KANSAS CITY (April 23, 2023) – The Orlando Pride (0-4-0, 0 points) dropped a 2-0 decision to the Kansas City Current (1-3-0, 3 points) on the road on Sunday evening.
After entering halftime with both sides scoreless, the home side scored two on the opposite side of the break to take all three points. The Pride had some close opportunities to get on the board, with second-half substitute Messiah Bright having perhaps the side’s best half, a 70th-minute header that went off the crossbar.
Defender Brianna Martinez made her professional debut in the match, entering the game as an 84th-minute substitute. After picking up her first Pride start at the midweek in the UKG Challenge Cup, goalkeeper Carly Nelson made her Pride regular season debut, coming against her former team.
Scoring Summary:
64’ Debinha (Hailie Mace) - KC 1, ORL 0
The Current took the lead with the Pride getting dispossessed at the back by Hailie Mace, who took her space before laying a ball off to Debinha at the center of the area. The Brazilian international took a touch before slotting her shot into the bottom left corner of the net.
68 Cece Kizer (Hailie Mace) - KC 2, ORL 0
Kansas City doubled the advantage just minutes later, with Hailie Mace receiving a ball over the top down the right flank before sending a ball across the face of goal for Cece Kizer who was able to poke it in with her first touch.
Head Coach Seb Hines:
“Obviously disappointed with the result. We had a game plan, we stuck to the game plan in moments but didn’t really execute in terms of creating too many opportunities in the attacking third. I don’t think there was a lot between ourselves and Kansas [City] either. We had a lot of corners, lots of shots, but didn’t really make the keeper work. It’s another moment where they’ve capitalized on us giving the ball away and it changed the whole game.”
Match Notes:
- With the start, Marta passed former Pride defender Ali Krieger for third-most appearances in Club history, now at 87.
- Defender Brianna Martinez made her professional debut in the match, entering the game as an 84th-minute substitute.
- Goalkeeper Carly Nelson made her first regular season start for the Pride. Nelson’s first NWSL appearance came as a member of the Kansas City.
- Midfielder Jordyn Listro made her first start of the 2023 campaign against her former club.
- Head Coach Seb Hines made five changes to his starting lineup from the side’s Challenge Cup opener at the midweek, with Marta, Adriana, Haley McCutcheon, Caitlin Cosme and Jordyn Listro all entering the fold.
Next Match: Orlando Pride return to action on Saturday, traveling to take on the San Diego Wave on April 29 in a 10 p.m. ET kickoff at Snapdragon Stadium
