An impressive August run saw the Pride dominate opposing teams at home and scrap for invaluable road victories against competitive NWSL clubs.
Every matchweek poses a unique challenge in the NWSL, where the disparity between clubs near the top of the table and teams near the bottom is quite small.
The ability to win matches in different ways -- such as Orlando’s 5-0 home demolition of New Jersey, a 2-1 win at Kansas City -- is a telling sign of a playoff contender. Time and time again it’s the same story in soccer, and sports in general: teams that get hot toward end of a regular season tend to perform in the postseason.
Right now, the Pride (9-6-5, 32 points) are playing their best soccer of the year. Four wins on the bounce have solidified Orlando’s position in the top four; New Jersey (9-9-2, 29 points) and Seattle (7-7-6, 27 points) sit in the five and six spots respectively.
Pride head coach Tom Sermanni definitely has his team going in the right direction.
“That’s real football,” Sermanni elucidated to his team after last Saturday’s win. “We’ve won a couple of games convincingly and it’s easy and it’s a piece of cake. What we had to do today is what football is all about.”
“People talk about winning titles, getting into the top four. It’s about coming to places like this [FC Kansas City] and grinding out a result. And we were the better team, we dominated the game, so don’t forget that.”
"That's real football."
— Orlando Pride (@ORLPride) August 28, 2017
Tom Sermanni on yesterday's scrappy win in KC. #FilledWithPridepic.twitter.com/qlEDtpwsEf
After two recent road wins, and five matches without a loss, the Pride return to Orlando City Stadium this weekend to face the Boston Breakers. Kickoff is set for 7:30 Saturday night.
