The North Carolina Courage won a seven-goal thriller last week. Back on CBS this week, the 2019 NWSL champs just couldn’t find a way past USWNT keeper Ashlyn Harris.
The Orlando Pride, playing in their first match of 2020, held the Courage to a 0-0 draw on Saturday in the NWSL Fall Series, with Harris and the Pride defense coming up big to deny North Carolina’s potent offense.
Orlando, which didn’t play in the Challenge Cup, was also playing its first game since Alex Morgan left for Tottenham. But the Pride still fielded a lineup boasting Marta, Ali Krieger, Ashlyn Harris and Sydney Leroux.
It was partners Krieger and Harris in the back who proved vital to earn a draw.
Early in the second half, Harris showed she was already in midseason form. The USWNT keeper somehow managed to user her feet and hands to keep out a point-blank shot from Debinha, who has already shown us this fall how potent she is in front of goal.
Are you kidding?! #NCvORL | #VamosOrlando pic.twitter.com/TlVHDCTA0l
— Orlando Pride (@ORLPride) September 19, 2020
Unorthodox? Yes. But it worked.
Not long later, Harris may have gotten a fingertip onto a Lynn Williams strike that caromed off the post and out.
First Ashlyn Harris and now the post denies @TheNCCourage the lead.
0-0 | #NCvORLTune in now on @CBS and @Twitch.#NWSLFallSeries | #VerizonCommunityShield pic.twitter.com/LAnr0oruyQ
— NWSL (@NWSL) September 19, 2020
Late in the match, Harris needed her defense to bail her out, Carrie Lawrence clearing the ball off the line to keep the match scoreless after an uncharacteristic mistake from the keeper.
Inches away from the game's first goal
0-0 | #NCvORLTune in now on @CBS and @Twitch.#NWSLFallSeries | #VerizonCommunityShield pic.twitter.com/1MOp0tMlvx
— NWSL (@NWSL) September 19, 2020
Seeing as this match included Marta, we feel obliged to mention she was as lively as ever, doing Zidane roulettes and everything else in her power to create a goal, though ultimately unsuccessful.
This close from taking the lead #VamosOrlando pic.twitter.com/6nI1sfrmw6
— Orlando Pride (@ORLPride) September 19, 2020
The match finished 0-0 at least it featured a future USMNT star, Heather O’Reilly’s son Will.
.@HeatherOReilly brought Will out for his first soccer game!#NoFinishLine pic.twitter.com/8hnX1bbCbW
— NC Courage (@TheNCCourage) September 19, 2020
The match was also the first in the NWSL since the death of women’s rights icon Ruth Bader Ginsburg. The Pride and many women’s footballers paid tribute to the noted USWNT fan.
An icon, a trailblazer and one of the fiercest fighters for equality.
Rest In Peace, RBG. pic.twitter.com/brVssaVm25— Orlando Pride (@ORLPride) September 19, 2020
