Photo credit: Craig Mitchelldyer-Imagn Images

After securing the 2024 National Women’s Soccer League Shield on Sunday, the Orlando Pride were on a league record 24 games unbeaten, dating back to the final match of 2023. Five days later, the Portland Thorns handed the Shield winners their first defeat of the season – ending the impressive streak and their own winless skid – when they defeated the Pride 2-0 at Providence Park on Friday, October 11.

Orlando’s last defeat came over a year ago, on October 6, 2023, in Louisville. Since that loss, they had won 18 games, drawn six, outscored their opponents 43-13 and posted 14 shutouts.

Morgan Weaver struck early for the home side, putting Portland ahead in the 13th minute when she scored from a poorly defended set-piece. Christine Sinclair doubled the lead ten minutes into the second half from the top of the penalty area, in front of an enthusiastic crowd witnessing the final games of her professional career.

Prior to this victory, the Thorns had been winless in their last seven regular season games, tying their worst record from 2015, the only season in franchise history in which they did not make the playoffs.

Initially it looked like Portland were the underdogs in this match, but after winning the Shield, Orlando rested five of their best players and usual starters. This decision took into account that the team had to travel to Portland unusually early to avoid Hurricane Milton. Barbra Banda, Marta, Adriana, Emily Sams and Haley McCutcheon all started on the bench as part of head coach Seb Hines’ plan to keep his team healthy for the playoffs.

“With a quick turnaround coming to Portland, you know, also playing on artificial turf… we felt like this was a good opportunity to play against players who haven’t played significant minutes this season… and there were some good performances tonight,” Hines said. media after the loss. “There were some things where you could tell there was an element of rust, you know, that the team cohesion wasn’t quite there, but that’s OK. We will move on and come back next week.”

Banda, Marta, Adriana and Sams all eventually came in and influenced the match, but only after Portland had a two-goal lead.

You could argue that ending the undefeated streak before the playoffs takes the pressure off the Pride, but the team doesn’t see it that way.

“We want to win every game, no matter who is on the field representing this club,” Hines said.

“We haven’t lost for a long time. Yes, it’s disappointing. For example, there is no other word to describe it, but at the same time it is not a crisis. We are still in good shape going into the playoffs,” said Pride forward Ally Watt. “It’s a record that’s been broken. We set that record. That is a high standard. You just learn from the mistakes we made in this game and adapt them for the next game.”

Disappointment from the loss won’t stop Orlando from competing and playing to their strengths, but they will use it as a form of motivation going forward. Watt said the loss keeps them hungry, while Hines told his players to “let it sink in and make sure we don’t experience that feeling again at the end of the game.”

Despite losing for the first time this season, Orlando is still heavily favored to advance and win the NWSL Championship, guaranteeing him entry into the playoffs as the No. 1 overall seed.

For Portland, the result is huge because of their playoff push and morale. Questions arose about Portland’s problems and whether they could finish above the playoff line. Friday’s win gives them 31 points and some wiggle room, leaving them in 7th place in the standings, just six points above 9th place Racing Louisville, with the latter yet to play this weekend.

“I think it’s no surprise that the last few months have been very difficult for our team… and I think we’ve played well, especially in the last few games, and to still not get a result is just very annoying. – heartbreaking,” said Thorns midfielder Sam Coffey. “So to play like we did tonight against a team that hasn’t lost yet, and to get the result – it’s hard to put into words how proud I am of the group.”

The Thorns were without a number of key players of their own, without whom they would have struggled to win. Sophia Smith and Hina Sugita have not been in action since September 13, while Meghan Klingenberg last played on August 30. Olivia Wade-Katoa was placed on the season-ending injured list earlier in the day and young forward Reilyn Turner was also unavailable.

“We had to bring every ounce of focus and every ounce of energy into every game, no matter who was on the field. And I think we executed that better than we have all season tonight,” Coffey said.

A team that looked uncharacteristically disjointed and error-prone seemed to have found its flow and put in the kind of performances fans have come to expect in the Rose City. Coffey credits the team’s mentality for turning things around and getting the result at this crucial point in the season.

“I think when things don’t go the way you want, it’s easy to lose sight of the details. It’s easy to have a bad attitude. It’s easy to point fingers and deflect,” Coffey said. “But I just think our group, and especially our locker room, has done a really good job of just sticking together and keeping it positive… (we) are really conscious of keeping the atmosphere good and the mood to keep alive.

“So I really think this is a testament to that: just continuing to show up no matter how hard it gets, and not letting anything define us, and not letting anyone’s opinion of us keep us from what we know we can do.”