The Orlando Pride women’s soccer team will host the Portland Thorns on Saturday afternoon at Inter.co Stadium with seven regular-season matches remaining and playoff contention at stake. Orlando defeated the Houston Dash two weeks ago and followed that result with a road draw against the Kansas City Current in its most recent match. The Pride will try to carry that form into a 4 p.m. kickoff against Portland.
The match will be broadcast on ION. Interim head coach Yolanda Thomas said Orlando is ready to return home and face a strong opponent. “We’re excited to play at home in front of our fans,” Thomas said.
Thomas said the Pride can build from the Kansas City performance even though the team did not earn three points. “We didn’t obviously get the three points in the last game, but we still walked away feeling like we had a pretty good performance, and we’re building on that. So we’re ready to tackle a really good opponent.”
Orlando Pride Look to Answer Portland Loss
Portland defeated Orlando 2-1 on Aug. 15 at Providence Park in the previous meeting between the teams. Thomas said the Pride can take confidence from that performance as they prepare for the rematch. “There’s actually a lot of positives to take away,” Thomas said of the previous match.
“If you look at the totality of that game, that is actually the most quiet I have ever experienced Providence Park. We certainly had periods where we were able to control play, whether in or out of possession, and came close to getting a result. It’s a game we look back on knowing that we can draw confidence from, because we caused them problems.”
The Portland Thorns enter the match after a 1-1 draw against the Chicago Stars. Thomas has emphasized Orlando’s preparation, with a focus on helping players perform comfortably while the staff addresses tactical details. “A big focus of mine is: if I can get them to feel comfortable to perform their best, we can fix the small tactical things we need to fix,” she said.
“A lot of it has been really supporting individuals to be able to perform their best, regardless of what the tactical plan is.”
Barbra Banda Extension Adds Important Team News
Barbra Banda signed a long-term contract extension with the Orlando Pride during the week. Thomas said Banda’s impact includes more than her scoring, because her presence draws defensive attention and creates space for teammates. “It’s huge, and it’s massive even beyond what she does on the field,” Thomas said of Banda’s contract.
“Obviously she scores goals like nobody’s business. But even if she’s not scoring the goal, she’s creating for others. Her presence usually consumes two to three defenders on the other team, so it opens spaces for her teammates.”
Thomas also highlighted the broader significance of Banda’s contract. “She’s a Zambian and African woman signing a huge deal in women’s football, and I think that in and of itself deserves to be celebrated and I’m happy that the Orlando Pride could be a part of making history.”
FSB Take
Saturday gives the Orlando Pride a home opportunity to strengthen their position in the playoff race. The recent win over the Houston Dash, draw against the Kansas City Current and performance in the 2-1 loss at Portland provide the context for a significant match with seven regular-season games remaining. Banda’s contract extension adds another important storyline as Orlando prepares to face the Portland Thorns at 4 p.m. on ION.
Source: Original report