Orlando Pride
Orlando’s playoff push takes hit as it falls to NWSL’s top team
fall 2-1 at home to the Washington Spirit.
The Orlando Pride had to win, and they lost. The match was crucial, critical and all the other synonyms for those words that head coach Tom Sermanni used leading up to the match.
“We had to win tonight to make that playoffs; that’s a reality of the situation that we’re in,” Sermanni said after the Pride (6-10-0, 18 points) fell 2-1 Friday night against the No. 1 Washington Spirit (11-3-2, 35 points) at Camping World Stadium. “I don’t know if mathematically we can still make the playoffs, but it’s certainly unrealistic now.”
Mathematically, there is still a chance, albeit a small one dependent not only on the Pride’s performance in its last four games but results of many other teams in the league as well.
The Spirit strengthened their lead in the league by adding three points in front of an announced crowd of 7,052 people, and they now have an opportunity to clinch a playoff spot this weekend if Sky Blue FC and the Seattle Reign lose their matches.
U.S. national-team forward Alex Morgan and goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris returned from Olympic duty to suit up for the Pride for the first time in two months. Brazilian international Monica also made an appearance, subbing on for Dani Weatherholt in the 64th minute.
Cheyna Williams gave the Spirit a 1-0 first-half lead when she found space and fired a shot as she slipped backward a couple of yards outside the left corner of the box. Harris was positioned at the near post but the ball found the net in the top
“I don’t know if mathematically we can still make the playoffs, but it’s certainly unrealistic now.” Pride coach Tom Sermanni
corner of the far post in the 36th minute.
Ten minutes into the second half, they doubled that lead thanks to Christine Nairn, who received a cross and buried it past Harris’ right shoulder to go up 2-0.
Pride defender Cami Levin said, "2-0 is one of the worst leads in soccer; people say it all the time."
Sermanni began making substitutions shortly after, putting Sarah Hagen and Monica on for Becky Edwards and Dani Weatherholt, respectively, in the 64th minute. The moves quickly sparked the Pride, who looked refreshed and energized while aggressively pushing on goal.
Cami Levin centered a cross in the box where Hagen waited, bound by two defenders and an onrushing keeper. Hagen pushed the ball forward with her knee and it bounced past Spirit goalie Kelsey Wys to narrow the deficit to 2-1.
“The energy picked up before we scored … but still at the same time, we were trying to make half-opportunities something,” Morgan said. “I feel like we need to create more opportunities than we are. We didn’t get many crosses off at all. If we did, it was mediocre at best. Sarah made an amazing goal out of something that was a half-chance. That was a difficult ball to put in the back of the net, to be honest.”
Seconds later, Jasmyne Spencer broke free on a breakaway and looked like she may have a chance but instead attempted a lateral pass that found no one.
Morgan, who had several chances throughout the night, came close again in the 83rd minute on the run. She beat two defenders but fell as she took a shot that skirted wide.
“Playing against the No. 1 team, I don’t think they’re that much better than us,” Morgan said. “I think we had moments where we played really well, but you could tell their midfield has played together the entire season. None of those players left for the Olympics, none of those players are international players. You could see how well they worked together.”
The Pride will try to keep alive any chance that remains to make the playoffs when they travel to the Houston Dash next week.