• Final stats

ORLANDO, Fla. – The Orlando Pride’s 2018 season opener brought in 9,017 fans, but those fans would have to wait another week before they could possibly see a Pride win.

Ninety minutes of play was not enough Saturday night, as the Pride drew 1-1 with Utah Royals FC at Orlando City Stadium.

“It was kind of a game we expected. We knew they would come out, be well organized and start to really press us and work really hard to get a result here,” Pride head coach Tom Sermanni said after the match. “You know, [Utah is] a new team, a new franchise, and they kind of brought that enthusiasm to the game. So, we kind of expected what we got.”

The Pride went down almost immediately into the game. In the third minute, Utah midfielder Diana Matheson connected with midfielder Gunnhildur Yrsa Jónsdóttir on a cross that seemed to float over the entire Pride back line and right to Jónsdóttir’s sliding feet to give Utah a 1-0 lead.

“Well we got, I believe, what was an early cross, and we just weren’t picking up in the box, and that is something we take pride in as a back four—and definitely our midfield too, tracking runs,” Pride defender Shelina Zadorsky said after the match. “I think there was just a little bit of a mix-up of who was tight to that midfielder who ran in to finish that. So, we gotta clean that up, absolutely.”

Despite going down a goal early on, the Pride responded just 18 minutes later. Forward Marta Vieira da Silva converted on a penalty kick after a handball was called on Utah defender Becky Sauerbrunn.

The match was a physical battle. Orlando committed 14 fouls and one yellow card was issued to defender Ali Krieger. Utah committed nine fouls, and two yellow cards were issued: one to forward Brittany Ratcliffe and one to Sauerbrunn.

Orlando’s best chances to go ahead came early in the second half from forward Sydney Leroux. In one instance, she took just one too many touches when she had space around the 18-yard box, as the ball escaped her.

Leroux also had a header chance in the 49th minute off a service from Zadorsky. The on-goal attempt went to the center of the net and was saved.

“I think it just got away from me,” Leroux said after the match. “I took an extra touch, and I should’ve actually just hit it with my left foot. But, first game, so hopefully that won’t happen next game.”

Neither team was able to find a consistent rhythm throughout the match. The Pride, however, maintained possession for most of the game by owning the ball 53.7 percent of the time and completing 73.8 percent of their passes.

For the Pride, their offensive rhythm was lacking, perhaps, because one of their most notable players left Saturday’s match just before the half.

Star forward Alex Morgan chased after a loose ball and collided with Utah goalkeeper Abby Smith. Morgan remained down for a significant amount of time and then slowly walked off and headed to the locker room and into concussion protocol. She did not return to the game and was relieved by forward Chioma Ubogagu in the second half.

“Obviously, when you lose anyone it’s a big blow and especially losing her so early,” Leroux said. “You know, we were kinda rotating between me, Marta and Alex. And then Chi came in, and then I kind of stayed a little bit more central and tried to push the line.”

With Morgan possibly out next week, the Pride find themselves in a tough situation, as Marta and fellow Brazilian Monica Hickmann Alves leave the team for international duty. Australian women’s national-team players Alanna Kennedy and Emily van Egmond are already away for 2019 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches.

In 2017, Morgan appeared in 13 matches for 1,058 minutes and had nine goals and four assists on the year.

Who’s Next?

The Pride hit the road to visit United States women’s national-team star Mallory Pugh and the Washington Spirit Saturday at 3:30 p.m.

For more on the Orlando Pride, as they test the depth of their roster, follow Sarah Kelliher on Twitter at @sarahkelliher4.