1. The Orlando Pride just keep rolling in this early NWSL season as they exorcised their bat demons, taking down NJ/NY Gotham FC 2-0 on the road.
2. It was somewhat of a revenge match for the Pride, who lost to Gotham on the road last season; one of only two losses they suffered on the year.
3. And what a start to the game it was for the Pride. Not even 90 seconds on the clock went by before the ball found the back of the net in fortuitous fashion. A Marta free kick into the box led to a flicked header by Barbra Banda, falling right to the foot of Gotham defender Lilly Reale, who was getting her first start for the club. As she tried to clear the ball, she instead shot it right at her own goal, beating Ann-Katrin Berger and getting Orlando on the scoresheet with just a minute and nine seconds gone in the game.
4. It was a moment for the Pride that helped settle some of the nerves, according to Head Coach Seb Hines, who spoke after the match. He mentioned how tough a place to play Sports Illustrated Stadium can be, and to be able to get an early goal to quiet the crowd was the perfect start for the visitors.
5. Defensively, this Pride team has always hung their hat on their ability to frustrate teams and keep them off the scoresheet, and today was no different. Thanks to a whopping 47 clearances and four saves by Anna Moorhouse, the Pride held Gotham at bay for the majority of the match and managed to force them to take most of their shots from distance, never really challenging goal. It was exactly what this team have done so well over the past year and now continue to do so in 2025.
6. The Pride were able to double their lead thanks to a penalty late in the first half. A mazy run from Banda, a silky cut-back from Angelina and a foul in the box by Jess Carter allowed the legend herself, Marta, to step up to the spot. In typical Marta fashion, the penalty was picture perfect, faking Berger one way with her body and stepping into the ball and sending it the opposite way. It was a goal that came right as the half went into stoppage time and was the perfect momentum boost for the Pride as they went into the locker room a few minutes later.
7. With the game getting a bit stretched at the end, Hines opted to make a move to sub in rookie Zara Chavoshi to help the back line. The Wake Forest defender had played a lot in the preseason with the team and had impressed the coaching staff with her ability to fit in with the backline. You could tell the excitment her fellow players had for her after she was able to make her pro debut. Topping it off with a win isn't too bad either.
8. Now through two matches, the Pride have tied the most total goals scored to start a season in NWSL history, while also getting back-to-back clean sheets to start a season for the first time in team history. It almost seems like a foregone conclusion that this Pride team is up for at least one broken record a game at this point, especially looking at last year's accolades. This only goes to prove that last season is still carrying over into 2025, and what's scary is, this isn't even the Pride's final form.
9. Now, the Pride return home for an early kickoff next weekend against the San Diego Wave. That match will be on ESPN on Saturday, March 29, at 12 p.m. ET.
