Orlando Pride 1-0 Seattle Reign
- Alonso Contreras
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
By Alonso Contreras
Orlando Pride edged out Seattle Reign 1-0 in a hard-fought contest that showcased grit, organization, and moments of individual brilliance. A first-half strike from star forward Barbra Banda proved to be the difference, as the Pride held off a determined Reign side to secure all three points at home.
First Half: Banda Breaks the Deadlock
The opening 45 minutes were fiercely contested, with both teams trading early opportunities. Seattle’s S. Meza and A. McCammon tested the Pride defense in the first ten minutes, but goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse was quick to respond with a pair of confident saves.
Orlando gradually settled into the match, with A. Lemos and K. Abello probing the Reign defense. In the 40th minute, the breakthrough came. After some intelligent movement and a pass from S. Yates, Barbra Banda surged into the box and fired home a precise finish to give Orlando a 1-0 lead. It was a moment of clinical quality from the Zambian forward, who was a constant threat throughout the half.
The goal came at a cost, however. Moments later, S. Yates was forced off due to injury, replaced by Angelina, as Orlando reshuffled their midfield just before the break.
Second Half: Reign Ramp Up the Pressure
Seattle came out of the tunnel with urgency, making tactical substitutions and throwing numbers forward. The introduction of A. James, E. Adames, and A. Crnogorčević added fresh energy to the Reign's attack. Shots rained in from Dahlien, Mercado, and Mondésir, but Moorhouse stood firm between the posts, delivering a standout performance with five total saves.
Orlando, meanwhile, absorbed pressure and looked to hit on the counter. They made their own changes, bringing on P. Chilufya and Oihane Hernández, while Celia Pickett and Angelina helped manage the tempo in the midfield during the late stages.
In the 87th minute, P. McClernon nearly equalized for Reign with a powerful header from a Crnogorčević corner, but the effort narrowly missed. Despite late injuries to K. Strom and Banda, Orlando dug deep defensively and saw out the final minutes with disciplined shape and resilience.
Key Stats:
Possession: Orlando 60% – 40% Seattle
Shots: Seattle 13 – 7 Orlando
Shots on Target: Seattle 5 – 4 Orlando
Saves: Orlando 5 – 3 Seattle
Passing Accuracy: Orlando 82% – 75% Seattle
Notable Performances:
Barbra Banda (Orlando Pride): Scored the decisive goal and was a constant danger until an unfortunate late injury.
Anna Moorhouse (Orlando Pride): A commanding display in goal with several crucial saves to preserve the clean sheet.
Seattle Substitutes: Adames and Crnogorčević added urgency but couldn’t find the finishing touch.
Final Whistle:
Seattle Reign threw everything forward in the second half, but a disciplined and determined Orlando Pride side held firm to take a valuable win. The victory sees Pride maintain momentum, while Seattle will look to regroup after a promising yet ultimately fruitless performance in front of goal.
Full Time: Seattle Reign 0–1 Orlando PrideGoal: Banda (40’)
