Wheels fall off in league-leading Orlando's rout of Utah Royals
Marta and Barbra Banda each had a brace as the Orlando Pride handed the Utah Royals their worst defeat since relaunching in the NWSL, 6-0 at Inter & Co Stadium in Orlando, Florida.
The wheels fell off for Utah Royals FC in their trip to Central Florida.
Marta and Barbra Banda each had a brace as the Orlando Pride handed the Utah Royals their worst defeat since relaunching in the NWSL, 6-0 at Inter & Co Stadium in Orlando, Florida.
Summer Yates and Ally Watt each added a goal for the Pride, which improved to a league-best 10-0-5 with 35 points on the season. Utah dropped to 2-12-1 on the year.
It’s the most goals allowed in Royals history, and the most goals scored by the Pride, which joined the NWSL for the 2016 season.
“We scored the goals that we didn’t score in the last two games,” said Marta, the 38-year-old Brazilian wonder who again alluded that she didn’t know how much longer she would be playing. “It was an amazing night. This team enjoyed this one. This team deserved this, because we worked so hard for it.”
The Pride instituted their will, dominating possession with 63% on the match. But it was even worse against an Utah side that cleared tinkered with a starting lineup, reverting to a 3-5-2 formation and playing conservatively early.
Banda made the Royals pay early, scoring her fourth header goal of the season. After Marta and Yates made it 3-0 early in the second half, the Pride refused to let up.
“It was an absolute dagger to get that third goal scored on us just two minutes after halftime,” Royals coach Amy Rodriguez said. “I felt pretty positive … but then we dropped that third goal, quick play, unaware, and again our backs were to the wall.
“I really felt like that was the dagger, and once goals 4-5-6 came together, that’s when the team just needs to hold tight, stop the bleeding, and take momentum out of the game. We just kept giving it away, and they were right back down our throats.”
With her second goal, Banda became the fastest player in league history to 10 goals, a perfect 10 markers in her first 10 appearances.
Orlando out-shot the Royals 28-11, held Utah to a 21-9 shots-on-goal advantage, and forced Mandy Haught into six saves and a back line to punt 34 clearances.
“We put ourselves in a really bad spot tonight,” Rodriguez said, “and I think it started with some things that we can take responsibility for.”