1 - Playoff Push
Orlando Pride currently sits four points out of playoff position. Of the Pride’s eight remaining matches, five are at home and four are against teams currently ahead of them in the standings. The Pride host Sky Blue FC on Saturday before visiting eighth-place Boston on Aug. 19 and last-place Kansas City on Aug. 26. The Pride then host Boston and finish off the home schedule against fourth-place Seattle and third-place Portland before visiting first-place North Carolina on Sept. 30.
2 - Battle of the Braces
In the last meeting between these teams, Marta and Spirit forward Mallory Pugh scored two goals each to split points in a 2-2 draw. Marta started the scoring from the penalty spot in the ninth minute and scored her eighth of the season on a left-footed volley in the 56th minute. Pugh scored her goals in the 24th minute and on a penalty kick in the 90th.
3 - ToN of Impact
Orlando Pride head coach Tom Sermanni can expect a lineup at full strength after seven stars represented their countries in the Tournament of Nations. Australian left back Steph Catley and Brazilian defender Monica did not dress Saturday against Chicago after playing three full 90-minute games at the tournament. Brazilian forwards Marta and Camila, who scored two goals at the Tournament
of Nations, started that match on the bench, while Americans Ali Krieger and Alex Morgan were in the starting XI against the Red Stars.
4 - Run For The Hill
The Pride will be without forward Rachel Hill, who sprained her right ankle in Saturday’s match against Chicago. Hill was replaced by Marta in the 24th minute. Hill has appeared in nine matches this season.
5 - So We Meet Again
This is a rematch of Orlando Pride’s first ever game at Orlando City Stadium. On April 22, the Pride hosted the Spirit and picked up a point with a thrilling, late-game equalizer from Danica Evans. The No. 22 overall selection in the 2016 NWSL College Draft took a pass from Chioma Ubogagu and with incredible skill, combined a 360° spin with a first-touch, backheel nutmeg to get past her defender before tip-toeing around Spirit goalkeeper Stephanie Labbe and tapping in her first professional goal. The crowd of over 14,400 also saw Brazilian legend Marta make her Pride debut.
6 - Alex In Action
Saturday against Chicago, Alex Morgan scored her first goal from the run of play of this NWSL season. The USWNT forward got on the end of Jasmyne Spencer’s pass, took a touch and rifled a left-footed shot into the back of the net as one of her team- leading four shots in the game. Morgan scored her first goal of the season on a penalty kick in the Pride’s 4-1 rout of FC Kansas City.
7 - Change For Chi
In Saturday’s draw against Chicago, mid elder Chioma Ubogagu lined up at left back in place of Steph Catley, who was rested following three 90-minute performances at the Tournament of Nations. Ubogagu showed chemistry alongside Kristen Edmonds, Ali Krieger and Toni Pressley on the back line and set up Alex Morgan’s goal with a pinpoint long ball to Jasmyne Spencer, who eventually slipped it through for Morgan.
