KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Barbra Banda scored within the thirty seventh minute to offer the Orlando Pleasure their first Nationwide Girls’s Soccer League championship with a 1-0 victory over the Washington Spirit on Saturday night time.
Banda dribbled into the fitting facet of the field and made a transfer previous a defender earlier than kicking the ball on the bottom together with her left foot and previous the goalkeeper. She grew to become the primary participant within the NWSL to attain in every spherical of the playoffs.
The Pleasure’s Angelina was almost referred to as for a push earlier than passing it to Banda, however the VAR decided that the play was honest.
The Spirit (20-7-2) managed the sport and outshot the Pleasure 25-9, had two extra pictures on objective and held onto possession 58% of the time. Rosemonde Kouassi had Washington’s finest likelihood within the 47 minute when she headed a ball from about 10 yards away.
Orlando’s win gave Brazilian star Marta her first NWSL title.
High-seed Orlando (21-6-2) went unbeaten in its first 23 matches, a league document. They beat the Kansas Metropolis Present within the semifinals earlier than hoisting the trophy at CPKC Stadium, their dwelling discipline.
Orlando is the primary workforce since 2019 to win the Defend and the title in the identical yr.
Washington had gained its final 5 playoff video games when trailing on the half, however that streak was damaged with this loss.
