1. Another game in LA, another dub. The Orlando Pride just keep winning as they take down Angel City FC at BMO Stadium 3-0.
2. In the three years these teams have faced off against each other in Los Angeles, California, the Pride have been the ones taking all three points away after the final whistle. The two years prior, they were narrow 1-0 wins. This year, a much more dominant performance by the hottest team in the league.
3. Adriana, a mágica. The Brazilian wizard pulled off a magical strike in the 20th minute to get her second on the year and her first in open play, coming off a beautiful counterattack with Barbra Banda and Marta helping pull the strings. It was a tone-setter for the rest of the game, as the Pride were able to put their foothold in the game and keep the home side at bay for most of the 90 minutes.
4. Adri's second came from being in the right place at the right time. It was magic from Banda that opened up the space for her to take a shot, which the Angel City goalkeeper Didi Haračić palmed away, but the Brazilian was sitting there on the back post, waiting for the chance as she put it into the back of the open net. If her first goal didn't quiet the LA crowd, her second one sure did the job.
5. The Carrie and Kerry show! Carrie Lawrence made her first start for the Pride since October 1, 2022, and was tasked with shutting down some of the fastest young talent in the league with Giselle and Alyssa Thompson, as well as her former teammates Clarie Emslie and Sydney Leroux. The Orlando native was excellent in defense, winning a team-high three tackles and nine final third entries, playing some good end-to-end soccer. On the opposite side of the field, Kerry Abello was tasked with marking the same players and ended up leading the team in interceptions with five. Both players received some well-deserved praise postgame from Head Coach Seb Hines and teammate Emily Sams.
6. She is inevitable. Barbra Banda scored her 11th goal in her 11th game, tying her atop the Golden Boot charts deep into stoppage time. Despite having played a full 90 minutes plus, she was able to capitalize on a heavy touch by Angel City's Sarah Gordon, picking her pocket and taking it right into goal, rounding Haračić and sealing the game away. Despite being a bit of an off night by her standards, she still found a way to get on the scoresheet and had a nice moment celebrating with the Zambian fans who made their way to the game.
7. Yet another clean sheet for this Pride team and for goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse, who has now tied the Club record for most career regular-season clean sheets. Seven last year and now seven this year, the netminder has been a solid presence for the Pride this season. In this game alone, she notched five saves, including two on back-to-back set pieces.
8. There probably won't be a bigger game in NWSL than the Pride's next one: on the road against the other top team in the league, the Kansas City Current. A battle for first place will be on the line next Saturday, July 6, at 7:30, which will air on ION. You won't want to miss it.
