The Orlando Pride finally snapped a nine-game winless streak in league play Friday night, beating the San Diego Wave 2-1.
Now Orlando heads back to Concacaf W Champions Cup action with a trip to Mexico City to take on Club America on Tuesday at 9 p.m.
“Once you win, you want to keep that high going. So instead of waiting a week to play, we wait three days to play again,” Pride defender Carson Pickett said about the upcoming match. “We keep the momentum going. Win-win-win, and that will set us up for the rest of the NWSL season.”
Club America currently sits atop Group A with two wins and a draw. They have outscored their opponents 10-0 across those three games, dispatching Chorillo (9-0) and Pachuca (1-0) after a 0-0 draw with Alajuelense. A victory for the Pride would leapfrog Club America, putting Orlando in pole position for the knockout round.
The big story for this matchup is Jacquie Ovalle’s return to Mexico, where she played for Tigres from 2017 until her move to Orlando in August. The Mexican international established herself as one of the best attacking talents in the world during her time in Mexico, and she is starting to find her best form in purple as well.
Ovalle scored her first goal for the Pride against San Diego, and Orlando needs her to be at her best to unlock Club America’s defense that has yet to concede in the W Champions Cup. Her ability to score and create chances for her teammates makes her a dual offensive threat that the Pride desperately needs, given the absence of Barbara Banda.
The Pride should be fielding a strong lineup, but tired legs are an issue to watch out for with the quick turnaround. If Orlando can overcome travel weariness, expect the Pride to come out strong and make a statement in hostile territory.
