
Gary Gibson
Producer
Sunday, October 20, 2024
The NWSL's powerhouse, Orlando Pride, will face off against the reigning champions, Gotham FC, in a highly anticipated matchup. This clash promises to be a thrilling spectacle. They face off 5PM at Red Bull Arena in Harrison NJ.
3 Things to Watch For:
Orlando's broken Streak: The Pride have been on an incredible run, remaining undefeated throughout nearly the entire season. Orlando is a team that doesn’t usually rotate their starters. They decided to do just that away at Portland who is playing for their playoff lives and were defeated 2-0. They dumped their starters on the field late to get back into it but Portland prevailed. The question is, now that they have faced adversity, how do they respond?
Gotham's Championship Pedigree: On the other side Gotham is known for mixing up their 11. Partially because of schedule congestion and as an example, losing 6 players to the Olympics team. But Gotham has been breaking team records. This is their best season in club history despite the challenges. As the defending champions, Gotham FC knows what it takes to win in the big moments. Their experience and resilience will be crucial in this matchup. They'll be looking to exploit Orlando's desire to get back to winning ways and use their championship pedigree to secure a victory.
Speaking of missing pieces and rotation. Gotham will be without team MVP candidate Emily Sonnet (yellow card accumulation) and head coach Juan Carlos Amoros (red card).
Listed as out: Sonnet (cards), Davidson (knee), Silva (knee), Dunn (excused).
Matchups and Battles: Several key players from both teams will be closely watched. Orlando's Barbara Banda has been in top form, while Gotham's Esther looks to be inevitable. The individual battles between these players could ultimately decide the outcome of the match. Martin was missing from last game’s 4-4 draw with Tigres. Marta is the orchestrator of Orlando’s attacking front. Martin can’t lose sight of her.
What will Gotham’s center back pairing be? Could it be Hiatt and Lopez? How will they handle a multi pronged attack with Watt and Banda?
This match promises to be a thrilling contest between two of the best teams in the NWSL. Fans can expect a high-intensity game filled with skill, strategy, and plenty of excitement.
This is Kelley O’hara’s retirement celebration match and the last home game of the regular season. Be there. Be Loud!
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