Marta scored on a second-half penalty kick to interrupt a scoreless tie and the Orlando Pleasure remained undefeated by profitable 2-0 in a showdown Sunday evening with the visiting Washington Spirit and clinching the most effective document within the NWSL.
An personal purpose accounted for the opposite tally. Pleasure goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse made 5 saves for her thirteenth clear sheet of the season.
The Pleasure (17-0-6, 57 factors), enjoying for the primary time since posting a 4-0-1 document in September, have gained three straight matches. They’ve three regular-season matches remaining.
The Spirit (15-6-2, 47 factors) misplaced for the second time of their final three matches. Washington entered the match as the one group within the league nonetheless able to catching the Pleasure, although the Spirit is in an in depth competitors with NJ/NY Gotham FC and Kansas Metropolis Present for the second place within the standings.
Washington was referred to as for 22 fouls in comparison with six on Orlando.
Marta’s eighth purpose of the season got here when she transformed the penalty kick within the 56th minute by sending the ball into the underside left nook of the purpose. That adopted a foul within the penalty space on Washington’s Tara McKeown.
Marta has scored in back-to-back matches for the primary time this season, although she had a two-goal match in June.
The personal purpose got here within the 73rd minute when the ball went within the web off McKeown. It got here as Adriana made a powerful transfer with the ball into the field and unleashed a shot, with McKeown’s try to dam the shot as a substitute redirecting the ball into the online.
The primary half was comparatively even in most classes, although 11 of the 14 fouls referred to as within the opening 45 minutes have been referred to as in opposition to the Spirit.
The Pleasure gained 3-2 on the street in opposition to Washington on April 26 of their first assembly of the season.
–Area Stage Media
