THE Orlando Pride advanced to their first NWSL championship with a 3-2 victory over the Kansas City Current in the semi-finals on Sunday at Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando.
Pride forward Barbara Banda scored the equalizer in the 53rd minute ahead of the 38-year-old captain Marta scored an iconic game-winning goal, knocking four Kansas City players to the ground as she dribbled through them and tapped the ball into the net.
“That’s such a great goal from Marta,” Orlando defender Emily Sams said. “She is the GOAT (greatest of all time) and she proved it tonight.”
The top-seeded Pride will face the No. 2 seed. Spirit of Washington in the NWSL Championship on Saturday at CPKC Stadium in Kansas City.
Orlando’s victory marks the first time since 2019 that the Shield winners have advanced to the final.
Kansas City Forward Débinha opened the scoring in the 33rd minute, redirecting a low cross from Michelle Cooper at the rear post. The Current appeared to abandon their defensive pressure after taking the lead – and they quickly paid the price.
Orlando equalized eight minutes later, as they advanced Ally Watt managed to isolate himself one-on-one with the current full-back Ellie Wheeler. Watt hit a low cross to an unmarked field Haley McCutcheon for arrival at the penalty area.
Watt’s assist was his third of the playoffs after tallying two in the Pride’s 4-1 quarterfinal win over the Chicago Red Stars. She joins 2013 NWSL MVP Lauren Holiday as the only other player with three assists in a single playoff series, according to ESPN Research.
Current captain Lo’eau LaBonta, who entered the game questionable due to a leg injury and was wearing a sleeve on her right leg, left the game at halftime. She was replaced by the attacker Nicole Princewhich pushed Brazilian playmaker Debinha back to the No.10 role.
“It’s no secret that Lo’eau is the force that motivates us not only tactically, but also mentally,” said Kansas City head coach Vlatko Andonovski.
“I have to be pulled for not finishing a game,” LaBonta said. “I wanted to give everything for this team, and I did. I gave my whole right leg and everything I could do.
Kansas City once again played with mid-block pressure, just like in the teams’ scoreless draw in Orlando in September, but this time the Pride was able to break the flow.
Orlando central defender Kylie Strom had plenty of time with the ball in the 53rd minute and spotted Banda with a simple entry ball. Banda used his strength and positioning to spin the Kansas City defender Kayla Sharples before sending the ball into the back of the net.
Current goalkeeper Almuth Schult barely moved in response to the rhythm of the shooting.
“Not many players can do that,” Orlando head coach Seb Hines said. “She worked so hard to get this point, and it’s just amazing to see her continue to show her class and quality all this year.”
The Current pushed to equalize but were caught in transition late. Banda pushed the ball away from Sharples in the Kansas City defensive half before Marta began her magical dribble.
The Pride captain ran towards the current defender Alana Cook and faked a shot that sent Cook and Sharples to the ground in the Kansas City box. Marta then dribbled around Schult and escaped a recovery Hailie Macé to insert the ball into the net, leaving all four players on the ground.
Current midfielder Vanessa DiBernardo converted a penalty in the 13th minute of second-half injury time after a VAR check led to a handball call in the box. The goal cut the lead to one and gave Current hope of forcing overtime.
NWSL Golden Boot winner Temwa Chawinga rushed to free the ball in the Orlando box in the 16th minute of added time and centered the ball towards Sharples, who had an empty net but was off balance as she stretched to reach the ball which was just out of his reach.
Sharples’ header went over the bar and Orlando held on after 19 minutes of added time.
The Pride now seek their first NWSL championship title on Saturday in the first final between the top two seeds since 2019. The Shield was the team’s first trophy since the franchise launched in 2016.
Washington beat defending champions NJ/NY Gotham FC in a penalty shootout on Saturday to advance to the final.
“Honestly, I’m still processing this right now, so we’ll probably take this moment now and start thinking about Washington (tomorrow),” Hines said. “They are the two best teams in the league, which doesn’t happen often in a championship game, and I think both teams deserve to be in this championship game because they are the most consistent teams all around. throughout the season.”
The 2024 final will also be the first time the NWSL championship game will be played between two teams that didn’t even make the playoffs the previous season.