KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Barbra Banda’s goal was the winner to lift the Orlando Pride to their first NWSL Championship in a 1-0 victory over the Washington Spirit on Saturday at CPKC Stadium.
With the win, the Pride became the first team since 2019 to follow up winning the NWSL Shield (best regular season team) with the NWSL Championship, and the third time it has happened.
It also means the first NWSL Championship for six-year world player of the year Marta, 38, who has been with the Pride since 2017.
“I waited eight years for this moment,” said the player from Brazil during the presentation of the trophy. “(It’s) the most special because it’s my mom’s first time in America.”
He added after the match: “It’s an incredible moment. Playing in the championship final, taking this trophy home and being with my mother, it’s the best dream, I (can’t) believe it. … This moment, it’s special for me .
“This time gives me a lot of answers. I’ve been in Orlando for a long time and I’ve seen players come and go. We have ups and downs. Some seasons we’re OK but not good enough.
“I always ask myself what I’m looking for because I stay in Orlando. I’m not satisfied with all the other seasons. I feel like I don’t want to leave this place without doing something really big… Tonight I have all the answers.”
Banda broke the deadlock in the 37th minute when he latched on to a ball played by midfielder Angelina. Banda cut to her left foot and got away from Spirit defender Esme Morgan to fire a left-footed shot that beat Spirit goalkeeper Aubrey Kingsbury.
The goal was Banda’s fourth straight playoff appearance, setting a new NWSL single postseason record, and earning the Championship MVP award. He also scored in all three playoff games this postseason, a new league record.
“It was a great moment for me,” Banda said. “As the ball came to me, I didn’t hesitate. I always wanted to take out the defenders, so I saw the opportunity and I had to put the ball in the back of the net. I saw the position of the goalkeeper. so it was very good for me.”
“For us,” Marta quickly intercepted, drawing laughter from the room.
Spirit head coach Jonatan Giráldez argued with the official for the fourth time after the goal, which came after a strong challenge from Angelina on Spirit midfielder Leicy Santos.
“For me, this is an excuse to talk about my physical condition,” Giráldez said after the match.
Kingsbury took the blame for conceding the goal, saying it should have been a “routine save” before moments later Morgan said the goal was wrong.
“I think what I find frustrating, replaying it in my head, is that we handled (Banda) well for 90 minutes where it wasn’t just a goal and I kicked myself,” Morgan said.
“I just thought in my head back to the away game, there was a time when he went down slowly in the box, so I didn’t want to bite if there was a dive.”
A physical first half featured 14 combined fouls and three yellow cards.
Spirited forward Rosemonde Kouassi was cautioned in the 28th minute for dragging Banda down with a counter-attack.
Three minutes later, Pride defender Kerry Abello received a yellow card for an open field trip from Spirit forward Trinity Rodman.
Washington midfielder Hal Hershfelt went into the book for a tough challenge just minutes before halftime.
Orlando’s victory completes one of the worst clubs in the league in recent years. The Pride made the playoffs just once before this season, in 2017, and suffered as few points as last place in 2019 with a league record 53 goals.
This year, the Pride set several NWSL records, including points in a season (60), wins (18), consecutive wins (eight) and an unbeaten game to start a season (23).
“I hope I can say when I get here (in 2021), I believe that this club will change, but there were times when we were at rock bottom, and I couldn’t see the light,” Pride defender Kylie. Strom said.
“So, to go from that place to where we are now, I don’t have the words to describe it. It’s incredible and we’re going to keep going. We’re never going back.”
Washington almost equalized two minutes into the second half, when Kouassi got a head on Rodman’s cross in the 6-yard box, but Pride goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse made a quick reaction save.
Orlando went close to doubling their lead near the hour mark when Banda broke again in the open field. Marta, playing in her first NWSL Championship, sprinted to join him on the counterattack, but Banda didn’t play the ball in the middle for his teammate to open.
Pride continued as Washington pushed for a late equalizer. Orlando was unbeaten when leading at halftime on 15 occasions earlier this season.
Orlando is the fourth team in league history to win its first NWSL Championship appearance.
Washington appeared in two previous finals, winning the title in 2021.
The Pride championship is the first for Orlando’s professional sports team. The team will be honored with a parade through downtown Orlando on Monday.
