RECAP: Orlando Pride suffer 1-0 setback
The defending NWSL champions fell behind early and couldn’t unlock the Portland Thorns’ stingy defense, resulting in their first road loss this year.
Orlando Pride midfielder Ally Lemos, right, chases Portland Thorns forward Reilyn Turner, 66, during the Thorns’ 1-0 NWSL victory Saturday in Portland. PHOTO: Orlando Pride Communications
Pride suffers ‘disappointing’ 1-0 loss
Reyna Reyes’ goal in the 16th minute was all Portland (3-2-3, 12 points) needed against the defending NWSL champion Orlando Pride. The loss at Portland’s Providence Park was Orlando’s first on the road and its second in three matches. The Pride (5-2-0, 15 points) remain tied for first with the KC Current, which lost 1-0 to Seattle Reign FC.
There weren’t many Orlando highlights Saturday in the Pride’s 1-0 loss to the Portland Thorns, but three players did celebrate individual accomplishments.
Abello plays 50th straight match
Defender Kerry Abello became the first player in club history to play in 50 consecutive matches, while defender Zara Chavoshi made her first start and goalkeeper McKinley Crone made her first appearance when she relieved an injured Anna Moorhouse in the second half.
Defender Kerry Abello, 25, is the first player to appear in 50 straight games for the Orlando Pride. PHOTO: Orlando Pride Communications
Pride can’t solve Thorn’s defense
Orlando Coach Seb Hines said he was “disappointed with the result.”
“When you give Portland an opportunity to take the lead it is very difficult to get back into the game,” he told reporters according to a media release from the club. “We tried, but it wasn’t enough to get anything out of the game.”
Hines said the Thorns “were one step ahead of us in their defensive structure. We didn’t create too many opportunities. They were well organized. ”
“You have got to try and create the space,” he said. “You have got to move, make unselfish runs and you have got to be proactive rather than reactive….You have got to find different ways and we had different solutions during the run of game and changed different build up shapes, but it wasn’t enough to get that equalizer.”
Lineup changes
Hines made five changes to his lineup after his side’s dramatic 3-2 come-from-behind win April 25 against Angel City FC, with Chavoshi, Carson Pickett, Oihane, Haley McCutcheon and Ally Watt all starting.
Moorhouse, Emily Sams, Abello, Ally Lemos, Marta and Barbra Banda were the other starters against Portland.
Moorhouse injury
Moorhouse has started all seven matches for Orlando this season, conceding just five goals and saving 19 shots while keeping three clean sheets. The English keeper was injured when the Thorns’ Mimi Alidou inadvertently kicked her in the head while the players scrambled for a loose ball in the 47th minute. Medical staff attended Moorhouse for several minutes before she left the field. As of Monday afternoon, the club hadn’t released information about the English goalkeeper’s condition.
Orlando will play the North Carolina Courage at 7:30 p.m. ET Saturday. The match will be televised on ION.