ORLANDO, Fla. – When the Orlando Pride entered the National Women’s Soccer League two seasons ago, they were tasked with facing one of the most formidable teams in the league.
In addition to playing the storied Portland Thorns franchise–Portland’s made the playoffs every season except one and have won two of the five championships–the Pride had to do so in Providence Park in Portland, Oregon, arguably the most difficult home stadium to be a visitor in the U.S.
That game ended in a 2-1 Orlando loss and set the tone for the two teams’ next four meetings. In total, the Pride trail the Thorns with an 0-4-1 all-time record.
“It’s one of those teams that we need to sort of break that rhythm of not getting a result against them,” Pride head coach Tom Sermanni said after training on April 12. “And it’s strange because they are a team, particularly our games out there, when we’ve played well for large parts of the game. And we just don’t seem to be able to get over the line.
“And that goes from our very inaugural game, you know, in 2016 to the, you know, semifinal game last year when I felt that, you know, for a large, large part of the game, we were the better team. But we just don’t seem to be able to get over the line against them.”
Goal-scoring has, in fact, been a sore spot for the Pride in the early-season going. Only forward Marta Vieira da Silva has scored a goal, and it was a penalty kick in the season opener.
Portland seems to make that facet of the game even more difficult for Orlando, as the Pride have scored only three goals in all five of their matchups with the Thorns. In the 2017 regular season, Orlando was held scoreless, as the Pride lost 2-0 and drew 0-0 for their first-ever result against the team.
Orlando’s worst loss to the Thorns came in last year’s NWSL semifinals. Portland exploded for four goals while holding Orlando, last season’s league leader in goals (45), to just one.
Sermanni is still bothered by the way last season ended, and, for him, there’s only remedy to his ailment.
“I must admit I left that match very, very disappointed,” Sermanni said. “So, I’ll probably feel some of that disappointment when we get there, but, if we can get the win, then that will certainly get rid of it.”
That disappointing feeling extends beyond Sermanni. Forward Alex Morgan, who is scoreless against Portland after playing in three of the five games, acknowledged the team’s lack of results against Portland and is looking for a strong, early-season performance.
“Yeah, I think [a win on Sunday] would be a great thing for us to go into Portland and dominate,” Morgan said after training on April 12. “We have struggled against them especially in Portland and kinda having that semifinal game in the playoffs last year wasn’t our best performance.
“So, I think we need to show a strong performance, and, obviously, we want to get our first win this season.”
Portland will continue to be hamstrung to start 2018, as attacking midfielder Tobin Heath will not make her 2018 debut on Sunday, according to The Oregonian’s Jamie Goldberg. Heath, who was limited to two regular-season appearances last season because of a back injury, is currently recovering from ankle surgery.
In 2016, she posted a goal and 10 assists in 14 appearances and 13 starts.
“You always want to play against your opponent’s best team,” Morgan said. “I mean, you never want them to be standing on one leg–not like Portland is standing on one leg–but missing Tobin is big for them, you know?
“So, I want her to get healthy ’cause, obviously, I want to see her on the national team, as well. So, I’m hoping she has a speedy recovery.”
The Pride are already stationed in Portland, as they await their Sunday matchup. Kickoff between Orlando and the Thorns is set for 6 p.m. The game will be broadcast on go90.com.
For more on the Pride, as they seek their first-ever win over Portland, follow Victor Tan on Twitter at @NDR_VictorTan.
To contact Victor, you can email him at vtan@newdayreview.com.
