Oct 6, 2024; Orlando, Florida, USA; Orlando Pleasure ahead Marta (10) is mobbed by teammates after scoring within the second half in opposition to the Washington Spirit at Inter&Co Stadium. Necessary Credit score: Mike Watters-Imagn Photographs Marta scored on a second-half penalty kick to interrupt a scoreless tie and the Orlando Pleasure remained undefeated by profitable 2-0 in a showdown Sunday night time with the visiting Washington Spirit and clinching the very best report within the NWSL.
An personal objective accounted for the opposite tally. Pleasure goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse made 5 saves for her thirteenth clear sheet of the season.
The Pleasure (17-0-6, 57 factors), enjoying for the primary time since posting a 4-0-1 report in September, have gained three straight matches. They’ve three regular-season matches remaining.
The Spirit (15-6-2, 47 factors) misplaced for the second time of their previous three matches. Washington entered the match as the one staff within the league nonetheless able to catching the Pleasure, although the Spirit is in an in depth competitors with NJ/NY Gotham FC and Kansas Metropolis Present for the second place within the standings.
Washington was known as for 22 fouls in comparison with six on Orlando.
Marta’s eighth objective of the season got here when she transformed the penalty kick within the 56th minute by sending the ball into the underside left nook of the objective. That adopted a foul within the penalty space on Washington’s Tara McKeown.
Marta has scored in back-to-back matches for the primary time this season, although she had a two-goal match in June.
The personal objective got here within the 73rd minute when the ball went within the internet off McKeown. It got here as Adriana made a powerful transfer with the ball into the field and unleashed a shot, with McKeown’s try to dam the shot as an alternative of redirecting the ball into the web.
The primary half was comparatively even in most classes, although 11 of the 14 fouls known as within the opening 45 minutes had been known as in opposition to the Spirit.
The Pleasure gained 3-2 on the highway in opposition to Washington on April 26 of their first assembly of the season.
–Discipline Degree Media