ORLANDO, Fla. (July 20, 2019) - Orlando Pride (3-9-2, 11 points) earned a 1-0 victory over Sky Blue FC (2-10-2, 8 points) on Saturday night at Exploria Stadium. Rookie midfielder Marisa Viggiano scored the lone goal in the match in the 23rd minute, good for the first finish of her professional career.
The victory served as the first shutout of the season for the Pride and the first since June 23 of last year at the Washington Spirit.
Prior to the match, the Club honored the nine players who represented Orlando in the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup, with Saturday’s match marking the on-field return of defender Ali Krieger and goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris. Forward Claire Emslie also made her NWSL debut on the night.
Orlando Pride Head Coach Marc Skinner:
“I thought that I’m so proud of the players for, you know...one of the things we’ve been asking for a while is a clean sheet. You’ve heard me sit in this room many times and say that we’d like a clean sheet because then you only have to score one goal, and that’s the difference. I think we’ve created enough tonight to be well away, I wasn’t really nervous. I think we had control of the game, I thought players played particularly well, and what a way to win the game. What a wonderful goal from a fourth round draft pick [Marisa Viggiano], so it’s a wonderful story and a testament to the attitude of all the players that have been here while our internationals have been off doing their thing.”
Scoring Recap:
23’ Marisa Viggiano (Chioma Ubogagu) - ORL 1, NJ 0
The rookie out of Northwestern posted the only goal needed in the match, taking the ball down the left flank before driving into the area and ripping a shot off into the top left corner of the net for her first professional goal.
Match Notes:
- Marisa Viggiano scored her first professional goal in the match. Viggiano forced an own-goal in the Pride’s last matchup against Sky Blue FC, a goal that served as the game-winner for the Pride in their first victory of 2019.
- Scotland forward Claire Emslie made her Orlando Pride debut, entering the match in the 64th minute for Rachel Hill.
- Chioma Ubogagu registered her first assist of the season off Marisa Viggiano’s finish in the 23rd minute.
- Goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris and defender Ali Krieger each made their return to the Pride starting XI since becoming two-time FIFA Women’s World Cup Champions on July 7 in Lyon.
- The shutout victory was the first for the Pride this season and the first at home since April 22 of last year against the Houston Dash.
- Saturday’s attendance was the highest at home since the Pride’s first match at then-named Orlando City Stadium on April 22, 2017, the Pride’s first-ever match in the newly constructed stadium.
Next Match: Orlando Pride have nearly three weeks off from match play, returning to action on August 10 against the Houston Dash at Exploria Stadium.
