The Orlando Pride had the dream start they wanted.
On a pair of free kicks, the Pride announced their arrival and their danger to the rest of the league. When Steph Catley fired a tough shot on a free kick that rocked the cross bar. Then a few moments later, she made the free kick goal to give Orlando Pride its first goal and a 1-0 lead in the 12th minute, coming from a sharp angle to the right of goal.
The Pride were dangerous and aggressive, attacking the penalty area and taking the front foot. This was a team with speed, aggression and plenty of weapons. Even if Alex Morgan was not getting a lot of touches in dangerous areas.
Eventually though that would prove to be a critical mistake in this first game.
Portland kept the pressure on and controlled the tempo of the game. The Thorns looked like the more experienced team despite their own changes throughout the game. And in a moment of brilliance, Portland broke the tie and scored a 2-1 win at Providence Park on Sunday night.
U.S. Women’s National Team star Tobin Heath recorded her second assist in the 81st minute with a skillful cross across the box to the far post. Lindsey Horan shed a few defenders and got on the ball to score, giving the Thorns the late lead.
The Pride were still clearly getting on the same page and working to build their program. They seemed to take the game as a positive as head coach Tom Sermanni told Iliana Limon Romero of the Orlando Sentinel:
“I was elated from what I saw from the team,” Sermanni told the Orlando Sentinel after the loss. “I thought the effort, commitment was first class. I thought we created chances and I thought the longer the game went on, the stronger we got. . . . I’m terribly disappointed for the players that we didn’t end up getting a result out of the game.”
That first result — and potentially first win — will have to come Saturday night as the Orlando Pride open their home schedule at the Orlando Citrus Bowl against the Houston Dash. There seems to be a lot of excitement and push for that game especially.
The Orlando Pride will have to get things together though to create a consistent offensive attack. That would be the biggest takeaway for the Pride after their first game.
The potential is very much there for them though.
