Orlando Pride (0-0-2, 2 points) vs. Chicago Red Stars (2-0-0, 6 points)
When: Friday, March 29, 7:00 p.m. ET
Where: INTER&Co Stadium, Orlando, Florida
Tickets: Orlando Pride vs Chicago Red Stars
TV: Bally Sports (local), NWSL+
As the Pride host the Red Stars of Chicago, here are five things to watch for on Friday:
GOAT doing GOAT Things
In the Pride’s last match, captain Marta scored her first goal of the season and extended her Club record for goals scored to 32. Marta scored off a corner kick in the 88th minute and helped the Pride earn a point in the Club’s home opener and helped her earn a nomination for Goal of the Week. The goal marked her first goal in the run of play since Sept. 11, 2021, after she missed the 2022 season due to an injury and her next five goals all coming from the penalty spot last season. Marta finished the 2023 season with a perfect 5-5 from the penalty spot.
Brazilian Flair
Fellow Brazilian international Angelina earned the assist on the Marta finish, serving as her first assist with the Pride since joining the squad in the offseason. It was also her first assist since May 8, 2022, while she was with the OL Reign and is the fourth of her professional career. Angelina has played the full 90 minutes in both matches for the Pride since debuting in the Club’s season opener against Louisville. She joins Amanda Allen as the only two Pride players to notch an assist so far this season.
Anywhere, Anytime
The match against Angel City FC saw the Pride start a backline of Celia, Kerry Abello, Bri Martinez and Haley McCutcheon due to Rafaelle being out with injury, Emily Sams out with an illness and Kylie Strom serving a suspension. Abello and Martinez played the whole match in their center back roles and held an Angel City attack to only four shots on goal. The match also saw forward Amanda Allen and midfielder Luana sub into the match and file into the roles of left back and right back late in the match to see the game through. The Pride’s backline throughout the whole match held firm and the versatility of all the players involved helped the team earn a point as they battled through adversity.
Turning the Tide
The last time the Red Stars visited Downtown Orlando on Aug. 20, 2023, the Pride earned a 5-0 victory with four different players all finding the back of the net. The win also served as the Club’s first-ever home win over Chicago and snapped a four-game losing streak against the Red Stars. The night was highlighted by Pride debuts of Rafaelle and Mariana Larroquette who were both fresh off appearances playing for their respective countries in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Both players celebrated their Pride debuts by finding the back of the net, Rafaelle 15 minutes into her debut and Larroquette just four minutes into her debut after coming on as a substitute in the second half.
New Broadcast Partner
Bally Sports has been named the new local television home of Orlando City SC and Orlando Pride, with Bally Sports Florida, Bally Sports Sun and the Bally Sports app set to broadcast 13 Orlando Pride matches as well as the Club’s weekly show, Orlando Soccer Insider, which will air on Friday nights. The partnership will begin this week, with Orlando Soccer Insider beginning at its new time, 6 p.m. ET, on Bally Sports Florida before the first Orlando Pride local broadcast of the season against the Red Stars.
Milestone tracker
- Marta is two assists away from 20 in her NWSL career
