ORLANDO, Fla. (Aug. 3, 2018) - Two weeks after its last match, Orlando Pride (8-6-5, 29 points) faces Sky Blue FC (0-13-3, 3 points) as part of the final push for the playoffs on Sunday, Aug. 5. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET at Orlando City Stadium.
The match will be available for streaming on NWSLsoccer.com. Tickets for Sunday’s match can be purchased at orlando-pride.com/tickets or by calling (855) ORL-CITY. The Pride will be hosting Pirate Night on Sunday, with a pregame treasure hunt through downtown Orlando that ends at Orlando City Stadium. Limited edition merchandise will also be available. More information on this game, and all remaining theme nights, can be found here.
“With such a tight table, we’ve reached the point in the season where every game and every point is vital, so we are taking the final five matches one game at a time,” Pride Head Coach Tom Sermanni said. “We know [Sky Blue is] not any less or any easier than any other team in the league. It is really about our players having a professional attitude to go out and be keyed up as much as if we were playing North Carolina or Portland.”
Prior to the international break, the Orlando Pride finished in a 1-1 draw with second-place Seattle Reign FC on July 21. Toni Pressley scored the Pride’s lone goal in the 21st minute, blocking an attempted clearance before netting her first goal of the season. With goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris away with the U.S. WNT, Haley Kopmeyer started in goal, making six saves to secure a point for the Pride.
Sydney Leroux leads the Pride with six goals, while midfielder Christine Nairn’s four assists lead Orlando and are tied for fourth-most in the league.
Sky Blue FC enters the match on a four-game losing streak, most recently falling 2-1 to Portland Thorns FC. Forward Imani Dorsey scored the lone goal for Sky Blue.
Carli Lloyd and Savannah McCaskill share the team lead in goals with three apiece, while Katlyn Johnson, Sarah Killion and McCaskill each have four assists.
This match will mark the second time these two teams face each other this season. The Pride defeated Sky Blue 3-2 on June 16. In a back-and-forth game, Leroux scored her second brace of the season and Rachel Hill eventually netted the game-winner. The Pride are 3-2-1 all-time against Sky Blue.
During the international break, eight Pride players represented their respective national teams in the Tournament of Nations. Harris and Alex Morgan suited up for the U.S. WNT. Morgan recorded a hat-trick against Japan, a goal against Brazil and started as the team’s captain in all three matches to lead the United States to victory in the tournament. Alanna Kennedy and Emily van Egmond both appeared for Australia, with Kennedy scoring in the final match against Japan. The Pride’s quartet of Brazilians, Camila, Marta, Mônica and Poliana all made appearances for the Seleção. Marta scored a goal in the second match against Japan.
All players will be back in market ahead of Sunday’s match.
