Pre-Match Notes: The NWSL 2024 Regular Season is back, and fans are thrilled for the start of the season. In matchday one, a newly built Orlando Pride team are facing off against Racing Louisville.

Since the offseason, the Pride have added many new players to their roster. Brazilian players, Luana and Angelina, to help bolster the midfield and attack. NWSL draftees, Cori Dyke, and Alex Kerr, and most notably Zambian international forward, Barbra Banda. The Pride have also signed Simone Charley from Angel City FC, but unfortunately, due to rupturing the Achilles tendon injury in her right ankle, Charley will have to miss the 2024 Season. In addition to Charley, defender, Megan Montefusco was also added to the Season-Ending Injury (SEI) List, due to undergoing surgery on her right foot during the offseason.

The specific relevant content for this request, if necessary, delimited with characters: With the many new signings, the Pride are looking to strengthen their midfield and attack. While the Pride struggled to come together at the start of the season last year, they would eventually begin to find their form in the midfield. Additionally, there was also a strong focus on counterattacking and transition. It appears as though Head Coach Seb Hines could be looking to play to the team’s strength and continue focusing on developing the team’s movement and control in the midfield, as well as develop a confident and aggressive attack, that will be able to get forward, connect, and score.

While many eyes were on NY/NJ Gotham FC and their signings during the the offseason, the Orlando Pride could be a team to watch out for as the season goes on.

Line Up Notes

Starting Eleven: We have Anna Moorhouse in the goal. For defenders Haley McCutcheon, Kerry Abello, Emily Sams (Madril), and Kylie Strom. In the midfield and attack Luana, Morgan Gautrat, Angelina, Marta, Julie Doyle, and Adriana.

Substitutes: McKinley Crone, Ally Lemos, Amanda Allen, Celia, Mariana Larroquette, Evelina Duljan, Carrie Lawrence, Brianna Martinez, Summer Yates.

The Pride is missing Rafaelle in the backline due to an injury she sustained during the CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup, likewise Ally Watt is also out due to a thigh injury.

Overall, this is a very interesting lineup. The backline should be alright, both Sams (formerly Madril) and McCutcheon are reliable center backs, as well as Strom. I can definitely see both Strom and Abello pressing and getting forward in the attack, like they did last season.

This midfield of Luana, Gautrat, Angelina, and Marta is going to be exciting to see. It’s great to see Angelina starting, after having to miss so many games with her former club, the Seattle Reign, due to an ACL injury. I’m looking forward to seeing how she links up with the Pride attack, and what she can do/create in the attack. The team might need to work on their chemistry in the future, but they should do well in this match, provided that they can keep possession, get their attack forward, connect where it counts, and put away their chances.

First Half Notes

Racing Louisville 2-1.

Goal scorer for the Pride: Pikkujämsä (OG)

Let’s start with the Pride backline. Through balls are definitely a problem for this team. Racing Louisville has been successful when it comes to getting balls and passes behind the backline. The Pride backline needs to be more alert, and needs to respond better to those. On the upside, recoveries in the backline, with the additional support from the midfield have been good in this half.

When it comes to the Pride’s midfield, they’re doing well in transition, and are doing well when it comes to maintaining control and possession. This was to be expected going into this match. Passing and connection in the midfield were also good. However, the problem for the Pride is the attack. Yes, the attack has been able to get forward and create chances, but when they get around Racing Louisville’s penalty area, the services, crosses, and touches are too slow. The support in the attack either isn’t there, or is arriving too late. By the time the Pride players get into the box, Racing Louisville is already back there to defend. The Pride needs to be quicker with their crosses, touches, and services into the box.

It’s not a bad first half. It’s great to see the Pride possessing and maintaining a level of control and stability in this half, but if this team can up their pace in the attack, they have the potential to come back in this second half.

Second Half and Closing Notes

Orlando Pride Draws 2-2.

Goal scorers for the Pride: Pikkujämsä (OG), Yates (1).

This was definitely an exciting and thrilling match. The Pride went down to ten after Strom was sent off with a second yellow card. Instead of backing down and playing defensively for the rest of the match, the Pride still got their attack forward, and Yates would be able to convert off a set piece outside the box from Angelina.

When it comes to the Pride’s midfield, there is great control, possession, and movement from the midfield. However, when it comes to the attack, the team still needs to be quicker with their crosses, touches, and services into the box. By the time the attack figures out what they want to do, Racing Louisville is already back to defend. If the Pride can up their pace in transition and provide more support in the box, they’ll be able to get their attack off more efficiently.

This match showed the Pride’s determination and willingness to overcome any challenge that comes their way. While there are still things this team needs to work on, kicking off the Pride’s 2024 season with a draw, is still a positive sign. This is just the Pride’s first match of the regular season, and the team will definitely make adjustments and improvements as the season progresses.