Orlando Pride 2, Chicago Red Stars 3
More internationals returned to the NWSL on Sunday and left their mark, as Sam Kerr, Marta, and Camila all played their first game after the World Cup and all were involved in goals.
Kerr wasted no time in picking up where she left off, and she ended the Red Stars’ four-game scoring streak in the seventh minute when she pounced on a soft back pass and rounded Haley Kopmeyer to open scoring.
.@samkerr1 wastes NO time getting back in the swing of things and @chiredstarsPR are in the lead. #ORLvCHI pic.twitter.com/JvKEm2DlKF
— NWSL (@NWSL) June 30, 2019
However, in the 22nd minute, Chioma Ubogagu paid the favor right back. Emily Boyd took a heavy touch inside Chicago’s box, and Ubogagu was there to secure the loose ball and equalize.
If you're gonna give it up to @ChiAlreadyKnow expect to be punished for it. #ORLvCHI pic.twitter.com/6edevxnGHb
— NWSL (@NWSL) June 30, 2019
Not to be outdone, Kerr doubled her tally in first-half stoppage time. Yuki Nagasato got her head on the end of a goal kick and launched it forward for Kerr, who outran the Pride backline and finished in the back of the net.
Two easy, @samkerr1. #ORLvCHI pic.twitter.com/tUbsR8cXYM
— NWSL (@NWSL) June 30, 2019
In the second half, as Orlando continued to struggle to maintain possession, it started off as more of the same. In the 55th minute, Kerr received the ball from Michelle Vasconcelos after Orlando turned it over in midfield. She turned, outran the Pride backline, and launched the ball past Kopmeyer for her third of the night.
? SAM KERR HAT-TRICK ALERT ?#ORLvCHI pic.twitter.com/MGmkcwjYg9
— NWSL (@NWSL) June 30, 2019
Things took an interesting turn in the 78th minute when Camila was tripped up in the box by Casey Short and Brooke Elby, and the referee immediately pointed to the spot. Marta stepped up and buried the penalty kick, moving Orlando to within one.
Camila hacked down in the box and it's Marta to step up and convert the PK to tighten up this game. #ORLvCHI pic.twitter.com/7LkwHI7zds
— NWSL (@NWSL) June 30, 2019
From there it was nearly all Orlando as they threw numbers forward, searching for an equalizer. But it wasn’t meant to be. Orlando (1-8-2) remains in eighth place and hosts Washington next Saturday. Chicago (4-4-2) moves up to sixth and hosts Sky Blue that same day.
Goal Summary
- Chicago Red Stars (Sam Kerr, 7’)
- Orlando Pride (Chioma Ubogagu, 22’)
- Chicago Red Stars (Sam Kerr, 45+2’)
- Chicago Red Stars (Sam Kerr, 55’)
- Orlando Pride (Marta, 79’)
– Chelsey Bush
