Match Recap: Seattle Reign FC Falls by a Goal Against Orlando
The Reign fell 3-2 against the Orlando Pride, coming up just short of salvaging a point in front of a home crowd. After going down 2-1 in the first half, the Reign tied the match up early in the second half. Before the final whistle, the Reign conceded one more goal and went down to 10 players after forward Bethany Balcer was issued a second yellow card and sent off the field.
Though the Reign recorded two shots within the first three minutes of the match, Orlando scored the opening goal in the ninth minute. From outside of the box, defender Emily Sams struck the ball into the right corner of the net.
Orlando doubled their lead less than 10 minutes later, when forward Adriana crossed the ball to the back post, where forward Barbra Banda was waiting to head it into the back of the net.
As the half was coming to a close, the Reign pulled a goal back. Midfielder Ji So-Yun beat Orlando’s defense as she cut the ball to the top of the box, where midfielder Angharad James-Turner solidly struck the ball, directing it into the back of the net.
After halftime, Seattle started the match on the front foot. The home side found an equalizer just three minutes into the half. From the midfield, veteran Jess Fishlock hit a perfectly placed long ball into the path of Balcer. Balcer took one touch to carry the ball into the box and beat Orlando’s defense and goalkeeper as she struck the ball into the back of the net.
Orlando found the game winning goal in the 58th minute of the match. A deflected corner kick fell to the feet of Banda at the six-yard box and the forward struck the ball into the back of the net with power.
In the 83rd minute, Balcer was issued her second yellow card of the match for dissent and the Reign went down to 10 players through the end of the match. The Reign managed four shots before the end of the half, but it wasn’t enough to take down Orlando.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
NEW STARTING XI: Through all 10 games this season, the Reign have not listed a replicated starting XI as the club continues to utilize the depth of the squad. Defender Sofia Huerta is the only player to start in all 10 games and to play every minute this season for a total of 900 minutes.
BETHANY BALCER: Forward Bethany Balcer scored in the 48th minute to tie the game, 2-2. The goal is Balcer’s fourth of the season, which is tied for fifth in the league through Week 9. Balcer finished the match with two shots and a team-leading seven duels won.
Balcer now has 32 goals in regular season play all-time, tied with Kim Little for the third-most goals in club history.
JESS FISHLOCK: Midfielder Jess Fishlock connected with Bethany Balcer in the 48th minute to tie the game, 2-2. The midfielder now has two assists this season, the second-most assists on the team. Fishlock finished the match with one assist, three shots and three chances created.
Fishlock’s assist set a new club record for most assists in Reign FC history (27). The veteran also has the most assists for a single club among all NWSL players all-time.
ANGHARAD JAMES-TURNER: Midfielder Angharad James-Turner scored in stoppage time of the first half, marking her first goal with the Reign and second of her NWSL career. James-Turner finished the match with three shots and two tackles won.
JI SO-YUN: Midfielder Ji So-Yun assisted the Reign’s first goal of the match in stoppage time of the first half when she connected with midfielder Angharad James-Turner.
Ji now has three assists this season, the most assists on the team and is tied for the sixth-most assists in the NWSL.
PHOEBE McCLERNON: Defender Phoebe McClernon made her 50th regular season appearance today against the Pride. Since entering the league in 2021, McClernon played in 29 games with the Reign and 21 games with the Pride.
McClernon finished the match with six duels won and four tackles won.
SERIES: The loss brings the all-time series to 7W-3L-7D between the Reign and the Pride.
UP NEXT: Seattle Reign FC travels to Washington, D.C. to take on the Washington Spirit. Fans can tune in on KING5+ or KONG in the Seattle area, in addition to NWSL+.
MATCH SUMMARY
2024 NWSL Regular Season
Seattle Reign FC 2 – 3 Orlando Pride
Date/Time: Sunday, May 19, 3:00 p.m. PT
Location: Lumen Field, Seattle Washington
Weather: 63, partly sunny
Scoring Summary
SEA: James-Turner – 45+5', Balcer – 48'
ORL: Sams – 9', Banda – 18', 58’
Discipline
SEA: Balcer (Caution – 45+1’, Second yellow – 83'), Cook (Caution – 76')
ORL: Doyle (Caution – 90+4’), Allen (Caution – 90+8’)
Lineups
SEA: GK Ivory, D Huerta, D Barnes (c) (Holmes 46’), D Cook, D McClernon, M Fishlock, M Van der Jagt (Latsko 67’), M Ji (Weinert 87’), M James-Turner (Athens 83’) F Balcer, F King (Adames 83’)
Unused substitutes: GK Perez, D Brown, D Woodham, M Stanton
Total Shots: 15 (Three tied with – 13
Shots on Goal: 6 (Balcer, James-Turner – 2)
Fouls: 14 (Three tied with– 3)
Offsides: 2
Corner Kicks: 2
Saves: 1 (Ivory – 1)
ORL: GK Moorhouse, D McCutheon, D Sams, D Souza, D Strom, M Abello, M Lemos (Watt 78’), M Yates (Doyle 46’), F Adriana (Dyke 63’), F Banda (Allen 90+2’), F Marta (c) (Martinez 78’)
Unused substitutes: GK Crone, M Duljan, F Kerr, D Lawrence
Total Shots: 8 (Banda, Marta 3)
Shots on Goal: 4 (Banda– 2)
Fouls: 8 (Eight tied with – 1)
Offsides: 1
Corner Kicks: 4
Saves: 4 (Moorhouse – 4)
Referee: Elijio Arreguin
Assistant Referee 1: Seth Martin
Assistant Referee 2: Salma Perez
4th Official: Iryna Petrunok
VAR: Shawn Tehini
AVAR: Kaili Terry