San Diego Wave lose 2-1 battle against Orlando Pride
Photo credit: San Diego Wave FC
San Diego Wave lost their first match of the 2025 season in a 2-1 battle against the reigning NWSL shield-winners and champions Orlando Pride.
Neither team scored in the first half, but the Wave won the possession battle and imposed their style of play on the opposition with a high press that prevented Orlando from making the game too transitional which would create better scoring opportunities.
The Wave maintained a strong defense in the run of play, but ultimately conceded a goal to start the second half during a corner kick.
The service went toward the back post which was touched lightly forward by the Orlando star Barbra Banda. The ball deflected off Kennedy Wesley toward the near post and got tapped in by Haley McCutcheon to take the lead.
“I think against a team like that, I think you need to punish them when you get the momentum, and we didn’t do that and then we conceded on one mistake,” said Wave midfielder Kenza Dali. “That's why when they're not on a good day they know how to win and this is what good team’s do, but I’m so proud of the way we played, we gave everything and I think we were the better team today.”
The Wave stayed in it and head coach Jonas Eidevall made his typical substitutions around the 60th minute to bring more life to the offense. This time he brought on 19-year-old forward, Chiamaka Okwuchukwu for her NWSL debut who came on quick with a great touch on the ball in the midfield to avoid a defender before eventually scoring an equalizer.
Midfielder Kenza Dali sent a cross into the penalty area while Okwuchukwu waited patiently onside to head in making it 1-1 after less than two minutes on the field.
Later on Orlando was awarded a penalty in the 70th minute. Banda made a pass inside the box and Delphine Cascarino came in late with a tackle that left Banda with nowhere to land. After an extended VAR check the penalty was confirmed and taken by legendary Brazilian forward Marta.
Marta took the runup with a slight hesitation before missing her penalty after striking the ball into the right post, but Hanna Lundkvist was in the box and cleared the ball. Play continued for a few minutes but the referee stopped play because of the encroachment by Lundkvist who clearly entered the 18-yard box before Marta took the kick.
This time Marta shot a panenka that bounced off the top post into the back of the net for the final score of 2-1.
“There are positives, there’s signs of progression in the way that we play and we need to take them with us and be a little bit irritated that we didn’t get any points with us today and turn that irritation and frustration into positive energy into developing us forward,” said Eidevall.
There will be no Wave match this week as the FIFA international window begins sending many players with their respective national team. Their next match will be at home on April 12, where they take on the Kansas City Current.
