Our Pride taking on @SkyBlueFC tonight at 7:30 p.m. 😈#ORLvNJ | #JoinThePride pic.twitter.com/2C3CcevibS
— Orlando Pride (@ORLPride) August 5, 2018
ORLANDO, Fla. – Orlando Pride Head Coach Tom Sermanni was at a loss for words in his post-match press conference following a 2-2 draw with ninth-place Sky Blue FC.
The third-year Pride boss said he doesn’t have the answer to the Pride’s inability to finish games, especially against an opponent like Sunday night’s opponent: winless Sky Blue.
“It’s extremely frustrating. I mean, it’s extremely frustrating for everybody,” Sermanni said after the draw. “… It’s been our season, to be frank. Tonight is a snapshot of our season. It’s a bit like Forrest Gump: box of chocolates. You never quite know quite what you’re going to get once you open it up, and I think tonight is just another snapshot of virtually every game we’ve played this season.”
In second-half stoppage time, Sky Blue (0-13-4, 4 points) midfielder Carli Lloyd was issued a straight red card for a hand ball inside the box. Pride (8-6-6, 30 points) forward Marta Vieira da Silva delivered the corner and also took the ensuing penalty kick.
The Brazilian star’s attempt went to her right, but Sky Blue keeper Kailen Sheridan also went to her left to make the save and keep the match level at 2-2.
“There are things that are out of everybody’s control,” Sermanni said. “… Player misses a penalty. What can I say? I mean, you know, we’ve got [forward Alex Morgan] and Marta who you put your house on scoring penalties. Couple of times, they haven’t scored this year. That happens. You can’t do anything about that. That’s football.”
Second-half fireworks highlighted a match that started with just six combined shots in the first half. Orlando found the back of the net less than eight minutes into the second half, but Sky Blue responded with back-to-back goals before the Pride evened the game again.
Trailing 1-0, Sky Blue forward Savannah McCaskill sent a ball forward to fellow forward Shea Groom. The 25-year-old fell to a knee while drawing four defenders. She, then, centered the ball to an open Imani Dorsey, who gathered it with her left foot before scoring with her right in the 53rd minute.
Six minutes later, Sky Blue took their first lead of the 2018 season. Lloyd sparked the New Jersey side’s second goal. She crossed the ball to McCaskill at the right part of Orlando’s box where the Chapin, South Carolina, native headed the ball to the center of the box. There waiting was Grooms, who headed in the ball for a 2-1 lead.
“As a team, we knew what we needed to do today, so it’s a little unfortunate that, instead of three points, we’re getting one, especially with the effort we put out,” forward Chioma Ubogagu said after the match. “It’s just gotta be better. I don’t know how else to say it.
“We gotta start executing in the final third; we gotta be better defensively, and, you know, I’m proud of us for fighting, getting back in the game, but obviously all of us wanted three points tonight, so we’re a little disappointed.”
The Pride managed to salvage at least a point against winless Sky Blue behind the efforts of midfielder Dani Weatherholt. Fellow Pride midfielder Camila Martins Pereira drove the ball to the top of the box but was fouled. Weatherholt was there to maintain possession and play the advantage, dribbling toward goal.
Sheridan came off her line to collect the ball, but it bounced up and over her for a 2-2 draw.
“Yeah, I saw Camila attacking, so I kinda tried to clear the space,” Weatherholt recalled after the draw. “Then it opened up for a slipped through ball and kinda got in a tangle with the goalie, and it happened to pop right to me, so I’m grateful that I followed through and followed up on it.”
Both teams had just one scoring chance each in the first half.
Sky Blue had their best chance first in the 28th minute, courtesy of McCaskill and Dorsey. McCaskill initiated the attack with a centering pass before quickly receiving the ball again. Her next pass was a through ball down the heart of the Pride’s defense to an open Dorsey.
The 22-year-old’s ensuing shot was saved by goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris’ leg.
Marta almost opened the scoring before halftime with a free-kick opportunity she drew just a few yards outside Sky Blue’s box. Her 42nd-minute attempt banged off the bottom of the crossbar. Weatherholt was there for the rebound to record Orlando’s only first-half, on-target chance, but it was saved at point-blank range.
Who’s Next?
The Pride conclude a two-game home stand with the third-place Portland Thorns (8-5-5, 29 points) on Saturday.
For more on the Pride, as they continue to push for their second-straight playoffs appearance, 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.
