By Official Florida FC
Sunday’s home opener was spoiled by a smash-and-grab goal from Katie Johnson.
Angel City walked out of Exploria Stadium with a 2-1 win.
The visitors could have won the game at the death earlier in the match, but Claire Emslie’s 89th minute penalty was saved. It made the loss all the more devastating.
“You want to win your games at home and, at minimum, you want to take a point away,” Pride manager Seb Hines said afterward. “To concede in the manner that we did right at the end is frustrating and disappointing.”
The match affirmed that Angel City forward Alyssa Thompson is going to be a problem for the NWSL for years to come. Thompson used her pace to get behind Pride defender Emily Madril to draw a first half penalty kick.
Emslie converted in the 39th to give the visitors the lead.
Orlando’s Messiah Bright had a chance to equalize in the first half, but missed the frame of the goal from eight yards away following a rebound that thumped the goalpost and bounced to her feet.
Bright made amends when she used her quick feet and strength to hold off two Angel City defenders and equalize in the 51st minute. Madril won a ball off Thompson’s feet at midfield to create the Pride’s first goal of 2023.
The Pride (0-2) will search for their first points of the season on April 15 at home against Gotham FC.
