Orlando Pride suffer 6-0 thrashing at Portland
For as much as Orlando interim coach Seb Hines was hoping to see progress on Sunday afternoon at Providence Park, his Pride fell short again.
Behind Sophia Smith’s two goals, the host Portland Thorns powered to a 6-0 victory for the Pride’s worst loss of the season after suffering a 5-0 defeat in Houston on June 3.
“Disappointing. I thought we got beat by a better team today,” Hines said. “Not only because they were better in possession but the fundamentals. The ability for poise under pressure, the right moments, their willingness to run and battle and compete, and with their creativity, they created multiple chances.”
The loss extended Orlando’s winless run to five games, and it was the third consecutive game the Pride were shut out.
The Pride (2-2-5, 8 points) also have conceded 18 goals during their 5-game winless run — 12 of which have come in the last three games.
Hina Sugita opened the scoring in the 21st minute after finishing off a cross from Janine Beckie.
Becky Sauerbrunn made it 2-0 in the 25th minute after pouncing on a rebound from goalkeeper Erin McLeod off a free kick.
In the second half, the Thorns (4-4-1, 16 points) unleashed four more goals, starting with Smith blasting a shot from outside the box to beat McLeod to make it 3-0 in the 63rd minute.
“It’s confidence. Confidence plays a major factor in performance,” Hines said. “When you’re confident, you see things a little bit quicker. You feel like, ‘Oh, I can play it through that line and get it to a midfielder,’ and start seeing those pitches.”
“Confidence makes you go and get into the box and get on the end of a cross,” he added. “And I think right now, in the position that we’re in, we’re just we’re lacking that element. We’re lacking that little bit of confidence.”
In the 79th minute, an unmarked Natalia Kuikka was spotted by Olivia Moultrie for a pass to strike from close for Portland’s fourth goal.
Smith sealed her double in the 86th minute after striking again from outside the box to make it 5-0.
Taylor Porter capped the scoring in stoppage time after she was left unmarked on a free kick.
Sydney Leroux missed Sunday’s game because of a right ankle injury.
The Pride now go into an international break before returning to action against Racing Louisville on July 3 in a match to be played at Daytona International Speedway.
