Pride stay winless, fall 2-0 to Royals
The Orlando Pride are still trying to find a winning formula under new coach Marc Skinner.
In fact, for now, the Pride are just looking for ways to score goals.
Orlando (0-6-1, 1 point) went the second half against the Utah Royals (4-1-1, 13 points) without a shot on target and fell 2-0 at Rio Tinto Stadium on Saturday. The match marked the first time this season the Pride were without all of their international stars.
For Skinner, despite the lack of quality in the final third, there was a grit and determination from the team that he was excited to see.
"The quality needs to improve, definitely, but I saw a spirit in the team that actually will embody what we do in the future," Skinner said. "That was huge for me. They gave everything for the club, for the badge. The quality always something that you can improve but if we want somebody to be brave, courageous, to wear the badge with Pride, I thought the team did that tonight.
"How I pick them up is by reminding them of what they've done tonight, and then we need to work on the quality on both ends to make sure they win the game, rather than lose it."
The gritty performance came at a cost — and with some controversy. Pride left back Carson Pickett appeared to be kicked in the shin by Royals midfielder Lo'eau LaBonta in the 53rd minute. Referee Karen Abt didn't call a foul, but Pickett was clearly in pain for a couple minutes. A stretcher was brought out for her, but she limped off the pitch on her own power.
She returned to the match in the 57th minute and played the rest of the game. Pride players reacted to the call on social media — USWNT star Alex Morgan called the play "dirty."
Skinner said Pickett was in a boot after the match and her right foot — the one that was kicked by LaBonta — will be Xrayed.
"She got booted," Skinner said. "There's no doubt about it. She got booted. She just booted her legs away after the ball had gone. It's got to be a red card. She didn't even get a caution. The referee has let the team down in that instance. I'm not scared of saying that because I thought she had a — let's be kind here — a mixed game. The outcome is not on the referee because it's always on the players, but for her to allow that play to happen ... I just don't think it's right."
The Pride fell behind after Royals forward Amy Rodriguez converted a penalty kick in the 31st minute. Utah won the penalty kick after Orlando midfielder Bridget Callahan brought down Royals midfielder Verónica Boquete as Callahan was trying to win the ball back after a clearance fell to Boquete.
Rodriguez put her shot from the penalty spot into the top right corner to give the Royals a first-half lead. Boquete would be subbed off in the 39th minute due to a right quad injury.
Pride goalkeeper Haley Kopmeyer was called into action early. She managed a fingertip save in the second minute to deny a shot from Rodriguez. She had a diving save seven minutes later on a shot from Katie Stengel.