BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. (Oct. 13, 2021) - Despite another late-game run, the Orlando Pride (7-8-7, 28 points) fell 1-0 on the road after an early goal from Chicago Red Stars (9-8-5, 32 points) forward Kealia Watt, the lone goal of the match.
The Pride will now face a quick turnaround, heading straight to Kentucky for a Saturday matchup against expansion side Racing Louisville FC.
Down 1-0 for most of the match, the Pride pushed for an equalizer throughout, totaling 10 of their 12 shots on the night in the second half. The visitors had an opportunity to level the match in the first half, however the penalty attempt from Alex Morgan went wide of the net.
Orlando Pride Interim Head Coach Becky Burleigh:
“I think my biggest message is just keep believing because I felt like this team really fought until the end tonight. Had some really great chances. We were taking some major risks at the end and so our defense came up big when we were trying to take those risks and then the offense, really just unfortunate to not get one [goal]. Loved how we fought.”
Scoring Recap:
6’ Kealia Watt - CHI 1, ORL 0
The home side took an early lead after a corner fell to Kealia Watt in the box, with the forward striking a hard half-volley off crossbar and in.
Match Notes:
- Playing all 90 minutes in the match, forward Alex Morgan recorded her 100th NWSL regular season appearance on Wednesday night. With the start, Morgan becomes the fifth active member of the Pride to reach the century mark, joining Ali Krieger (143), Erika Tymrak (138), Ashlyn Harris (127) and Sydney Leroux (110).
- The Pride were awarded a penalty kick of the second-straight match, however forward Alex Morgan missed the 44th-minute attempt.
- Goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris made eight total saves on the night, her second highest save total this season.
- The Pride were without the services of midfielder Meggie Dougherty Howard, who was suspended for the match due to yellow card accumulation.
Next Match: Orlando will play its final road match of the 2021 regular season on Saturday evening, facing host Racing Louisville FC in a 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff from Lynn Family Stadium.
Scoring Summary:
CHI - Kealia Watt 6’
Misconduct Summary:
CHI - Kealia Watt (Yellow Card) 43’
CHI - Emily Boyd (Yellow Card) 45’
CHI - Mallory Pugh (Yellow Card) 90+1’
Lineups/Substitutions:
Orlando Pride - GK Ashlyn Harris ©; D Ali Riley (Taylor Kornieck 63’), Ali Krieger (Toni Pressley 64’), Amy Turner, Courtney Petersen; M Gunny Jónsdóttir (Phoebe McClernon 82’), Marta, Marisa Viggiano (Erika Tymrak 68’); F Jodie Taylor, Alex Morgan, Sydney Leroux
Substitutes Not Used: GK Erin McLeod; D Carrie Lawrence, Kylie Strom; F Abi Kim, Crystal Thomas
Chicago Red Stars - GK Cassie Miller; D Casey Krueger, Tierna Davidson, Arin Wright, Sarah Gorden; M Morgan Gautrat, Vanessa DiBernardo ©, Sarah Woldmoe; F Rachel Hill (Katie Johnson 67’), Kealia Watt (Makenzy Doniak 74’), Mallory Pugh
Substitutes Not Used: GK Emily Boyd; D Bianca St. Georges, Tatumn Milazzo, Kayla Sharples; M Danielle Colaprico, Nikki Stanton, Ella Stevens
Details of the Game:
Time: 8 p.m. ET
Weather: Clear
Date: Oct. 13, 2021
Attendance: 3,198
Stats Summary: ORL / CHI
Possession: 57.1% / 42.9%
Shots: 12 / 17
Shots on Goal: 6 / 9
Saves: 8 / 6
Corner Kicks: 6 / 4
Fouls: 9 / 3
Offside: 2 / 1
Officials:
REF: Karen Abt
AR1: Ethan Buege
AR2: Kaitlyn Trowbridge
4TH: Calin Radosav
