MATCH INFORMATION
Date: Sunday, June 26, 2016
Kickoff: 2 p.m. (Pacific)
Location: Camping World Stadium (Orlando, Fla.)
Forecast: Scattered thunderstorms, 93 degrees
Referee: Ekaterina Koroleva
Assistant Referees: Nick Uranga, Hayden Oscanoa
Fourth Official: Janessa Gunn
MATCHDAY PREVIEW
Facing a quick turnaround, Portland Thorns FC play their third game in the last 10 days as they square off against the Orlando Pride on Sunday, June 26, at Camping World Stadium.
Sunday’s match will Portland’s seventh road match in its first 11 games this season. No other team has played as many road games through the first half of the season. Thorns FC are unbeaten in six consecutive road matches - tied for the longest-road unbeaten streak in club history.
Portland and Orlando square off for the second, and final time during the regular season on Sunday, matching the team with the best road record in Thorns FC (2-0-4) and the best home record in the Pride (4-0-0).
LAST MATCH RECAP
Thorns FC extended their unbeaten streak to 10 games with a 2-0 win against the Chicago Red Stars on Wednesday at Providence Park. Forwards Christine Sinclair and Nadia Nadim both scored in the same match for a second straight game, tallying a pair of first-half goals, while midfielder Amandine Henry made her home debut and first start and also tallied her first career assist for the club. Sinclair scored Portland’s earliest goal in a game this season in the sixth minute of the match, pouncing a pass near the goal line and sending her shot into the back of the net. In the 25th minute, Thorns FC doubled their lead with a goal off a corner kick. Henry got on the end of Heath’s corner kick, sending a header towards the goal and Nadim was there to flick the ball into the back of the net. The goal was Nadim’s third of the season. Additionally, goalkeeper Michelle Betos registered a shutout, making three saves in the match.
SERIES HISTORY
Sunday’s match is just the second all-time meeting between the two clubs. Portland and Orlando met in Thorns FC’s 2016 season-opening match at Providence Park on April 18, which was also the first match in the history of the Pride. Orlando grabbed an early lead as defender Steph Catley scored off a free kick. Thorns FC battled back to tie the match heading into halftime as Dagny Brynjarsdottir converted a Tobin Heath cross nearly the penalty spot. Portland grabbed its first win of the season when Lindsey Horan scored in the 76th minute to give Thorns FC a 2-1 win. Additionally, Portland is 4-0-0 against expansion sides in their first season, posting a record of 3-0-0 at the Houston Dash in 2014.
SCOUTING ORLANDO
The Orlando Pride (5-5-0, 15pts) heads into Sunday’s match after claiming a 1-0 win against the Houston Dash on Thursday at Camping World Stadium in Orlando. Forward Jasmyne Spencer scored her first goal of the season for Orlando, converting from close range in the final moments of second-half stoppage time. With the goal, the Pride snapped a streak of three consecutive matches without a goal scored. Orlando has the best home record in the NWSL this season (4-0-0) and has allowed just one goal in those four matches. Five different players have scored goals for the Pride this season as they are led by U.S. Women’s National Team forward Alex Morgan, who has tallied two goals. Morgan currently ranks second in the league in shots (29) and shots on goal (15). U.S. Women’s National team goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris has started nine of Orlando’s 10 matches this season and leads the league with 38 saves, while recording four shutouts.