the players, but they’ve shown only positive energy, togetherness and have come through a very tough task and a very tough pitch that has millions of bubbles, if you can’t see. The psychology of everything being against them was just amazing today and the group fully deserved that win.”
Scoring Recap:
45+8’ Mariana Larroquette (Jéssica Silva) - KC 1, ORL 0
The home side took the lead during an 11 minute first half stoppage time, with Jessica Silva flicking on a corner kick which fell to Larroquette who made a run into the box and hit it home from the doorstep.
45+10’ Sydney Leroux (Chelsee Washington) - ORL 1, KC 1
Despite falling behind in stoppage time, the Pride made use of the few minutes remaining and responded quickly, with Sydney Leroux scoring her third goal of the season. Collecting a ball down the flank from Chelsee Washington, Leroux made a cut inside and rifled home a low shot to the near post to level things up.
49’ Sydney Leroux (Gunny Jónsdóttir) - ORL 2, KC 1
Leroux put the Pride ahead just minutes into the second half, completing the brace on a highlight worthy goal in the 49th minute. Collecting a long-ball from Gunny Jónsdóttir, Leroux carried down the left before blasting home a right-footed shot from distance.
85’ Marta (Gunny Jónsdóttir) - ORL 3, KC 1
Marta capped things off with her first goal of the season, catching Abby Smith off her line on a shot from the edge of the center circle. After receiving a pass in the midfield, the Brazilian took a few strides before booming in her team-leading, 24th regular season goal for the Pride.
Match Notes:
- Sydney Leroux tallied her first brace of the season with goals in first half stoppage and 49th minute, the third of her career and first since June 16, 2018.
- With her third and fourth goals of the year on Wednesday, Sydney Leroux now sits tied for the team lead in goals with fellow forward Alex Morgan.
- Marta’s highlight reel goal in the 85th minute marked her first of the 2021 campaign and her 24th as a member of the Pride, extending her Club record which now sits two above Alex Morgan.
- Forwards Abi Kim and Erika Tymrak earned their first starts as a member of the Pride on Wednesday afternoon, with Kim’s marking the first of her professional career.
- Gunny Jónsdóttir made her fourth start of the year at right back, her second of the regular season. The Icelandic international eventually moved to her natural midfield position at the start of the second half when Ali Riley took over on the right side.
- Gunny Jónsdóttir and Chelsee Washington earned their first regular season assists as a member of the Pride, the first and second overall for Jónsdóttir and the second across all competitions for Washington, who tallied one during the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup.
- Hours after being named an alternate for Canada’s Olympic roster, goalkeeper Erin McLeod made her second start for the Pride, making three saves en route to her second win of the season and the Club’s fourth win on the year.
- Coming in as a second-half injury replacement for Taylor Kornieck, forward Crystal Thomas made her third appearance of the regular season and first for the Club since May 30, the Pride’s previous meeting with Kansas City.
- Head coach Marc Skinner employed a rotated starting XI for the midweek match, making six changes to his lineup from last Sunday's match.
- The Pride extend their unbeaten run to seven games to start the season, and nine overall, with the Club’s last win coming on April 14 against Gotham FC in the Challenge Cup.
Next Match:
The Pride close a three-game week on Saturday evening, traveling to face rival Houston Dash on Saturday, June 26 in an 8 p.m. ET kickoff at BBVA Stadium.
Scoring Summary:
KC - Mariana Larroquette (Jéssica Silva) 45+8’
ORL - Sydney Leroux (Chelsee Washington) 45+10’
ORL - Sydney Leroux (Gunny Jónsdóttir) 49’
ORL - Marta (Gunny Jónsdóttir) 85’
Misconduct Summary:
ORL - Erika Tymrak (Yellow Card) 45+6’
ORL - Meggie Dougherty Howard (Yellow Card) 45+8’
Lineups/Substitutions:
Orlando Pride - GK Erin McLeod; D Gunny Jónsdóttir, Ali Krieger, Phoebe McClernon, Courtney Petersen; M Meggie Dougherty Howard, Marisa Viggiano (Ali Riley 46’), Chelsee Washington; F Erika Tymrak (Marta 46’), Abi Kim (Taylor Kornieck 46’, Crystal Thomas 82’), Sydney Leroux
Substitutes Not Used: GK Brittany Wilson; D Ally Haran, Konya Plummer, Toni Pressley
Kansas City - GK Abby Smith; D Rachel Corsie, Katie Bowen, Elizabeth Ball (Michelle Maemone 46’), Taylor Leach; M Lo LaBonta (Chloe Logarzo 46’), Gaby Vincent, Victoria Pickett (Michele Vasconcelos 73’); F Amy Rodriguez, Mariana Larroquette (Mallory Weber 73’), Jéssica Silva (Darian Jenkins 67’)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Nicole Barnhart; M Desiree Scott, Maddie Nolf, Addie McCain
Details of the Game:
Time: 2 p.m. ET
Weather: Sunny
Date: June 23, 2021
Attendance: 4,197
Stats Summary: ORL / KC
Possession: 48.8% / 51.2%
Shots: 14 / 13
Shots on Goal: 10 / 4
Saves: 7 / 3
Corner Kicks: 4 / 4
Fouls: 14 / 9
Offside: 2 / 3
Officials:
REF: Samantha Martinez
AR1: Shane Kennard
AR2: Melissa Beck
