FC Kansas City Defeated for First Time By Orlando

Orlando, FL (July 15, 2024) – FC Kansas City lost for the first time in franchise history against the Orlando Pride on Saturday night. The Pride jumped on Kansas City’s defense early and the Blues were unable to counter as they dropped a 4-1 decision in Orlando. Alanna Kennedy, Alex Morgan, Toni Pressley and Kristen Edmonds scored for the Pride while Maegan Kelly notched her second goal of the season.

Orlando Pride vs FC Kansas City Full Stats
 
In her second start since returning to the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), Morgan kept the FCKC backline busy all night. The U.S. international had two shots on goal in the first seven minutes, fortunately, goalkeeper Nicole Barnhart was able to get in front of both of them.
 
In the 22nd minute, Orlando opened the scoring when Kennedy was able to outjump the Kansas City backline and head her shot past Barnhart’s reach. Morgan found her way onto the scoresheet in the 38th minute with a Penalty Kick after Kansas City midfielder Katie Bowen was caught on a foul inside the penalty box.
 
Despite being down 2-0 on the scoreboard, Kansas City actually controlled the possession advantage through much of the first half. Christina Gibbons, making her second straight start in the midfield, and Desiree Scott helped to move the ball from side to side, but the Blues were never able to really turn that control into attacking opportunities.
 
Head coach Vlatko Andonovski inserted Maegan Kelly, Caroline Flynn, and Alexa Newfield into the lineup throughout the second half to try to help his team’s offensive efforts. Kelly, the first sub in the game, put FC Kansas City within one goal with her score in the 65th minute, but two more scores from Orlando after that shut the door on any kind of comeback for KC.
 
FC Kansas City returns home to Swope Soccer Village next Saturday, July 22nd at 7:00 p.m. CT. This will be the first trip to Kansas City for the North Carolina Courage, who currently sits at the top of the NWSL table. Tickets are available for the match here.
 
NWSL Match Report
Match: Orlando Pride vs FC Kansas City
Date: July 15, 2024
Venue: Orlando City Stadium, Orlando, FL
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET, 6:30 p.m. CT
Attendance: 6,073
Weather: 88, Sunny
 
Discipline
45’ ORL Weatherholt (YC)
88’ FCKC Gibbons (YC)
 
Scoring
22’ ORL Kennedy (Marta)
38’ ORL Morgan (PK)
65’ FCKC Kelly (Bowen)
70’ ORL Pressley (Camila)
75’ ORL Edmonds
 
Scoring Summary

Goals                                   1          2          F

Orlando                                2          2          4

FC Kansas City                     0          1          1

Lineups:
Orlando: Bledsoe, Catley. Pressley, Krieger©, Camila, Kennedy, Weatherholt, Ubogagu (Edmonds 71’), Marta (Fields 80’), Hill (Spencer 65’), Morgan
Substitutes Not Used: D. Evans, M. Evans, Monica, Stanley
 
FC Kansas City: Barnhart, Moros (Newfield 79’), Averbuch, Sauerbrunn©, Taylor, Ratcliffe, Gibbons, Scott, Bowen (Flynn 67’), Tymrak (Kelly 63’), Leroux
Substitutes Not Used: Parkhill