1. Everyone, BREATHE. It's been quite a while since the Orlando Pride have played a game like that, but after going 2-0 down just before halftime, the Pride managed to pull out an improbable comeback 3-2 win over Angel City FC at Inter&Co Stadium.
2. It was an inauspicious start to the match for the Pride, allowing the opening goal just nine minutes in. Kerry Abello spoke after the game, mentioning how the team just wasn't themselves and how they couldn't get a rhythm.
3. Head Coach Seb Hines mentioned after the game that it came down to the fundamentals of the game, just doing the simple things right. Angel City did a good job in their press to force turnovers, but ultimately, it came down to the Pride executing. In the first half, they didn't, but in the second half, they did.
4. The substitutions that came in around the 60th minute ended up being massive impact players for the Pride. Oihane and Carson Pickett both picked up assists, and Haley McCutcheon was able to boss the midfield and disrupt a lot of the counterattacking. "They have to be game changers, and they certainly changed the game," Hines said of his subs.
5. Goals change games. No goal was more of a gamechanger than Marta's in the 72nd minute. Her quick volley off the cross from Oihane gave confidence to the entire team as they pushed for an equalizer. Abello said it best after the match: "That goal was everything."
6. It only took a few minutes for the Pride to find the equalizer, and of course, Barbra Banda delivered. A perfect cross from Pickett was flicked on by Banda's head, glancing off the post and in. In the span of just four minutes, the game completely flipped on its head.
7. Naturally, a chaotic game like tonight deserved a chaotic ending. The Pride kept pushing and pushing for the game-winner, eventually finding it in an unorthodox fashion. Another Pickett ball into the box took an awkward bounce heading towards goal, where Ally Watt was waiting. Trying to get in front of Watt, M.A. Vignola chested the ball up and past Angelina Anderson, putting the Pride in the lead for the first time in the third minute of stoppage time.
8. The win tonight marked the first time in the matchup between the Pride and Angel City that either team won a match at home. To this point, the Pride had drawn and lost here at Inter&Co Stadium, but won all three matchups in Los Angeles. Tonight finally broke the streak, in a very critical win for the confidence of the team.
9. Now, the Pride get ready to head out west as they will take on the Portland Thorns out in Oregon. The match will kick off on Saturday, May 3, at 7:30 p.m. ET from Providence Park.
