After three games on the road the Orlando Pride finally made their way back home to face off against the Houston Dash. This would be the first home game for the team since the tragic events of the Pulse night club shooting. The stadium was filled with 6,870 fans that were routing for their home team to win. Many could be spotted wearing shirts that read #OrlandoUnited. This would be the third match between the two clubs. In the first two matches the Pride managed to get the upper hand, which happened again tonight, although the Dash would make the Pride earn the win.
The first half of the match was even, with both teams working diligently to set up their offenses. Alex Morgan was active up front, causing trouble for the Houston defense throughout the 45. She found ways through the Dash back-line and hustled to take some shots. Morgan shot a total of four times in the first half but none of those attempts were on target. Houston’s first half seemed to be plagued by offsides calls; eventually ending the game with eight of them. While they were making great runs, timing was not on their side in the first half leading to an unproductive offense.
Jamia Fields, a standout for the Pride this match, earned her first start and left it all on the field. Fields stated in the post-game interview that she had been training hard all season and she felt her speed and physical play would be something that could help the team. Coach Tom Sermanni agreed, saying in his post-game interview that her speed, physicality, and fresh legs were factors in his decision to start her.
The Pride began the second half with an offensive assault. They continuously work their way into Dash territory, putting pressure on the defense. Houston responded setting up attacks on the other side. Player of the match, Ashlyn Harris, responded to all the Dash offense sent her way. In the 55th minute of play, Andressa Machry blasted a shot on goal that Harris punched over the net. Around the 85th, the Dash made their way into the Pride eighteen, where they would come away empty handed after a confused pride defense banded together to clear the ball. Harris would be faced with another dangerous attempt after Dash forward Rachel Daly attempted a bicycle kick, that was very close to being a goal, had Harris not got a hand on it.
The game deciding goal would finally come in stoppage time from one of the Pride’s hardest working players, Jasmine Spencer. Spencer did not enter the game until the 68th minute, but she immediately provided a boost to the team by using her speed to be an asset at any end of the field. Spencer would take two shots, one would be the game winning goal. In stoppage, Alex Morgan would make a cross to Fields inside the 18 yard box, which attracted the attention of Houston’s back-line before Fields dropped a pass off to Sarah Hagen. A wide open Spencer would put a volley from Hagen into the back of the net.
After the game Spencer expressed her joy at the result “Tonight was amazing for us to get the win in front of everyone and just help lift the city back up”. Spencer’s goal ended a goal drought for the Pride, who had not scored since the last time they played the Dash on May 20th. The Pride are now 5-5 in the NWSL with 15 points. They sit in 5th place behind the Western New York Flash. Next they will take on the Portland Thorns FC June 26th.
Orlando Pride
