The Orlando Pride honored their World Cup heroines in an emotional pregame ceremony, then, thanks to a brilliant goal by a rookie and an exciting new addition, they went out and dominated Sky Blue FC 1-0 in front of 9,415 at Exploria Stadium, the third largest crowd in Orlando Pride history.
Nine Orlando Pride players participated in the FIFA Women’s World Cup this summer, including USWNT members Ashlyn Harris, Ali Krieger and Alex Morgan. Krieger and Harris started, while World Cup heroine Morgan sat out, still troubled by the knee ailment she aggravated in the World Cup final against The Netherlands. Still, Morgan received an enormous ovation pregame, as did Brazilian superstar Marta, who embraced Morgan as the latter left the field following the ceremony. The season-high crowd was during the ceremony, and remained loud throughout the game, creating a memorable atmosphere for an Orlando Pride team that has now won two consecutive matches at home.
“You feel alive when the crowd is like it was tonight,” Skinner said. “There are only moments in life- when my daughter was born- moments that break the monotony of the day to day. I hope we gave the fans a moment. We haven’t done that enough. I want them to come back. I want them to be a part of the project we’re building in Orlando.
As for the game, for a while, it was a sloppy affair played between two clubs that find themselves at the bottom of the NWSL standings. Sky Blue, playing without their own USWNT World Cup heroine, Carli Lloyd, arrived in Orlando off back-to-back wins but struggled to get a foothold in the game in the first half, with the Pride dominating both possession and chances.
Chioma Ubogagu nearly made a breakthrough for the hosts in the 18th minute, after Krieger laid off for Marisa Viggiano, who played a sublime ball inside to Chioma, whose lashing effort went just wide.
The Pride wouldn’t wait much longer to find a winner.
In the 23rd minute, Viggiano latched onto a simple ball from Ubogagu and cut inside, beating one defender and whipping a shot past Kailen Sheridan and into the upper left corner of the net. The goal was Viggiano’s first as a professional, a moment made all the more special when Marta came over to offer an embrace and a special word to the Orlando rookie. On a weekend that’s featured plenty of wonderful goals in NWSL, Viggiano’s was second to none.
What a way to score your first goal ?#ORLvNJ | #VamosOrlando pic.twitter.com/7xxH4qVGt8
— Orlando Pride (@ORLPride) July 21, 2019
“What a wonderful way to win a game,” Pride head coach Marc Skinner said after the game. “A stunner of a goal from a fourth-round draft pick. She’s a joy to coach. She keeps listening, learning, growing. It’s going to be enjoyable for all of us to watch her grow.”
In the second half, Ubogagu continued to menace, twice laying off beautifully to Rachel Hill, only to see the young winger fail to put the ball on frame once and fire tepidly at the keeper on another effort.
On other nights this season, Orlando’s failure to take their chances have cost them. Just a week ago, the Pride conceded a heartbreaking late goal, costing them a point in Portland.
Saturday night, thanks to a new arrival, the Pride weathered the storm.
Claire Emslie, formerly of Manchester City and fresh to the City Beautiful after her World Cup appearance with Scotland, saw her first action for the Pride and immediately added bite and verve to the midfield, taking a quick touch and putting a ball on frame within moments of coming into the game. Minutes later, Emslie finished a beautiful run by whipping in an inch-perfect ball to Marta, who stunned the Supporters Wall by pushing the ball wide. Minutes later, Emslie punished two Sky Blue defenders on a slaloming run down Sky Blue’s left flank, earning a corner.
“Emslie was electric,” Skinner said. “She makes people hold their breath. She’s a brave player and you can see what a difference she can make.”
Emslie felt like she could make a difference in Orlando too.
“The crowd was electric. It was fun to be a part of it. I’ve felt very welcome and it was fun to be a part of it tonight,” Emslie said. “Obviously you can keep your eye on NWSL, and you notice how the games are pretty even. It’s going to take a bit of time to get used to it- but I’m eager to make a difference,” Emslie said, as a smile burst across her face. “To be honest, playing with Marta is so exciting. I’m eager to help her.”
Early returns suggests Emslie can– and for a Pride team very much in the building process and still expecting the return of Alex Morgan- that could make for more happy nights like Saturday.
Neil W. Blackmon is Co-Founder of The Yanks Are Coming. Follow him on Twitter @nwblackmon.