The Orlando Pride are still seemingly finding its footing as an expansion franchise. The energy of the home crowd has helped lift the team to three wins. And the energy and skill of its best player can still truly change a game.
Alex Morgan is indeed more than a marketing ploy.
And she showed all that class in a beautiful finish off a long volley late in the second half of a 1-0 win over the West New York Flash on Saturday at Camping World Stadium.
Watching Morgan volley a chip shot over the goalkeeper like she was playing a game of FIFA is just jaw-dropping. It is the exact reason why a team could and should mortgage much of is expansion future on a player of this caliber.
79' GOOOOOOALLLLL @alexmorgan13! What a ball. And the Pride are up a goal!#ORLvWNY | 1-0 pic.twitter.com/QlBhf5BG5B
— Orlando Pride (@ORLPride) May 15, 2016
Goals like that just do not happen often. And Morgan made it look incredibly easy.
“I’ve scored a couple of goals like that,” Morgan said after the match to Orlando-Pride.com. “When I got the ball behind I took a look up and I saw her immediately off her line… I had two players creeping up on me but the faster I could get off my foot the better… I felt comfortable and went ahead and got it.”
These are the kind of plays everyone expects from Morgan. It is so easy to take her for granted.
Morgan burst onto the scene with the national team and became a marketing darling. But she had her struggles and inconsistencies. Not only that, she dealt with injuries throughout her time with the Portland Thorns in the NWSL. Everyone wanted more from her.
And in her first few games with the Pride, defenses did a good job crowding her and taking her off the ball. The Pride have had difficulties getting her the ball at times and keeping her involved.
Kristen Edmonds told Alex Maminakas of the Orlando Sentinel that she was looking for Morgan more. Even if she had to force it to her with that long ball over the top.
Often all the Pride will have to do is get Morgan the ball and let her go to work. So far this season, when they have done that it has worked brilliantly.
And all fans have to do is watch and try to catch their breath.
