VIDEO: Orlando Pride’s Morgan, Leroux Score Massive Goals to Hold off Portland Thorns
The Orlando Pride celebrate a goal against the Portland Thorns at Exploria Stadium Wednesday, May 26, 2021. Photo: Willie David/Florida National News.
ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) – Orlando Pride look to build momentum off their 2-1 victory over NC Courage on May 22. This game against Portland marks the second in a stretch of three games spanning nine days total. Pride Head Coach Mark Skinner has had to make a few personnel adjustments to keep fresh legs on the field. For that reason, Ashlyn Harris sat out against the Courage to give way for a more concentrated performance against the Thorns.
After much stubborn defending, Orlando’s first real chance at goal came at the 20′ minute. Marta managed to dribble past a defender on the right side of the box to deliver a sumptuous cross to Taylor Kornieck that almost found its mark. Just moments later, Kornieck returned the favor with brilliant 1-2 play alongside Alex Morgan. The USWNT veteran showed her poise in front of the box. She waited for the ball to land at the perfect angle and launched a strike across goal. The goal marks her third in three straight games during the NWSL regular season.
Skinner mentioned after their win against North Carolina that starting early and hitting their opponents first is crucial to success. His players are heeding that advice and using it to their advantage as early chances are being converted more often. With the amount of depth on their roster, Orlando Pride have a lot more to show as the wear and tear of a regular season schedule continues to take shape.
While the attacking creativity of the Pride continue to shine, their defensive frailties have been apparent too. Defensive miscommunications have led to a host of errors and goals this season. Those kinds of mistakes are what led to Simone Charley’s equalizer right before the end of the first half.
A Poacher’s Gift
Fighting spirit continues to be the theme for Orlando Pride this season. The start of the second half showed exactly that as Sydney LeRoux poached a goal in the box with less than a minute into the half. The Pride have shifted gears immensely since 2020. With every outing, their decisiveness in front of goal has improved — and with that, their standing amongst the top of the Eastern NWSL Conference is that much more celebratory given their form as of late.
With 20 minutes left in the encounter, tired legs started to show for both sides. Orlando became much more tentative in the middle third forcing play to come from the defensive end. Portland pressed them into compromising positions causing danger with each advancement. Even still, Ashlyn Harris came up with a trident of saves in the final ten minutes to ward off any last ditch efforts.
Leroux finished the game elated at Orlando Pride’s progress since her arrival to the club. Not since early 2018 have Orlando Pride been able to string together a win streak in the NWSL. She had plenty of praise for the work ethic and culture the coaches have been trying to craft in recent years:
“It feels like it’s finally come together. I’ve been here for four seasons now [I think] and it just feels so good. We’re gelling, and things are just really really good for us right now and we just want to continue what we’re doing here.”
– Sydney Leroux
Orlando Pride are in a great moment right now. The Lionesses sit first on the NWSL table momentarily with a game in hand over Racing Louisville and Gotham FC.
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Nicolas Vera is a sports reporter for Florida National News, part of the FNN News Network. | sports@floridanationalnews.com
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