The big storyline coming into Orlando versus Washington was first place against second place. Orlando haven’t lost a match in their first five matches, and Washington won two straight. It was a contest between two strong offensive groups, featuring stars on both sides. Before kickoff, the story shifted with the absence of one of those names. Forward Sydney Leroux came into the match as questionable with a left thigh injury but didn’t make the trip north. What resulted, on a hot day in the nation’s capital, was a Washington and Orlando 1-1 battle.
The heat index at Audi Field crept towards triple digits for the first Spirit home match of the season. Washington forward Trinity Rodman has only played a handful of matches in her professional career, but she’s made a habit of making big moves early. Sunday afternoon’s match was no different. In the second minute, Rodman ran down the right flank and sent a perfect cross into the middle of the penalty box. Unfortunately, the resulting shot went just wide of the net.
Orlando wouldn’t be outdone. Forward Taylor Kornieck put herself into a similar position to Rodman but had an open Alex Morgan to her left. If not for a poor pass by the sophomore NWSL forward, the Pride would have had an early 1-0 lead.
The two best opportunities on goal came from Washington. Midfielder Julia Roddar got the ball off an Ashley Sanchez attacking cross. She sent the shot about six inches too high, as it rung off the top of the crossbar.
In the 15th minute, one of three Spirit defensive mistakes put Orlando in a great position to score. Washington center back Sam Staab had a moment of indecisiveness with the ball in the defensive third. She got the ball out just in time before a charging Orlando offense punished the mistake. Morgan, three minutes later, attacked Spirit captain Andi Sullivan and put a shot on goal, that goalkeeper Aubrey Bledsoe saved. The final, of the first half, came in the 23rd minute but none of the three relaxed defensive moments cost the Spirit on the scoreboard.
Then in the 26th minute, a common occurrence in 2021 continued – Ashlyn Harris made a big save. Emily Sonnett sent in an almost perfectly placed header that the lunging Harris punched away. It would be one of two save of the week candidate stops for Orlando’s goalkeeper on the day.
A smaller match within the Washington and Orlando match was Orlando midfielder Marta going head-to-head with Spirit defender Kelley O’Hara. The two veterans battled throughout the 90 minutes. In the 18th, Marta took O’Hara down at midfield. Once O’Hara got up, she approached the Brazilian legend and the two had a heated discussion. It continued into the second half.
Going into halftime, the tired legs of both teams were evident. Orlando’s booming downfield passes often didn’t have another player near their landing point. Washington, who controlled much of the first half offensively, slowed down themselves as both teams awaited the halftime whistle. Both teams went into the locker room locked in a scoreless draw.
Washington wasted no time at the second-half whistle. The Spirit used every hydration break or return from play to charge at Orlando. They still couldn’t break through but they continued their first-half dominance in possession and shooting on net.
Marta and O’Hara went to round 2 of their bout in the 49th minute. Orlando’s midfielder fell deeper into their formation and played more of a defensive midfield role as opposed to her usual attack-minded positioning. On one Spirit attack, O’Hara positioned herself for a cross into the penalty area but slipped on her delivery. Marta stopped the pass but in her movement towards the ball, caught the US international in the face with an elbow. It was accidental, and no foul was called, but it was representative of the ferocity in which both stars played.
A funny moment between the two came in the 55th minute, on a throw-in. Both teams lobbied their cases in throw-in and corner/goal kick situations, which is the norm, but both players found a ball on the sideline and prepared to take the throw. The Spirit got the ball, but it’s not often that supporters get to see two international stars battle even for the chance to keep possession for their side.
Orlando’s Kornieck played more aggressively in the second half. Any time she received the ball near the penalty area, she was shooting. They came from her head and her boots but had trouble with the accuracy of her chances.
Then in the 64th and 66th minutes, Washington and Orlando found the back of the net. Up first was Washington. O’Hara received a pass in a similar position to her earlier contact with Marta. The US fullback swung in a cross that forward Ashley Hatch headed past Harris to go up 1-0. Orlando equalized on an attempted throw by Bledsoe. Marta hit the middle of the field throw with a one-touch pass to Kornieck. After dribbling into a stronger position, and moving around the Spirit defense; she sent a low shot just into the corner of the far post.
Harris, in the 82nd minute, saved Orlando from losing their road point. Spirit substitute Dorian Bailey shot on net, making Harris fully extend on a diving save near the post. Defender Ali Krieger joined her partner, Harris, in making big defensive moves. She brought a calm to the backline that withstood 21 Spirit shots, and six on frame.
Even with Washington and Orlando substitutes, the final 10 minutes of the match were slow. Once Orlando equalized, there wasn’t a sense of urgency to go for the game-winner. They stuck with their counterattacking style and were selective when they took chances. One tough note for the Pride was Morgan receiving a couple of knocks to the side. The first, a knee to the stomach, and the second a collision with her US teammate, and Spirit defender Sonnett. Morgan finished the match.
Meeting Personal Expectations
The Pride missed Leroux, offensively. She’s known for not allowing the opposing defense to hold onto the ball in the Orlando attacking third for too long. Leroux has two goals this season that came off as complacent defenders. Marta and Morgan both had their moments, but Washington neutralized Morgan for much of the match. Kornieck had the best chances and made the difference in keeping Orlando in the top spot on the table. For the young forward, it was coming for a while.
“I’ve been telling everybody, it was in due time for me,” said Kornieck. “I’ve been in a little drought, I really haven’t shown my top play. That was just a little glimpse of me as a player.” Kornieck had five shots and one on target, making the Spirit pay for their defensive mistake.
Surviving the Elements
A trend in the post-match press conference was the heat. It hit 98 degrees on the heat index at Audi Field. Even though the Pride are used to temperatures higher than those, playing in Central Florida, doesn’t make it any easier.
“I know we play in Florida every day and we should suck it up, but it was really humid,” said center back Krieger. “Points on the road are huge, so I’ll take this point. It was hot as hell out there. I think we did a really good job mentally of trying to stay in the game.” That mentality is what put Orlando into their position as the league leaders in the first place.
What’s Next
The entire league has next weekend off, for the international break. US internationals like O’Hara and Morgan and Brazil’s Marta all have friendlies scheduled to prepare for the Tokyo Olympics from July through mid-August.
When both teams return to league play, Orlando welcomes Gotham FC to Florida. They kick off at 6:00 p.m. ET on June 20. The Spirit travel to Chicago for an 8:00 p.m. ET match on June 19 against the Red Stars.
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