1. It took until the 88th minute, but the Orlando Pride managed to eek out a 1-0 win over the Chicago Stars FC in a much-needed win at Inter.co Stadium.
2. Coming off a game where the Pride didn't have a shot on target, the chances came fast and often in the first half. Within the first 15 minutes, Orlando had five shots on target, hunting for an early opener.
3. Despite the chances going Orlando's way, the Chicago goalkeeper, Katie Atkinson, stepped up big for her team, denying chance after chance by the home side.
4. It looked like Orlando would finally find their opener in the 38th minute when Haley McCutcheon was taken down in the box. After video review, the penalty was awarded and up stepped Marta to take it. To that point, the Brazilian legend had only ever missed one penalty in her Orlando Pride career, converting on 15 of 16 kicks from the spot. After a stutter-step, the captain fired a shot to the goalkeeper's right, but Atkinson read it perfectly and parried the shot out of play.
5. After the first 45 minutes, the Pride ended the half with 20 shots, with eight of them on target. Julie Doyle said after the match that Head Coach Seb Hines told them at halftime to "take responsibility."
6. The second half showed more of the first, with the Pride dominating the play, but still unable to find the back of the net. With just under 10 minutes left, Atkinson saved yet another shot by the Pride, totaling her tally to 10 on the night. It was the third time at home this season where a goalkeeper had 7 or more saves against the Pride.
7. Finally, the dam broke in the 88th minute. A Cori Dyke ball into the final third found Julie Doyle in stride. After letting the ball roll into the box, the forward struck it clean with her left foot, beating Atkinson on the near post and getting her first goal since March 15, 2025, coincidentally enough also against Chicago. The assist for Dyke also marked her second career assist, her first coming against (you guessed it) Chicago in 2024.
8. Lost in the shuffle was Anna Moorhouse setting another Pride record. With her save in the 74th minute, she tied former Orlando goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris for most saves in Club history with 289.
9. The Pride will now head on the road a week from now as they head to North Carolina to take on the Courage. The game is set for Friday night, with kickoff set for 8 p.m. ET on Prime Video.
