ORLANDO, Fla. (Aug. 14, 2021) - Orlando Pride (5-4-6, 21 points) earned another important point at home, drawing 1-1 against first-place Portland Thorns FC (9-3-2, 29 points). Jodie Taylor scored yet again for the Pride, notching her second goal in as many matches, while Courtney Petersen provided her second assist of the 2021 NWSL regular season.
The draw stands as the third match in a row under interim Head Coach Becky Burleigh that Orlando has taken points, marking a three-game unbeaten run to start her Pride tenure. Taking the lead in the 13th minute, the Pride remain undefeated in 2021 when leading a match at the 15th minute.
The Pride hit the road next on Sunday, Aug. 22, set to take on the Washington Spirit at Audi Field. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. ET and will be nationally televised on CBS Sports Network.
Orlando Pride Interim Head Coach Becky Burleigh:
“I think it was a really tight match, you have to give props to Portland. That was a pretty good header, she was marked well by Amy [Turner], but she still managed to get the header off and score, so impressive by Simone Charley. I think it’s a good thing that we’re disappointed that we ended with a tie with a first-place team. I think our team felt that there was a big change when our reserves came on and they were game changers. That was huge, to see people come on and make a difference like that, and I think that’s something that we’ve been able to see even in the last few games. It’s just great to see that the people who aren’t starting are able to come on and make such a big difference for us.”
Scoring Recap:
13’ Jodie Taylor (Courtney Petersen) - ORL 1, POR 0
The hosts struck early, with Courtney Petersen playing in a long cross to Jodie Taylor from the left wing. Taylor jumped up between a pair of defenders and headed the ball into the right corner of the net, notching her second goal in as many games and giving the Pride the lead at home.
78’ Simone Charley (Meghan Klingenberg) - POR 1, ORL 1
The visitors leveled late in the match off a goal from Simone Charley. Charley got on the end of a Meghan Klingenberg cross deep in the box, and popped the ball over Pride goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris into the left side of the net.
Match Notes:
- Jodie Taylor’s opening goal in the match marks her second in as many games. Taylor last scored in the Pride’s 2-0 victory at the Chicago Red Stars on Aug. 8.
- Providing the assist on Taylor’s goal, Petersen recorded her second helper of the 2021 NWSL regular season. She earned her first in the Pride’s 1-0 win over Kansas City on May 30.
- The draw stands as the third match in a row under interim Head Coach Becky Burleigh that Orlando has taken points, marking a three-game unbeaten run to start her Pride tenure.
- With the start in tonight’s match, Ali Krieger made her 70th regular-season appearance for the Pride. The mark takes her past former player Kristen Edmonds for third all-time in Club history.
- Before the match, the Club honored its four players returning from the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. Marta (Brazil), Alex Morgan (USA), Ali Riley (New Zealand) and gold medalist Erin McCleod (Canada) were presented with scarves and their customized, Tokyo Collection Ad Astra kits.
Next Match: The Pride head out on the road next Sunday, Aug. 22, set to take on the Washington Spirit at Audi Field. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. ET with the match scheduled to be nationally televised on CBS Sports Network.
Scoring Summary:
ORL - Jodie Taylor (Courtney Petersen) 13’
POR - Simone Charley (Meghan Klingenberg) 78’
Misconduct Summary:
ORL - Ali Riley (Yellow Card) 37’
ORL - Marta (Yellow Card) 56’
ORL - Phoebe McClernon (Yellow Card) 67’
POR - Marisa Everett (Yellow Card) 86’
ORL - Gunny Jónsdóttir (Yellow Card) 89’
ORL - Ali Krieger (Yellow Card) 90+3’
Lineups/Substitutions:
Orlando Pride - GK Ashlyn Harris ©; D Ali Riley (Taylor Kornieck 88’), Ali Krieger, Amy Turner, Phoebe McClernon (Toni Pressley 88’); M Gunny Jónsdóttir, Marisa Viggiano (Meggie Dougherty-Howard 60’), Courtney Petersen; F Sydney Leroux, Jodie Taylor (Erika Tymrak 82’), Marta
Substitutes Not Used: GK Brittany Wilson; D Ally Haran; M Chelsee Washington; F Abi Kim, Crystal Thomas
Portland Thorns FC - GK Bella Bixby; D Natalia Kuikka, Emily Menges ©, Kelli Hubly, Meghan Klingenberg (Madison Pogarch 82’); M Olivia Moultrie (Christen Westphal 82’), Angela Salem (Taylor Porter 90+3’), Rocky Rodriguez; F Sophia Smith, Marisa Everett, Simone Charley
Substitutes Not Used: GK Shelby Hogan; D Hannah Betfort, Meaghan Nally; M Tyler Lussi; F Raisa Strom-Okimoto, Morgan Weaver
Details of the Game:
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Weather: Cloudy
Date: Aug. 14, 2021
Attendance: 4,209
Stats Summary: ORL / POR
Possession: 46.3% / 53.7%
Shots: 8 / 17
Shots on Goal: 3 / 4
Saves: 3 / 2
Corner Kicks: 2 / 3
Fouls: 14 / 11
Offside: 0 / 3
Officials:
REF: Matthew Franz
AR1: Jennifer Garner
AR2: Melissa Gonzalez
4TH: Alejo Calume
Heineken Star of the Match: Jodie Taylor
