ORLANDO, Fla. – The Orlando Pride returned from the team’s two-week break Saturday night with a 1-1 draw against the Chicago Red Stars at Orlando City Stadium.
Forward Alex Morgan scored her second goal of the season during the first half of the game.
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Although not a win, the draw marked the first time the Pride had brought home a point while playing the Red Stars, who had won each of the four previous meetings between the teams by one goal.
"We probably should've had the game over by halftime. We dominated the game and played really well in the first half. We hit the woodwork twice. Then we hit a real flat spell in the second half,” Head Coach Tom Sermanni said. “[Chicago] are always a very dangerous team. There was a time, I think, where we could've had the game won, and there was a time where we could've had the game lost. I give a great deal of credit to our players and the way that we finished the game at the end. That last five to 10 minutes we got a second wind and a second burst of energy; we managed to hit the woodwork again. Disappointed we didn't get three points, but I would have been extremely disappointed if we didn't get something out of the game."
Seven players returned Friday from the Tournament of Nations, a three-game, eight-day tournament hosted by U.S. Soccer.
Maddy Evans, Chioma Ubogagu, Steph Catley and Brazilian defender Monica each played all 270 minutes for their respective teams in the tournament, but did not dress for Saturday’s home game. Morgan and Ali Krieger, who were called in for the U.S. Women’s National Team, were the only two from the tournament to start Saturday.
Morgan gave the Pride its first-ever lead against the Red Stars in the 24th minute and they continued to control the game through the first 45 minutes.
Orlando saw numerous other opportunities to score in the first half of the game, but none were successful.
With a tied score of 1-1, the Pride ended the home-and-home series against Chicago in a draw.
The Orlando Pride will take on the Washington Spirit on Tuesday at Orlando City Stadium.