May 19, 2024 – National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL)
Orlando Pride News Release
SEATTLE, Was. – The Orlando Pride (7-0-3, 24 points) tied a National Women’s Soccer League record Sunday in Seattle, earning its seventh-straight win, a tally held by their opponent from the 2014 season. Behind a brace from Barbra Banda and a first career goal from Emily Sams, the Pride defeated Seattle Reign FC (2-7-1, 7 points) 3-2 on the road, also extending the team’s unbeaten start to 10 straight to open the 2024 campaign.
The Pride will have the opportunity to claim the league’s win-streak record on Friday night, hosting perennial powerhouse Portland Thorns FC at INTER&Co Stadium in a 7 p.m. ET kickoff. The Thorns will enter the match also on a win-streak, having earned victories in their last six.
Orlando opened the scoring with Sams scoring the first goal of the match, the first professional goal of the defender’s career. Banda made it a 2-0 game in the 18th minute, but the home side rallied to bring it level early into the second half. Banda then completed the brace with the game winning goal serving as her sixth goal since debuting with the Pride just five games ago.
Sunday’s win also marked the Pride’s first-ever victory on the road against the Reign.
Scoring Summary:
9′ Emily Sams – ORL 1, SEA 0
The Pride opened the scoring in the first 10 minutes of the match after the ball rolled out of the top of the box and found the left foot of Emily Sams. Sams wrapped her foot around the ball and sent the shot into the back of the net, past a diving Laurel Ivory.
18′ Barbra Banda (Adriana) – ORL 2, SEA 0
The Pride doubled their lead nine minutes later after Adriana was played down the right side of the field. The Brazilian international took it to the end line and sent in a cross to the back post that found the head of Barbra Banda for the easy finish.
45+5′ Angharad James-Turner (Ji So Yun) – ORL 2, SEA 1
The home side added one back just before the halftime whistle, after Angharad James-Turner slid into a pass at the top of the box. James-Turner’s effort deflected off the back of Pride defender Kylie Strom, directly into the upper corner of the net.
48′ Bethany Balcer (Jess Fishlock) – ORL 2, SEA 2
The Reign leveled the match shortly after halftime with Jess Fishlock sending a ball in behind the Pride backline. Balcer was able to get on the end of the pass and get a shot off that Anna Moorhouse got a hand to, but it wasn’t enough as the ball went into the back of the…