Orlando Pride continued their standout NWSL campaign on Sunday 1st September, when they beat Gotham FC 2-0 on home ground to secure their place at the top of the league.
Orlando Pride currently sit atop the NWSL league table, with Washington Spirit trailing six points behind in second place. Adriana Leal da Silva has been essential to the Pride’s unbeaten run, with consistently strong performances helping to earn them victory upon victory.
After a delayed kick off due to stormy weather, Adriana scored in the sixth and nineteenth minutes against Gotham to give the Pride their comfortable lead on Saturday, assisted by Kylie Strom and Summer Yates respectively. The attacker was named Player of the Match after the characteristically stellar performance.
The first goal came after Adriana was quick to pounce on a failed Gotham clearance, hitting her volley with vigour and sending it straight into the back of the net. She would double the home side’s lead not long after, this time with a sumptuous strike sent toward the far post. Adriana’s composure on the ball and clinical finishing touch left Gotham’s backline reeling.
The 27 year old Brazilian has played 15 matches, and boasts five goals as well as one assist to her name so far this season. The Pride will need the forward thinking player to make further dominant displays as they approach the highly anticipated playoffs.
Adriana’s invaluable contributions to the creation of goals is crucial to the success of Orlando Pride. She is undoubtedly one of the Pride’s most important players, with her constant, burning desire to move the ball forward proving paramount time and time again.
Adriana was also a key member of Brazil’s Olympic squad this summer in Paris 2024, as the Seleção beat Spain against the odds to reach the tournament’s final and went on to become silver medallists.
Orlando Pride are set to travel to Illinois for their next NWSL fixture. Seb Hines’ frontrunners will face Chicago Red Stars on Sunday 8th September, kicking off at 17:00 (ET) as they look to further solidify their lead.
