Orlando Pride Women's Soccer Team Head Coach Seb Hines expressed his gratitude to the supporters despite a disappointing team performance in their match against Racing Louisville. Hines apologized to fans for the team's inability to secure victory, acknowledging the crowd's loud and energetic presence as a vital support factor.
“First of all, I just want to thank the fans, they were terrific tonight. They were really loud, hostile, and that's what we need every week,” Hines said. He acknowledged that the team fell short overall except in the final minutes. “That performance today wasn't good enough from everyone, barring the last five to ten minutes.”
Hines explained the challenges faced after conceding the first goal, highlighting that it was never due to lack of effort but rather unfortunate breaks and difficulty adapting to Racing Louisville's aggressive style. “At moments we lost a little bit of discipline because we were pushing,” he remarked, emphasizing the importance of maintaining composure to mount a comeback.
Orlando Pride defender Kerry Abello echoed these sentiments, expressing pride in her team's resilience in the closing 20 minutes despite being behind by multiple goals. However, she noted that this fighting spirit must be consistent from the start of matches. “We didn't stop pushing, but that needs to be who we are from the first minute, and it wasn't today,” she said.
Abello also identified Racing Louisville's strategy involving set pieces, long balls, and physical presence as a significant challenge, which the Pride struggled to counter effectively. Reflecting on her personal contribution, Abello described scoring a goal after recognizing open space and successfully aiming for the top corner. Although she wished the goal had been a game-winner, she highlighted its role in sparking life in the team.
Both Hines and Abello agreed that the Orlando Pride must improve execution and maintain discipline throughout matches to turn their results around in the NWSL.
Source: Original report