The Orlando Pride put on a dominant display Tuesday night in a 5-0 win in the Concacaf W Champions Cup in Panama City, Panama, putting them on top of their group after two matches.
Now Orlando (8-7-5, 29 points) returns home to take on the North Carolina Courage (6-7-7, 25 points) on Friday at 8 p.m., looking to snap an eight-game winless streak in league play.
“We got a positive result this past Tuesday in Panama, and we want to continue that momentum at home in front of our own fans,” Orlando coach Seb Hines said. “North Carolina is always a tough opponent. They’ve got a set way of playing, regardless of who’s in charge. So, yeah, it should turn out to be an exciting game for everyone else.”
North Carolina has always been a tough foe for Orlando, with the Pride holding an all-time record of 7-14-8 against the Courage in all competitions. The two sides faced off in May, when Orlando earned a 1-1 draw on the road with a last-minute goal from Prisca Chilufya.
Orlando’s struggles in front of goal may look to have been settled after scoring five against Chorillo, but North Carolina presents a much tougher defensive challenge to unlock. Still, goals from Julie Doyle, Ally Lemos, and a hat trick from Summer Yates should help boost the team’s confidence.
The big question for the Pride is who will start in goal. Anna Moorhouse was benched against Bay FC last weekend after conceding five to the Chicago Stars. McKinley Crone took some time to find her bearings, but demonstrated her athleticism with some impressive second-half saves. Both players were rested against Chorillo, and either could return between the sticks Friday night.
Whoever starts in goal will have their hands full trying to stop Manaka Matsukubo. The Japanese international has six goals and four assists this season, leading the Courage in both categories. She is the focal point for a North Carolina attack that can cause plenty of problems, but shut her down, and the Pride stand a good chance of earning a much-needed clean sheet.
