Orlando Pride is HOT – Sets NWSL Attendance Record with Win Versus the Houston Dash
Orlando Pride set the NWSL single-game attendance record at the Orlando Citrus Bowl during a 3-1 win versus Carli Lloyd’s Houston Dash. Lloyd was substituted in the opening minutes after suffering what was determined to be a MCL sprain as Orlando used its support to get the club’s first win in the NWSL.
Soccer News: Orlando Pride couldn’t have written a better script, as the club made history with a 3-1 win over the Houston Dash on Saturday night, in front of a National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) record single-game attendance of 23,403 fans at the Orlando Citrus Bowl.
“I think the crowd we had today has taken the league to a new level, it just wasn’t about the number in the crowd but the passion of the crowd and how they supported the team,” said Pride Head Coach Tom Sermanni.
“Hopefully we did enough tonight to encourage them to come back for the rest of the season,” continued Sermanni.
Fans celebrated the first goal in Orlando in the 46th minute after the Pride came back from halftime firing on all cylinders. With high pressure out of the gates, the Pride’s opening goal came on a Houston own goal after 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup Champion Alex Morgan’s shot deflected off defender Andressa and past Dash goalkeeper Lydia Williams.
Second-half substitute Lianne Sanderson doubled the Club’s lead in the 57th minute, when she caught the Dash off guard on a free kick – firing a quick shot from well outside the box, over the wall and beat Williams to the left.
Orlando scored goal number three just minutes later, with Sanderson starting the attack with a wide ball to pacey Jasmyne Spencer on the left. The forward cut the ball inside, which allowed defender Steph Catley to spring free on an overlapping run to the byline. After receiving the ball, Catley – who scored the first ever goal for the team last weekend against the Portland Thorns – connected with former Thorns teammate Morgan feet from the goal, and the forward one-timed the ball into the far-side netting.
Florida native Ashlyn Harris had a seven-save performance, including multiple game-securing saves, to lead Orlando to its first victory in her hometown. Harris denied rookie Janine Beckie on a breakaway, coming off her line to paw away the shot in the 19th minute.
The goalkeeper sealed the game with back-to-back saves near the 80-minute mark, including a point-blank stop on reigning NWSL Player of the Week Rachel Daly in the 82nd minute.
Andressa scored Houston’s lone goal in the second half, shrugging off a Pride defender before firing a perfectly-placed ball past Harris from outside the box.
Orlando Pride will travel to Chicago Red Stars for a 6 p.m. ET match next Sunday at Toyota Park. The Club returns to the Citrus Bowl the following week, hosting Hope Solo and Seattle Reign FC at 5 p.m. ET on Sunday, May 8.
Orlando Pride Head Coach Tom Sermanni –
Thoughts on the win and the crowd
“I think the crowd we had today has taken the league to a new level, it just wasn’t about the number in the crowd but the passion of the crowd and how they supported the team. Hopefully we did enough tonight to encourage them to come back for the rest of the season.”
Thoughts on substitution of Lianne Sanderson
“Lianne [Sanderson] is a gifted player she can make an impact in the game. The key for us is bringing her on during our open opportunities when she is needed and tonight is a great example of those moments.”
Thoughts on Carli Lloyd when she left early in the game
“She is a key player for the Houston Dash so losing Carli [Lloyd] is a big blow for them.”
Thoughts on Jasmyne Spencer performance
“She is a Duracell bunny I think someone puts a couple of batteries in her rib cage before games. She impacts games with her pace, tenacity and energy she is a nightmare to mark because you just don’t know what she is doing. Her feet are so quick that she causes mayhem out there, now the only thing we need to do is refine that mayhem.”
Thoughts on the team
“I saw passages of it in time, but we still have a lot of work to do in some other areas. Particular in playing the game and keeping possession we are still very much a work in progress but what we’ve got is a good. I think we have shown that in the last couple games that we are competitive.”
Thoughts on the back line
“I’ve been delighted, we kept it tight, good contact, good communication, and great job at catching people offside.”
Thoughts on playing with four forwards
“It was a good concept, we could’ve had better ball possession towards the end, but we want to win games and entertain fans and forwards will help with those things.”
