Orlando Pride Falls in NWSL Semi-Finals to Portland Thorns FC
The NWSL Semifinal is over — winner declared. A day of dreams dashed while others are celebrated. The NWSL Championship will be on Oct. 14 at Orlando City Stadium without the local team playing in front of their Florida fans.
Orlando Pride’s NWSL 2017 season closed today — defeated 4-1 by Portland Thorns FC.
While a #3 ranked team defeated by a #2 ranked team is not particularly news on a clear Saturday afternoon, it was the Pride’s sense of disappointment that rang deeply across the fields of America. While the celebration for Portland is well deserved, there is something sad that the former Head Coach of the the U.S. Women’s National Team — with a star studded roster — could not pull off a win in in their second year in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL).
“I think it was a game at halftime, we were very much in the game,” said Orlando Pride Head Coach Tom Sermanni.
“After a very shaky start, I was really pleased with the way our players responded, and in the second part of the first half, I thought we played really well and got ourselves back in the game,” said Sermanni. “Thought we started the second half well, but the thing we couldn’t do, we found it really difficult, to break down their defense. We are really proud of our players’ effort. I thought 4-1 was an unfair scoreline for the effort and the commitment and the performance of our players today.”
The good news: Tom Sermanni is in this for the long haul with a new contract just signed so we will see him next year as the Pride returns with new vengeance to make it to the end.
Here is the official press release from Orlando Pride:
Playing in front of 18,193 fans, the home side jumped out to a two-goal lead 15 minutes into the match. French international Amandine Henry put Thorns FC up 1-0 in the 12th minute, finishing off a cross from Meghan Klingenberg. Portland struck again three minutes later when Tobin Heath connected with Emily Sonnett on a set piece from the right side.
Midfielder Alanna Kennedy, who along with Marta was named to the September Team of the Month, scored the Pride’s lone goal of the game in the 23rd minute. Marta played a quick give-and-go with Chioma Ubogagu off a corner before Marta crossed into the box. Toni Pressley, in her 14 start of the year, flicked the ball on and Kennedy was waiting on the other end, redirecting it into the back of the net for her fifth goal of the season.
With the Pride pressuring for an equalizer late in the match, Thorns FC caught Orlando in transition for its third goal of the night with Hayley Raso beating Ashlyn Harris on a 71st-minute breakaway.
Christine Sinclair added Portland’s final goal in the 82nd minute.
Orlando finishes the 2017 season with 46 total goals, more than doubling its inaugural season total of 20. Marta, in her first season with the Pride, ends the year as the team’s Golden Boot winner with 13 goals and six assists over 24 matches. Forward Alex Morgan finishes the year with nine goals and four assists.
Forward Jasmyne Spencer, who entered the match as an 81st-minute substitute, made her 100th all-time NWSL appearance across both regular season and postseason matches.
The Thorns will next face the winner of Sunday’s second semifinal between No. 1 North Carolina and No. 4 Chicago Red Stars in the Oct. 14 final at Orlando City Stadium.
NWSL Match Report
Match: Portland Thorns FC vs. Orlando Pride
Date: October 7, 2017
Venue: Providence Park
Kickoff: 1 p.m. ET
Attendance: 18,193
Weather: Clear
Scoring Summary:
|
Goals |
1 |
2 |
F |
|
Portland |
2 |
2 |
4 |
|
Orlando |
1 |
0 |
1 |
POR – Amandine Henry (Meghan Klingenberg) 12’
POR – Emily Sonnett (Tobin Heath) 15’
ORL – Alanna Kennedy (Toni Pressley) 23’
POR – Hayley Raso (Lindsey Horan) 71’
POR – Christine Sinclair (Nadia Nadim) 82’
Possession: 49.2% / 50.8%
Shots: 11 / 13
Shots on Goal: 6 / 1
Saves: 0 / 2
Corner Kicks: 4 / 9
Fouls: 15 / 4
Offside: 5 / 3
Misconduct Summary:
POR – Amandine Henry (Yellow Card) 80’
Officials:
Referee: Timothy Ford
Assistant Referee 1: Deleana Quan
Assistant Referee 2: John Krill
Fourth Official: Farhad Dadko
Tickets for the Championship can be purchased at nwslsoccer.com/championship or by calling (855) ORL-CITY.
