Orlando Pride Head Coach Seb Hines
Opening Statement
"I think 99 percent of the match we did well. I thought we played with a real intensity. I thought we put Washington under immense pressure and obviously we need to capitalize on those moments. The frustration is when you dominate a game and not get anything out of it, we shouldn't put ourselves in that position. I'm a bit disappointed with the result. I thought the performance was good, but we have to move on."
On how the team will learn from the loss
“You can't be complacent, we had a few warning signs in the first half where there was an element of complacency. Ultimately, we didn't get punished. We spoke about it, and we can't allow teams like Washington to get any opportunities or incentives that they can get something out of this game, and ultimately it comes down to that one moment.”
On how to adapt over the course of the match
“I think we still created some decent opportunities in that first half, sometimes it was in transition, sometimes it was in those wide spaces and trying to get in through the middle. Towards the second half, obviously, after going a goal down, we wanted to put the pressure on. Playing Prisca [Chilufya] and Barbra [Banda] as two nines and pushing Marta out wide and bringing Carson [Pickett] on for delivery into the box, with Carson's left foot delivering a really good cross and obviously Marta on that right inside, that inswing across. We just couldn't get on the end of it.”
Orlando Pride Forward Ally Watt
Opening Statement
“Overall, we dominated the game, but we just didn't get the results we wanted. It's a very disappointing result, but we still take away the good and then we will learn from the bad and then go onto the next game.”
On not being able to find the back of the net
“We're just missing the ball by inches. I can recall some of the back post runs I should have been making. And the tap in off that crossbar, we were missing the game by inches, or we were doing really well in the press and getting the transition, but we just weren't finishing the opportunities. Like you said, 20 shots, we were really attacking, but we just weren't getting the results we needed.”
On Washington playing a high line defensively
“They were making really good defensive transitions on their part. They have some really quality center backs as well that were closing down. They played hard on defense, but we still created a lot of chances. They performed well, but we were dominating so I think we just really needed to finish those chances we made.”
Orlando Pride Midfielder Morgan Gautrat
Opening Statement
“Yeah, a tough one obviously. We don’t like to lose, and we haven’t lost at home in a long, long, time. But I think, for us, we’re still early on in the season. I thought the performance was there. I thought we dominated in all facets of the game, honestly, and it just felt like we didn’t put one away and we gave up one chance. I think we were unfortunate in that, but for us, I think we move on. We learn from the loss and it’s still early on.”
On giving up the goal to Washington Spirit
“Yeah, it is really frustrating. Like you said, we dominated the game so I think when you give up a goal that we could prevent by helping each other out and just communicating. We just have to share that and clean that stuff up. But we’ve been so good and haven’t given up any goals like that. I think mistakes happen and it’s just part of the game. I think for us, we can always be better in the final third and put our chances away, and I think we could have gotten a tie or a result tonight even though we couldn’t put our chances away. But like you said, we dominated, and they got one chance, and I think also there’s some positives to take away from that. They have a really good team and a good attack and great quality, and we limited them tonight.”
On the mindset of the team after not capitalizing on scoring chances
“I think, in this league especially, every half is so different. Teams make changes, especially when we had a really good performance in the first half. I think they had to adjust to us, and so we always know that coming in after halftime and starting the second half. For us, it's always important to start the second half strong and I think that we did that. We just got a little too relaxed for just maybe five or ten minutes. That makes a huge difference in this league because teams are good enough and the quality is good enough to punish you for that, and I think we have to have a better performance for a full 90 minutes.”
