Orlando Pride Falls 2-0 to Portland Thorns FC

ORLANDO, Fla. (Sept. 9, 2022) - Orlando Pride (5-7-6, 21 points) dropped a 2-0 decision to Portland Thorns FC (8-3-7, 28 points) on Friday night at Exploria Stadium. The loss marked just the second time this season the Pride have lost back-to-back matches. 

Goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse made her first regular season start for Orlando and kept her team in the game with a few big stops throughout, making six saves. Her night was highlighted by an incredible diving save after a Thorns player sent a rocket of a shot at the net in the 57th minute. Moorhouse went full extension and was able to tip the ball over the ball to deny Portland the goal. 

Orlando Pride Interim Head Coach Seb Hines:
“Another tough one. Portland are a top side. Another test for us to see where we are at in terms of our progression. I felt we were a little off today. A little bit off of our passing. We won the ball, did really threaten in behind, we shared a theme which is what we encourage when pressing the football. We didn’t do our principles to the fullest. It is something that we will review. We are building something here and it is not going to be done overnight. We are getting players minutes. [Mikayla Cluff] comes in, Anna [Moorhouse] comes in and Toni [Pressley] comes back into the lineup so there are three changes there from last game. Made changes at halftime just to get more threats in behind with Ally [Watt] and [Courtney Petersen]. It is going to take time. It is not going to be overnight. Overall, not the worst result but I know we can be much better. 

Scoring Recap:

31’ Yazmeen Ryan (Morgan Weaver) - POR 1, ORL 0
The visitors took the lead after Morgan Weaver collected the ball near the end line and sent in the cross that met Yazmeen Ryan who was right at the doorstep and able to complete the finish. 

65’ Hina Sugita (Olivia Moultrie) - POR 2, ORL 0
The Thorns doubled their advantage with Hina Sugita firing a shot from the top of the box and through multiple bodies, squeezing inside the far post and eventually rolling over the goal line. 

Match Notes:

• Goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse made her first start of the regular season in between the sticks.
• The start marked midfielder Meggie Dougherty Howard’s 100th regular season appearance, 31 of which have come with the Pride.
• Defender Courtney Petersen made her 50th appearance across all competitions which have all come donning the Pride kit.  
• The match marked the first time the Pride have been held scoreless since a 0-0 draw on July 17 at Washington Spirit. 
• Seb Hines made three changes to his Starting XI on Friday, with goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse, defender Toni Pressley and midfielder Mikayla Cluff entering the lineup following the Pride’s 2-1 defeat to OL Reign.

Next Match: The Pride will travel to Lynn Family Stadium to take on Racing Louisville on Friday, Sept. 16. Kickoff for that match is set for 7:30 p.m. ET.