It was a draw, sure, but the Orlando Pride scored the Courage's back-five | OneFootball

The draw fever hit the Orlando Pride late in their match against the North Carolina Courage.

Some soccer supporters wonder if a draw fever has spread in Orlando. Orlando City SC has drawn five of the last seven matches. Now Orlando Pride has left the pitch with one, not counting the NWSL Challenge Cup opener that was settled by penalty kicks.

The Pride don’t intend to let this become an epidemic.

From the 27th minute of their match against the North Carolina Courage, the Pride were losing the match. At that moment, defender Feli Rauch caught the rebound saved by Pride goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse and flicked it into the net.

The rebound came after Moorhouse saved a shot by forward Manaka Matsukubo.

In the final stoppage time, forward Prisca Chilufya alertly found a chance. Midfielder Angelina swung a corner kick into the front post. Chilufya headed it for the score, and the Pride got to leave the field with a point.

Still, compared to the wins that drove the Pride to the NWSL Shield and Championship last season, coaches and players weren’t entirely satisfied with the point from a draw they fought so hard to get.

May 10, 2025; Cary, North Carolina, USA; Orlando Pride and North Carolina Courage battle for the ball during the second half of the game at First Horizon Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park. Mandatory Credit: Jaylynn Nash-Imagn Images | Jaylynn Nash-Imagn Images

Head Coach Seb Hines said after the match that the team deserved more. He acknowledged that the players never give up. Because they stuck with the Pride’s practiced game strategy, they kept the Courage from scoring more than once.

But the Courage had plans to contain the Pride. They spent most of the match using a back-five formation, with only two midfielders and three forwards.

While that made it hard for the Pride to open spaces, they were able to keep the match close, looking for a chance.

Chilufya said before the corner kick, a coach directed her to get into the box and get ready. Upon reaching that spot on the pitch, she envisioned making the score. Then, she added, she got ready to see how God’s plan worked out.

The Orlando Pride now know how to score against a back-five formation. So NWSL opponents – watch out.