Thoughts on the intensity of the team for the second half
“We made a tactical change and we pressed them with more aggression up the field rather than just letting them bring the ball out easily, getting that goal helped the momentum continue.”
Thoughts on Lianne Sanderson’s Goal kick
“She’s a great player and most players stop paying attention during a dead ball, and she asked the ref, he said yes, and next thing you know it’s in the back of the net.”
Orlando Pride Forward Alex Morgan (#13) –
Thoughts on scoring the third goal
“Being up 2-0, I felt like everything was going our way after those two goals and the rhythm kind of picked up and our tempo picked up. We felt a lot more confident attacking so to get that third goal really solidified the win for us and although they got a goal back, I feel like scoring three goals in front of this crowd is something I’ll always remember.”
Thoughts on not having the home opener as the season opener
“I think initially it was disappointing not to have our first game be a home game. Obviously with us being an expansion team, I would have expected to have them give a home game as our first game, but they didn’t give us any favors. We went to Portland and we should have gotten a point and we didn’t, so coming back here we felt really confident because I think we matched up really well in Portland. We played the style we wanted to play and didn’t let them control the game or create more chances than we did, so coming into this game we felt really good and obviously seeing the numbers of this crowd continue to grow and grow, we became more and more anxious to come onto the field and show what we had to offer to the city. I know it was a slow start in the first half, but once [Lianne] came in and got a bit more rhythm with the team, we continued to grow.”
Thoughts on coming to the team and what has it meant
“I knew it was going to be exciting, but at the same time challenging and it’s been exactly that. I haven’t been with the team the entire time, so coming in a week before our first game was challenging to have that smooth transition and get to know my teammates in a matter of weeks, so that was very difficult but this team is something special and everyone just trusts in each other and it’s gone so much better than anticipated and to get the first win in our first home game, you can’t ask for more.”
Thoughts on potential of soccer in this community
“With my husband being traded late in the season, I was only a part of this team from August-September, so I only got a chance to see what the city had to offer late last year. Just seeing the amount we got today and I think we put a good show on for the crowd and I think they’re going to keep showing up… I want fans of Orlando Pride that are here because we make a good environment for them, we put on a good show for them, we put a good product out on the field and I think we showed a little bit of that tonight and I think that we’re going to continue to show that and draw a lot more fans come the rest of this season.”
Thoughts on team chemistry
“[Jasmyne Spencer] is a pacey player. I think she scares defenders; she puts them on their heels. [Steph Catley] can play a ball on a dime, and I’ve played with her the last few years in Portland and scored some great goals from her assists. It was kind of the perfect storm there.”
Thoughts on Ashlyn Harris’s performance
“Ashlyn [Harris] saved our butts in the first couple minutes. She came up huge a couple of times this game, and she’s going to keep coming up huge for us this season. She is one of the best goalkeepers in the world. I think tonight that showed. I see her continuing to make big saves.”
Thoughts on women’s soccer thriving
“For the most part, soccer has been the most popular women’s sport…The key for us is consistency, and it’s keeping the fans coming back [and] making them excited about coming back and loving the environment and the product that we put on the field.”
Orlando Pride Midfielder Lianne Sanderson (#10) –
Thoughts on your role coming in at halftime
“Obviously coming in at halftime I was quite happy to do that and I’ll help the team any way that I can.”
Thoughts on being creative and scoring the goal
“In my career, I’ve scored about 3 goals like that. Most officials, I always ask if I can take it early and I know what the rules are if you ask, then you can take it quick and had all my teammates yelling at me “Lianne, calm down!” But I knew exactly what I was going to do, and I saw the goalkeeper line up on the near post and I knew if I bent in, it was going to go in. I know Houston felt a little hearted down by that, but that’s the rules.”
Thoughts on team progression
“As each day that goes by, we are just getting together more and more as a group. We are trying to possess the ball…I think tonight was brilliant that we got the home win in front of the fans, and I think we got to keep working hard on the training field. Me personally, I love playing with great players. I love playing with Alex [Morgan], and I love playing with all of the girls. When I came into the game, certain players make it easier for me because they know what I am capable of.”
Source/Photo Credit: Orlando Pride
