Orlando Pride push the envelope against Bay City FC
• Late win answers Bay City FC surge
• Keeper Moorhouse now all-time NWSL clean sheet leader
Bay FC almost ended the streak. But the Orlando Pride parade marches on.
Bay City FC gave the Orlando Pride all they could handle in their recent match. But the Pride gave it right back for 90 minutes and still notched a win., 1-0. They are the only team to shut out Bay City twice this season.
Standing in the eighth spot in NWSL, Bay City is still no pushover. Even for first place Orlando Pride in their greatest season yet.
Bay City couldn’t have played it more evenly. They matched Orlando perfectly – 13 shots apiece, with both squads having half their shots on target. It was a grueling battle almost to the end of regulation.
But Bay City played their best in the first half. They came into the match with an unbeaten run of three games. They fought hard and kept Orlando from scoring in the first half for only the sixth time this season.
Bay City goalkeeper Katelyn Rowland made nine saves against Orlando earlier this season. She made six saves in this latest match. Then both teams started increasing their chances late in the game. But the Orlando Pride made good on one of theirs.
Bay City forward Racheal Kundananji led the team in shots with four, winning three tackles, executing four dribbles, and creating three of the squad’s chances. Then in the 79th minute midfielder Maddie Moreau crossed to Dorian Bailey for the go-ahead score near the left-side of the post.
But Orlando goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse focused on the ball and got her left foot out to stop the score.
From that moment, Bay City got ready to accept a point for a draw. But they forgot that Carson Pickett returned to the Orlando Pride for the team’s greatest season yet. And she was on the pitch.
The Orlando defender sent an 83rd-minute cross to striker Barbara Banda. She caught the cross between two Bay defenders, directing it with a header into the net to ensure the 15th victory of the season for the Orlando Pride.
The victory means Anna Moorhouse becomes the all-time leader of the NWSL with 12 clean sheets in a season. Banda has tied Marta’s single-season club scoring record – set in 2017 – with her 13th goal of the year.
Barbara Banda will set a new record before this season ends. And that won’t be the only record set by this team.