When Sky Blue FC visits Central Florida on June 16, the New Jersey side will face a bolstered Orlando Pride team.
In addition to returning their United States women’s national-team players, Brazilian midfielder Camila Martins Pereira could also make her 2018 debut.
Early Friday afternoon, the Pride announced that Camila will be available for selection for the team’s first match in almost two weeks. Camila is made available after suffering both an ACL tear and an MCL sprain in her right knee in Orlando’s 2017 regular season-ending win over the North Carolina Courage.
In 2017, Camila’s first season with the Pride, the 23-year-old started 22 of her 24 appearances, tallying four goals and five assists. Two of Camila’s four goals were National Women’s Soccer League Goals of the Week, earning the honor in Weeks 3 and 9.
Camila proved to be a versatile player in head coach Tom Sermanni’s squad. She saw time in the midfield and on the back line, as she was an integral part of what made the Pride the highest-scoring team in the league last season.
With the injury to right back Ali Krieger, Camila returns to the squad at an opportune moment, having played at that position multiple times last season.
Third-place Orlando is coming off a scoreless draw with Seattle Reign FC, its fifth-straight road result. Now, the Pride will welcome back forward Alex Morgan and goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris when they host winless Sky Blue on June 16 at 7:30 p.m.
For more on the Pride, as they look to figure Camila back into their lineup, follow Victor Tan on Twitter at @NDR_VictorTan.
To contact Victor, you can email him at vtan@newdayreview.com, or you can tweet at him.
