Orlando Pride Lose on Late Game-winner to Sky Blue FC

The Orlando Pride have their three-game undefeated streak ended with a loss to Sky Blue FC.

By
Victor Tan
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Orlando Pride forward Jamia Fields gets taken down from behind during a 3-1 win over the North Carolina Courage at Orlando City Stadium on Sunday, May 14, 2017. (Photo by Victor Tan / New Day Review)
(Photo by Victor Tan / New Day Review)

Match Recap

In her first test between the posts this season, Aubrey Bledsoe performed admirably. She tallied six saves for the Orlando Pride in a match against Sky Blue FC, but she ultimately allowed a game-winner in the waning minutes to give the New Jersey side a 2-1 win Saturday night at Yurcak Field.

Sky Blue (4-3-1, 13 points) broke a late-game 1-1 tie in the 82nd minute. Forward Samantha Kerr tipped the ball forward to a streaking Maya Hayes, who had just enough of a step to beat Pride center-back Alanna Kennedy down the field. Bledsoe flew off her line to contest Hayes, but Hayes took one touch to her right before sliding the ball past Bledsoe for the win.

The Pride (1-3-3, 6 points) struck first in the 18th minute with a strike by forward Jasmyne Spencer. First-year Pride forward Marta Vieira da Silva started the effort with a middle-of-the-box penetration. After she took a touch backward, she laid off a no-look pass to fellow Brazilian Camila Martins Pereira, who then slotted the ball toward the middle of the box to an open Spencer for a 1-0 lead.

Orlando’s lead wouldn’t last the half, though, as Kerr evened the match in the 43rd minute. Sky Blue midfielder Daphne Corboz charged her way down the middle of the pitch with Kerr patiently fixed to her left. Once defenders Ali Krieger and Kennedy committed enough to Corboz, the 23-year-old slotted the ball to Kerr, who ripped a right-footed equalizer past Bledsoe.

Left-back Steph Catley and Kennedy tried to match their Australian women’s national-team teammate’s scoring effort with a connection of their own in the 67th minute. Catley received a pass from the right corner, faked a move toward goal and delivered a ball into the box. Her cross found Kennedy, who struck an on-target header low and to the left. Sky Blue goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan’s diving effort stopped the Pride from taking the lead.

Center-back Toni Pressley made sure the Pride didn’t go down quietly, as she tried for a stoppage-time equalizer in the 94th minute. From about 10 yards over the midfield line, Pressley unleashed a rocket of a shot that sailed a foot or two over Sky Blue’s crossbar.

Woman of the Match: Samantha Kerr

Kerr entered Saturday’s bout with the Pride as one of the most accurate and efficient shot-takers in the league so far this season. Pride head coach Tom Sermanni said before training on May 25 that stopping Kerr was going to be the key to winning the match. Ultimately, the result tells the story, as Kerr notched a goal and an assist on two shots (two on goal). Kerr also drew two fouls in her 90 minutes of action.

What’s next?

Orlando hosts the No. 7 Boston Breakers on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. A win against the Breakers and a Houston Dash loss would give the Pride sole possession of the No. 7 spot.

Highlights

NDR Notes

  • Spencer scored her second goal of the season. That ties her with Camila and Marta for a team-high in goals.
  • Pereira notched her second assist of the season on the goal by Spencer. She is tied with seven other players, including Kerr, for third-most assists in the league.
  • The Pride’s loss to Sky Blue ended Orlando’s three-game undefeated streak. Before Saturday’s game, Orlando was 1-0-2 with draws against FC Kansas City and the Seattle Reign and a win over the North Carolina Courage.
  • Bledsoe played in one match last season, recording three saves and allowing two goals in her 90 minutes. On Saturday, she tallied six saves and allowed two goals.

Scoring

Time Team Goal-scorer Assisted by
18’ Orlando Pride Jasmyne Spencer Camila Pereira
43’ Sky Blue FC Samantha Kerr Daphne Corboz
82’ Sky Blue FC Maya Hayes Samantha Kerr

Statistics and Starting Lineups

Goals Assists Shots Shots on Goal Possession %
Sky Blue FC 2 2 10 8 33.3%
Orlando Pride 1 1 11 3 66.7%

Sky Blue FC starting XI (4-4-2): Kailen Sheridan (GK); Erin Simon, Mandy Freeman, Christie Pearce, Erica Skroski; Maya Hayes, Raquel Rodriguez, Sarah Killion, Madison Tiernan; Daphne Corboz, Samantha Kerr

Orlando Pride starting XI (4-3-3): Aubrey Bledsoe (GK); Steph Catley, Toni Pressley, Alanna Kennedy, Ali Krieger; Camila Martins Pereira, Dani Weatherholt, Kristen Edmonds; Marta Vieira da Silva, Jasmyne Spencer, Jamia Fields

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