Pride gut out win in Kansas City to take top spot in NWSL
On a night the club took a moment to honor Brazilian legend Kaká, Orlando City SC showcased its potential with a commanding 5-0 victory over visiting D.C. United Saturday at Inter&Co Stadium. The resounding win propelled the Lions to seventh place in the MLS Eastern Conference standings, placing them inside the playoff line for a night.
It was an incredible night as well for the NWSL's Orlando Pride in Kansas City; the Pride played down a player for the entire second half and gutted out a 2-1 win over the Current. Orlando (10-0-5) takes over the top spot in the standings.
In Orlando, the return of starters Pedro Gallese and Wilder Cartagena from Copa America duty with Peru seemed to invigorate the team, as they displayed a new level of strength, speed, and hunger on the pitch. The Lions (7-9-6) opened the scoring in the 19th minute when Martín Ojeda fired a left-footed shot from the center of the box into the bottom left corner, assisted by Dagur Thórhallsson. Just four minutes later, Robin Jansson doubled the lead with a powerful header from a Wilder Cartagena cross following a corner kick.
Iván Angulo extended the lead to 3-0 in the 42nd minute, streaking down the wing and placing a right-footed shot into the bottom right corner. Angulo and Facundo Torres consistently posed threats on both flanks, dribbling past defenders and delivering dangerous crosses into the box.
D.C. United's chances of mounting a comeback were dealt a severe blow just before halftime when Lucas Bartlett was shown a red card for fouling Iván Angulo. Playing with a man advantage for the entire second half, Orlando City continued to dominate possession and create chances. Facundo Torres added a fourth goal in the 74th minute, assisted by Duncan McGuire, and substitute Ramiro Enrique capped off the scoring with a header in the 85th minute from an Alexander Freeman corner kick.
Despite the crowd's desire for a sixth goal, Orlando City's complete control and dominance of the match left little room for disappointment. Head coach Oscar Pareja, who has faced criticism at times, demonstrated his ability to awaken the sleeping Lions at precisely the right moment in the season.
After the final whistle, Orlando City took a moment to honor Brazilian legend Kaká, who became the first player inducted into the club's new "Legends' Terrace." Kaká, who scored the Lions' first-ever goal, made 78 appearances across all competitions for Orlando City, tallying 25 goals and 22 assists. In an emotional speech, Kaká reflected on his decision to join Orlando City after his tenure with AC Milan, expressing his deep appreciation for the city and the incredible experience he had playing for the Lions. His heartfelt words drew resounding cheers from the adoring fans who recognized his immense contributions to the club.
The Orlando Pride took a 1-0 lead when Barbara Banda scored her 12th goal in 12th matches, and notched her third game in a row with a tally, in the 37th minute. But the end of the first half was tough, as the Current's Temwa Chawinga extended her streak of goals to five consecutive matches two minutes later. Then, before the half, Carrie Lawrence picked up a second yellow card to put the Pride down to 10 players.
Orlando responded with incredible defensive presence; goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse made seven saves, including a pair of crucial ones in first-half stoppage time. In the 63rd minute, Adrianna was fouled in the box, resulting in a penalty kick that Marta buried for the eventual game winner.
The Pride and the NWSL now go on a month hiatus for international duty.
