After trading goals all throughout the match, Orlando Pride found the winner against Sky Blue FC thanks to Rachel Hill. Orlando now sit in third in the National Women's Soccer League standings while Sky Blue are still without a win this season.
The first half sees four goals scored
It took Sydney Leroux all of two minutes to get the ball rolling in this match. Chioma Ubogagu's pass got by the Sky Blue backline and found an unmarked Leroux inside the penalty area. Leroux then settled the ball before scoring with her left foot and putting her team ahead. Sky Blue were not overwhelmed by this quick Orlando start and their found their own opener in the 16th minute. New signing Imani Dorsey stole the ball in midfield and then combined on the break with Savannah McCaskill. Dorsey's effort was saved by Ashlyn Harris but the rebound fell to McCaskill who slotted it home with her first touch.
Leroux was back it again in the 31st minute and put her team back in the driving seat. Christine Nairn picked out the striker with a great cross and Leroux finished with a diving header, scoring her fourth of the season. Once again, Sky Blue did not back down and Madison Tiernan brought them back level in the 37th minute. Katie Johnson gathered a throw-in and went for goal which Harris was once again able to stop but the rebound found Tiernan who finished well.
Substitutions change the game for Orlando
The second half followed the same pattern as the first half as both teams created opportunities for themselves. Both Harris and Kailen Sheridan were called upon to make saves and they did so for most of the second half. The tide turned in Orlando's favour when Marta came on in the 73rd minute, returning from an injury that kept her out for one match.
Marta got right back into the fray and forced Sheridan into action in the 77th minute, showing no signs of rust due to her injury layoff. The Brazilian was then the catalyst for Orlando's winner in the 83rd minute. After a winding run that put her past two defenders, Marta played the ball out wide to Alex Morgan. Morgan looked up and then picked out Rachel Hill who had made her way into the area. Hill then nodded the ball home for the game-winner and her