For much of the game, the Orlando Pride were absorbing pressure, trying to find a way to get Alex Morgan involved and get some pressure of their own. Ashlyn Harris and the defense were standing tall, but the crack seemed to be coming.
The lift had to come as the second half settled in and the Houston Dash struggled to make that last pass in the offensive third.
Amazing what one shot can do to lift spirits and change things. And Morgan, the source of all the positive attacking, was not even involved.
Lianne Sanderson fed the ball across the top of the box to Kristen Edmonds. Edmonds fired the ball in from there, hitting the top of the cross bar allowing the ball to drop in past the goal line and in.
81' GOOOOOALLLLLL EDMONDS! Upper 90, hits off the crossbar and into the net! The Pride are up one!#HOUvORL | 0-1 pic.twitter.com/oXA6oM2g3p
— Orlando Pride (@ORLPride) May 21, 2016
If you don't see us the rest of the night we'll just be watching this on repeat. pic.twitter.com/7yNJsQHoHC
— Orlando Pride (@ORLPride) May 21, 2016
The pressure the Pride had built for much of the last 15 minutes of the game came through in the 81st minute, delivering the Orlando Pride an opportunistic 1-0 win at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston.
The Pride were struggling for much of the game to maintain pressure and get some type of attack going. The Dash had the better run of play throughout the first half, but could not find the final connection to score. Ashlyn Harris was tall on the goal line, making some stellar saves to preserve the clean sheet.
The Pride have begun building a solid defensive foundation with Harris as the anchor and backstop. She has turned into one of the best keepers in the league and possibly Orlando’s most important and best player.
Particularly with the offense sometimes struggling to score — a trend that has actually been pervasive throughout the league.
The Pride though were the ones to break through. They were the ones to find that lone moment of brilliance that defines a game.
After Orlando scored the goal, Houston struggled to put much pressure. Harris made a few more saves to hold the Dash off and give the Pride their first ever road win and put them (temporarily) in second place in the NWSL.
The Pride next play at Kansas City next Saturday.
