Pride and Pressuring
Orlando’s game plan leading to their stellar run of play is not a secret. It is, as characterized by Gotham Head Coach Freya Coombe, quite “direct.”
The Pride is not a team that patiently develops from the back or even through the midfield. Instead, they’re looking for long balls to spring their front line into space and attack the goal before opponents get to bunker down. Long balls into the attacking third are, of course, a foundational part of soccer tactics. However, reliance on them requires speedy and skillful forwards to be a viable game plan.
No one would argue, though, that Orlando’s frontline of Marta, Alex Morgan, and Sydney Leroux fit that description. And the dividends the strategy has paid are not just in the team’s place in the table but also Morgan’s (1st) and Leroux’s (T-3rd) amongst NWSL’s top scorers.
No doubt that Gotham’s defense had a formidable task, but they were expected to match up well. A team doesn’t lead the league in the fewest goals conceded by accident (maybe don’t check Gotham’s xG Against).
Gotham didn’t shy away from the Pride’s in-your-face play and often sought to challenge them outside of the box. In this play, CB Gina Lewandowski and GK Kailen Sheridan step up to shut down any Leroux run after a Marta longball.
Pride and Pressuring
Orlando’s game plan leading to their stellar run of play is not a secret. It is, as characterized by Gotham Head Coach Freya Coombe, quite “direct.”
The Pride is not a team that patiently develops from the back or even through the midfield. Instead, they’re looking for long balls to spring their front line into space and attack the goal before opponents get to bunker down. Long balls into the attacking third are, of course, a foundational part of soccer tactics. However, reliance on them requires speedy and skillful forwards to be a viable game plan.
No one would argue, though, that Orlando’s frontline of Marta, Alex Morgan, and Sydney Leroux fit that description. And the dividends the strategy has paid are not just in the team’s place in the table but also Morgan’s (1st) and Leroux’s (T-3rd) amongst NWSL’s top scorers.
No doubt that Gotham’s defense had a formidable task, but they were expected to match up well. A team doesn’t lead the league in the fewest goals conceded by accident (maybe don’t check Gotham’s xG Against).
Gotham didn’t shy away from the Pride’s in-your-face play and often sought to challenge them outside of the box. In this play, CB Gina Lewandowski and GK Kailen Sheridan step up to shut down any Leroux run after a Marta longball.
Orlando’s directness is also in their pressing, especially their frontline’s ability to pressure opposing defenses into giveaways.
Unfortunately, Gotham didn’t respond as well to the Pride press. While not frequent, the spare moments NJ/NY lacked composure on the ball lead to some of Orlando’s best chances. A bad first touch by Cudjoe 36 minutes in was read very well by Morgan, who did not register her finish on target despite only having Sheridan beat.
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