Orlando Pride will look to keep their travel plan and form in sync as they head to Los Angeles to face Angel City FC on Thursday night. After earning a third straight draw, the Pride are 8-4-4 with 28 points and will search for a victory away from home.
Orlando comes into the matchup with a favorable history against Angel City. The Pride own a 4-1-2 all-time record against the West Coast squad and have won all three of their road meetings with Angel City. Earlier this season at Inter&Co Stadium, Orlando edged Angel City 3-2, with Marta and Barbra Banda on the scoresheet. However, Banda will not be part of the squad for the near future after sustaining a leg injury against Kansas City.
Without Banda, Orlando’s attack must retool. Marta is expected to shoulder a larger role, while youngsters Ally Watt and Prisca Chilufya will be asked to pick up some of the goal-scoring load. The midseason form and leadership from Marta give the Pride reason to believe they can still threaten even without Banda’s pace and power.
Angel City, by comparison, has slumped to a winless run that spans eight matches and sits 12th in the standings at 4-7-5 for 17 points. Despite the slide, the club has dangerous weapons in Riley Tiernan (7 goals, 1 assist) and Alyssa Thompson (5 goals, 2 assists) who can make defenses pay if they’re caught on the wrong side of a counter. Angel City’s scoring has cooled of late, with just two goals in their last five games, while Orlando’s defense continues to be one of the league’s stingiest, allowing 12 goals over 26 games.
The Pride also got a lift with Rafaelle returning to Orlando’s starting lineup in Kansas City. Her presence is expected to help neutralize Angel City’s attackers and stabilize the back line during what could be a challenging environment on the road.
What to watch for
– How Orlando adapts offensively without Banda and whether Watt, Chilufya, or Marta can generate clear chances against a defensively solid Angel City side.
– Rafaelle’s impact at center back and how the defense handles Angel City’s threat from Tiernan and Thompson.
– The travel factor and back-to-back road games, testing Orlando’s depth and rotation.
Outlook
Despite the setback of Banda’s injury, Orlando has shown they can win on the road against Angel City and have the defensive form to frustrate opponents. If they can convert chances and keep Angel City’s top threats in check, the Pride have a solid chance to add three points on Thursday night and reinforce their strong run on the road against a struggling but capable opponent.
Notes for editors
– This match continues Orlando’s pattern of resilience and strategic adjustments midseason, with Marta likely to step up as the primary playmaker in Banda’s absence.
– Emphasize Orlando’s road success versus Angel City and the defensive solidity that has become a hallmark of Seb Hines’s squad.
Summary
Orlando Pride look to extend their road success against Angel City FC despite Banda’s injury, leaning on Marta’s leadership and Rafaelle’s defensive return to push for victory in Los Angeles. A positive result would maintain Orlando’s strong position in the standings and keep their recent form intact.