Spirit fall in Orlando despite high-scoring offensive effort

Washington Spirit  |   July 6, 2019
Spirit fall in Orlando despite high-scoring offensive effort Featured Image

By Owen Krucoff
Washingtonspirit.com

Boyds, Md., (7/6/19) – The Washington Spirit tied its season high with three goals and pounded the Orlando Pride with 19 shots, but fell just short in a 4-3 loss on Saturday night in Orlando, Florida at Exploria Stadium.

Kickoff was delayed by more than an hour due to the weather conditions at Exploria Stadium, but the evening unfolded into one of the most exciting matches this season. 

Midfielder Bayley Feist gave the Spirit a 1-0 lead with her first career NWSL goal in the seventh minute, scoring with a beautiful backheel volley off of a cross from forward Cheyna Matthews

The Spirit worked the ball all the way up the right side of the field in the buildup, with three players touching the ball on the wing before Matthews.

Orlando struck back with goals in the 21st and 26th minutes to take a 2-1 lead, but Matthews equalized in the 30th with her first goal since returning from World Cup duty with Jamaica to make it 2-2. 

Defender Tori Huster, who also passed to Matthews when she assisted Feist’s goal, launched a perfect through ball into the box that Matthews fired home after taking one touch.

Pride forward Marta, a Brazilian legend who holds the record for most career World Cup goals scored, came alive in the second half with two goals to give her team a 4-2 lead. 

Midfielder Jordan DiBiasi struck back late in stoppage time, slotting home from close range after dribbling through three Orlando defenders.

Despite the loss, the Spirit remain in the NWSL’s top four and will return to action at the Maryland SoccerPlex on July 20 against the Houston Dash. U.S. women’s national team players Rose Lavelle and Mallory Pugh will look to make their first appearances for Washington following their World Cup run. [TICKETS]

-NWSL Match Report-

Match: Orlando Pride vs. Washington Spirit

Date: July 6, 2019

Venue: Exploria Stadium

Kickoff: 8:20 p.m. ET

Attendance: 3,703

Weather: Rainy, mid 70s

Scoring Summary:
Goals 1 2 F
Orlando 2 2 4
Washington 2 1 3

 

WAS – Feist 7’

ORL – Ubogagu 21’

ORL – Hill 26’

WAS – Matthews 30’

ORL – Marta 48’

ORL – Marta 78’

WAS – DiBiasi 90+4’

Lineups:

ORL (4-4-2): 28-Haley Kopmeyer; 16-Carson Pickett; 4-Shelina Zadorsky; 3-Toni Pressley; 19-Erin Greening; 14-Alanna Kennedy (c); 5-Emily van Egmond; 10-Marta (90’ 20-Abby Elinsky); 25-Joanna Boyles (82’ 17-Dani Weatherholt); 6-Chioma Ubogagu; 15-Rachel Hill (77’ 23-Marisa Viggiano)

Unused Substitutes: 8-Danica Evans; 27-Morgan Reid; 9-Camila; 18-Lainey Burdett;

WAS (4-3-3): 1-Aubrey Bledsoe; 18-McKenzie Berryhill; 3-Sam Staab; 23-Tori Huster; 19-Dorian Bailey (56’ 4-Jordan DiBiasi); 12-Andi Sullivan (c); 14-Paige Nielsen ; 6-Chloe Logarzo (62’ 8-Meggie Dougherty Howard); 33-Ashley Hatch; 13-Bayley Feist (73’ 31-Crystal Thomas); 20-Cheyna Matthews

Unused Substitutes: 7-Amy Harrison; 30-Shae Yanez; 17-Cali Farquharson; 2-Arielle Ship

Stats Summary: ORL / WAS

Shots: 15 / 19

Shots on Goal: 8 / 5

Saves: 2 / 4

Blocked Shots: 3 / 4

Fouls: 10 / 10

Offside: 5 / 1

Misconduct Summary:

WAS – Sam Staab 59’ – Yellow Card

ORL – Toni Pressley 62’ – Yellow Card

WAS – Meggie Dougherty Howard 73’ – Yellow Card

Official:

Referee: Greg Dopka

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