So We Meet Again
The Orlando Pride will face off against Utah Royals FC for only the second time in Club history on Wednesday, May 9. The Pride and Royals met for the first time in the 2018 season-opener that ended in a 1-1 draw. The match served as Utah’s first ever franchise game. Gunny Jonsdottir scored the Royal’s goal in the 3rd minute and Marta equalized for Orlando off a penalty kick in the 21st minute. Since then the Royals have gone 1-1-3 and have returned forward Amy Rodriguez who missed the first match, as well as most of last season, while recovering from an ACL tear.
Atomic Blondes
In Orlando’s last match against the Chicago Red Stars, Rachel Hill scored her first goal of the season and became the first Pride player other than Chioma Ubogagu and Marta to appear on the team’s scoresheet. Since joining Orlando on Jan. 18, 2017, Hill has scored four goals in a Pride jersey.
The goalscorer was assisted by Aussie newcomer Emily van Egmond, her first point in purple. Van Egmond, who had a short stint in the NWSL in 2013 and 2014, earned her first start last week and, in addition to her assist, led both teams with 81 touches, 63 total passes and 32 passes in the opponent’s half.
Travel, I've Had My Share
Wednesday’s match against Utah Royals FC will be Orlando Pride’s second-midweek match in a row and the second of a series of three road games. For the first time this season, the Pride will play two games in one week. After facing the Royals, Orlando will travel to Portland for the second time this season to face the Thorns at Providence Park on Saturday, May 12. That match will be nationally televised on Lifetime. The three road games mark the longest road spell for the Pride in their three seasons of play.
The Left is Alright
Orlando Pride has scored six goals in six matches, with all but one coming from the left foot. Two of those goals were scored by Marta on set pieces - a penalty kick vs. Utah on March 24 and a stunning free kick strike on April 28 vs. Seattle. The lone anomaly is Chioma Ubogagu’s second goal of the season, a header goal on April 22 against Houston.
With southpaws dominating the front line, the left-foot appears to be the favored option for the Pride attack. Since joining the league, Orlando has scored 55% of its goals with the left foot. Since the start of the 2017 season, Orlando has scored 32 left-footed goals out of 51 total.
The Chi Effect
For the second time this season, Chioma Ubogagu scored the game-winning goal for the Orlando Pride, her third goal this year. Ubogagu scored the lone goal during the Pride’s first win of the season against the Houston Dash on April 22. She then scored the first goal, and eventual game-winner, of last Wednesday’s match against the Chicago Red Stars to lift Orlando to its first road victory of the season. The forward is now tied with five other players for second in goals scored in the league.
In The Air Tonight
The team on the other side of the field won’t be the only challenge for the Pride on Wednesday. Rio Tinto Stadium sits at an altitude of 4,436 feet above sea level - the highest altitude the Pride have ever played in. That elevation is almost 4,000 feet higher than the next closest NWSL venue, Chicago’s Toyota Park which sits at 610 feet. Orlando’s home pitch, Orlando City Stadium, rests just 108 feet above sea level, while Providence Park - the site of the Pride’s next road game - is only at 79 feet elevation.
Familiar Territory
While Wednesday will mark the Pride’s first match at Rio Tinto Stadium, American members of Orlando are familiar with the high-altitude venue. Pride forward Alex Morgan received her first of 140 international caps in Sandy, coming on as a 46th- minute substitute for current Royals forward Amy Rodriguez on March 31, 2010, against Mexico. Morgan appeared in the U.S. WNT’s next two matches in Utah, alongside Orlando teammate Sydney Leroux, on June 30, 2012, against Canada and Sept. 13, 2014, against Mexico. In the second Mexico match, Morgan paced the Americans to an 8-0 win with two goals and three assists. Leroux also scored in that match. Goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris was named to the 18-player roster for that game, as well as the U.S. WNT’s most recent match at RioT on Oct. 19, 2016, - a 4-0 win over Switzerland.
The U.S. WNT will be making another stop at Rio Tinto on June 7 of this year, hosting China.
Welcome Back, Mate!
Since Orlando Pride’s home opener, Utah Royals have added Australian mid elder Katrina Gorry, national team teammate of Alanna Kennedy and Emily van Egmond. Gorry rejoins the league for the first time since 2014 when she appeared for the former FC Kansas City. With Kansas City, Gorry appeared in 10 matches, scored one goal and won the 2014 NWSL Championship. The young mid elder was also the second Australian to ever win the Asian Women’s Footballer of the Year. Since then fellow countrywomen Caitlin Foord and Sam Kerr have won the award.
