The Orlando Pride need to quickly shake off a disappointing result in Mexico City on Tuesday night, falling to Club America 2-0 in the Concacaf W Champions Cup.
Now Orlando (9-8-5, 32 points) wraps up a three-game road trip with a league match against the Houston Dash (7-10-5, 26 points) on Friday at 8 p.m.
“We’ve got to think about games in front of us as well,” Orlando coach Seb Hines said after the loss to Club America. “We’re in a very good position right now in the NWSL, and we want to continue to progress going into the postseason.”
Orlando has won four in a row against Houston, dating back to 2023. They will be looking to make it five in a row against a team against which they have an all-time record of 10-11-2. They’ll need to watch out for forward Yazmeen Ryan (4 goals, 2 assists) and midfielder Maggie Graham (3G, 3A), who are often the focal point in the Dash attack.
A victory against the Dash would certainly help push the Pride up the standings. Orlando currently sits in fifth place, but is only three points out of third place. Higher seeding is the difference between hosting a playoff game or having to go on the road, something the Pride will want to avoid.
The struggle for Orlando is balancing league play and W Champions Cup games. The loss to Club America means Orlando must beat Pachuca when the teams meet in Orlando on Oct. 15. With little time for rest, the Pride will have to rely on rotating players to keep the squad healthy while searching for positive results.
With only four games left in the regular season, Orlando will be focused on leaving Houston with three points and a clean bill of health. A victory would go a long way toward easing the stress as the postseason rapidly approaches.
