BRIDGEVIEW, Il – The Orlando Pride (5-4-5, 20 points) battled the Chicago Stars (6-6-2, 20 points) to a 2-0 victory at Seat Geek Stadium near Chicago on Sunday.
The stars started off the match with high pressure, taking 14 shots in the match and making 37 crosses compared to Orlando’s 8.
In the 15th minute, the Pride’s Jodie Taylor managed to get behind the Chicago line on a deft lob pass from Ali Krieger in the bow. Taylor took a shot with her right foot tfor the first score of the game. With the goal, Taylor recorded her first goal as a member of the Pride on Sunday, which coincidentally came on the one-month anniversary of her signing with Orlando.
in the 89th minute, Erika Tymrak put a ball through to Sydney Leroux. Leroux booted the bay with her left foot to the bottom left corner of the goal to close out the game. It was Leroux’s 7th goal of the season, leading the league.
This was also the first victory for Interim Head Coach Becky Burliegh.
“We knew we had our hands full [tonight]. Chicago has been playing really, really well.” said Burliegh “They’ve been on quite a tear lately and they brought it to us, especially early we were under the gun. But I think we weathered that initial pressure from them and got a little more into our game plan. We’re fortunate to score two really nice goals and have a really great defensive team effort.”
The game also marked the return of Forward Marta and defender Ali Riley made their return to the lineup in the match, earning their first minutes since July 4 and July 9, respectively, after participating in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
The Pride welcome home their Olympians and return to the comforts of Exploria Stadium next week, set to host league-leading Portland Thorns FC on Saturday evening. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. ET
